Signal Spring 2019 Newsletter

6 www.alliancecom.net Libraries Aren’t the Only Free Source for Books Love to read but don’t want to spend money on books? No worries, you can read some of the best books ever written for free. Check out these sites to find books in the public domain (those with no intellectual property rights attached). Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org)   As one of the most well-known free book sources, this site allows you to search for a specific book or browse the “bookshelves.” Download books to your reader or read online. Feedbooks (feedbooks.com/publicdomain )  Use this site to search or browse, then download books in the public domain. The interface is easy to use, and you can start reading immediately after you download. The Online Books Page (onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/ search.html)  This no-frills index includes hundreds of books that are available online for free. Just enter title and author information into the search bar to find what you’re looking for. Online Bookstores Let You Shop in Your Pajamas We all love to browse around local bookstores. But when you’d rather stay home and shop, these sites have plenty to offer: The Strand ( strandbooks.com) The Strand bookstore in New York houses 2.5 million books, with more at a separate location. The inventory includes many used books, a rare book department with collectibles, and first and signed editions. The website allows you to shop all these options and take advantage of online extras. Amazon (amazon.com) Select Books from the drop-down list to the left of the Amazon search bar, leave the search bar blank, and click the search button to enter the world of Books at Amazon. In addition to new and used books for purchase, the site offers an extensive list and recommendation section. Amazon Prime members, don’t forget to sign up for Prime Reading and Amazon First Reads to read books for free! BetterWorldBooks ( betterworldbooks.com ) Each time you buy a book at BetterWorldBooks, the company donates a book to someone in need. If that’s not reason enough to shop there, take a look at the extensive selection of new, used, and bargain books. If you want to get good books at great prices and help others at the same time, this is the place to do it. Powell’s Books (powells.com ) Powell’s Books promotes itself as “the world’s largest independent bookstore.” The flagship store—located in Portland, Oregon—carries new, used, rare, and out-of-print books. The website allows you to browse for books in dozens of categories, get staff recommendations, or even sell your old books. QUICK TIP: Sign up with BookBub (bookbub.com ) to get notifications of fantastic book deals.