Hosted by Melyssa at A Page Before Bedtime, Mocha Girl Musings is where we chat about all things bookish.
Whether you are new to reading, rediscovering your love for reading, or a lifelong reader, the world wide web has gifted us some lovely resources – many for free – to help feed our literary addiction. In this month’s Mocha Girl Musings, I explore and share some of my favorite resources. I’d love for you to help me add to my list by sharing in the comments.
Goodreads – Goodreads.com is an online social community for readers, authors, and publishers. Think Facebook but for book lovers. Readers can register for a free Goodreads account to help track their reading habits, set reading challenges, and connect with readers, authors, and publishers. Many authors and publishers also sponsor physical and electronic book giveaways that users can enter for free. If you are a reader or just thinking about reading, start with Goodreads.
Library Extension for Chrome – If you use Google’s Chrome as your default browser, consider downloading the Library Extension tool for free. Once added, this extension allows you to see what books – audio, electronic, and physical – are available for borrowing from your local library. Be sure to check and see if your library is supported. Chrome is free and the extension is free.
Bloglovin’ – Bloglovin‘ is an aggregated site that helps you discover new blogs and keep tabs on your favorites. Mocha Girls Read is currently on Bloglovin‘. Set up your account and follow us today!
Meetup – Meetup.com is an online service where people can find other like-minded people and do things in person. It’s a great use of the internet to facilitate face-to-face interaction. There are a plethora of book clubs on Meetup including, you guessed it, Mocha Girls Read. New chapters are being formed all the time, but if there’s not a chapter near you, consider using Meetup to find another local group. It’s free to join, but some groups may require a nominal membership fee.
eReaderIQ – eReaderIQ.com is a free service-oriented site that allows users to set up alerts that will notify you when your most desired ebook is discounted or goes on sale. This site depends on the kindness of readers to stay open, so if you are able, consider gifting them a donation via PayPal.
Overdrive and Libby – Both Overdrive and Libby are web-based applications that allow you to borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your local library and read them on your digital devices. Overdrive is more established and certainly functional while Libby’s interface is a little more visually appealing. It’s really a matter of preference as to which one you should use.
Hoopla – Hoopla is another web-based application that allows you to download and borrow digital books and stream video content via your local library. With Hoopla, there typically is not a wait list and you can download automatically after the borrow request.
Audible – If you are a big reader by listening, you must have an Audible.com account. Audible is owned by Amazon.com. If you purchase an ebook from Amazon, you can purchase the Audible version as an add-on to listen while you read along. Or you can opt to buy the audiobook independently through Audible. It’s most cost-effective to buy a subscription from Audible, and with that subscription, you get access to Audible-exclusive content. I enjoy listening to autobiographies on audio, especially if they are narrated by the author. It lends itself to a more personal reading experience. And yes, audiobooks are considered reading! Don’t let anyone tell you differently, and add those books to your annual Goodreads Reading Challenge!
Kobo – Kobo is a competitor to Amazon/Audible. Kobo has partnered with Walmart to offer similar content. Whether you use Kindle/Audible or Kobo or both is simply a matter or preference (and probably whoever has the best promotion at the time you sign-up!).
Paperbackswap.com – Paperbackswap.com is an old school website that allows users to recycle and share used books. The site launched in 2004 as an innovative method for readers to use the internet for good and share their already-read books with others.
So, there you have it. My top 10 bookish resources. Read smarter (and cheaper) with some of these, and if you have some of your own resources, don’t keep them to yourself. Please share in the comments.
What’s your favorite reading resource?
Until next time … Read on!
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