anywhere to get books when libraries shut?

[yummytummy]

i was just wondering i usually always get books from the library and read several a week, this is likely to increase while we are all at home. however obviously now libraries are all shut. i was wondering if there is any other way to borrow physical books? i don't want ebooks or online or anything but actual books. can't really afford to buy either as any spare money going towards increased food budget with kids at home. does anyone have any ideas or things i may not have thought of? i know bigger things to worry about at the moment but reading is my main escape and i have hardly any books left to read and it is stressing me out

OP didn’t say they didn’t want to download a free app. They said they needed to read for the sake of their MH but cash was an issue. Not everyone knows how to find ebooks for free.
Hope you have a house full of paperback favourites and can delve deep into them OP.

Hi OP sorry I don't know if it's been mentioned but your library will have a ebooks. The apps are either called 'Libby' or 'borrow box' there may be others. If your not sure how to do it message me and I'll walk you through it. I know it's not the same as a good book in the hand, but you'll get used to it, honest! I'm pretty sure you can get free kindle and KOBO app certainly does free books (but they're not always very good).

Free kindle books (that should say)

Its a really hard time for those who plan to continue as normal and put other people at risk. They are rightly being called out for it.

So it's not a hard time for anyone else is it? I'm so fucking pleased you're finding it easy. OP was asking for advice as to where to find free reading material. Lots of good advice, also lots of stupid fucking judgement. Wind your neck in.

@LotsaDo You've sworn twice at a stranger on the internet and displayed a lack of reading skills.

Yay you.

It’s going to be a long long lockdown, but on the upside, Proust, Trollope, Gibbon, Melville, Byron and Cervantes are all out of copyright. If that doesn’t keep you going then you’re a faster reader than me.

Top tip, if you go to the “external links” section at the bottom of the Wikipedia page for any pre-20th century literature then it usually links to a selection of free copies of the text, and you can take your pick just in case the obvious Project Gutenberg version has an ugly layout (some do).

displayed a lack of reading skills.

Where? Also, sorry about the swearing. I'm exhausted by the nastiness and the judgement I've seen on here over the last few days. It's completely unnecessary. A woman asking about reading material is not why this virus is spreading.

I prefer physical paper books too and I normally use my library lots.

But yeah, getting new library books is something that’s going to have to be put on hold for the next few weeks or months. Have you got old books that you could re-read?

I believe that most libraries offer free ebooks to library members these days, my county’s libraries use BorrowBox (although other councils may use different providers). The council website has a guide on how to use BorrowBox, it has ebooks and audiobooks available. The range of ebooks isn’t as large as the range of paper books the library stocks, but there’s still plenty there.

I would have thought there were ways to swap physical books safely. Eg do swaps with neighbours who could leave the books on your doorstep.
We are still getting post!
The virus doesn't last more than 24hrs on cardboard .
Sad to see unpleasant hysteria on the reading section.

@Xylophonics
What part of 'dont leave the house unless it is essential' do you not understand? This is why we're in this situation. Because everyone thinks "oh but this doesnt count. This is fine" and we end up with a virus spreading everywhere and everyone still thinking the rules dont apply to them.

It isnt hysteria. It's exactly how we're meant to be acting right now. Your comment is dangerous and encourages irresponsible and risky behaviour. You should be ashamed.

Whatever , maybe I'm just more logical than you.

I'm another who prefers a physical book over a digital read OP, and like you a keen user of the local library service. (I have a kindle but have never really used it apart from air travel as I don't enjoy reading on it).

What I have done as visits to the library were discouraged and then stopped is to switch to reading various interest magazines online. I find digitally reading shorter things a better experience for me than longer books. Might this be something you could explore?

The Readly app (or web site) currently has a two week free trial I think, and has a massive catalogue of titles (including thousands of back copies) across a swathe of general and niche interests. Some great, intelligent and enjoyable content on there which is easy to engage with. I'm pretty sure there are magazines aimed at readers which include short stories too.

My library service, and many others, have their own free access to other magazine apps (its RB Digital here), which is another way to see if you like it, although the choice is much more limited.

What part of 'dont leave the house unless it is essential' do you not understand?

And also for exercise. We're not under house arrest.

@Xylophonics
People were told not to visit elderly relatives on mothers day. What did they do? Piled into their cars and descended upon the vulnerable.

People were told not to panic buy because there is enough food; they just need to give the trucks time to deliver it. What did they do? The panic bought, and are continuing to do so.

People were told not to congregate. What did they do? They piled on top of each other in parks, outside takeaway food shops, hillwalking right up against each other.

People have proven quite clearly that they cannot follow instructions when there is leeway left. It is their fault er are here how, in a situation where we cannot leave our houses for anything that isnt essential. But you want to make an exception for dropping off books. What about those who want to swap video games? Or who want to swap coursework notes? Pretty soon, you've got half the town out "just to drop something on the doorstep".
Then they'll start having chats on the doorsteps... and then it goes on and on. It is not safe. It is not logical to make exceptions because people are not responsible enough to stick to limits. If you start allowing bookswaps then you've got a snowball of non-essential travel hurtling us back into major pandemic.

The world is sick. We are asking people to give up a few months of normality to save it. But you think its logical to allow books swaps. Sure

@LotsaDo
Exercise has been classed as essential. But if people dont stick to it and continue asking for exceptions then we will be under house arrest.

We're in the middle of a pandemic.... and people want to go our for book swaps. Its fucking insanity.

I signed up for my library's free online book lending

OP I'm a reader - and a book collector, so I do get the pleasure of a book in my hands. Project Gutenberg has already been mentioned. I'm also looking through the free online learning options available - like Coursera (www.coursera.org/). You might find something you'll enjoy there - it's entirely up to you how much work you do; sometimes I just read the materials and sometimes I do the work too.

Library Worker here. Some libraries allow you to download magazines too, there's loads of choices for the whole family, including several months of back issues. Check your local library website.
At no point in your original post does it mention leaving the house, you don't deserve the sarcastic comments.

Some utterly ridiculous posts on here. You are not banned from borrowing books.

I’m afraid op some MNers are loving the chance to pounce and be vicious. Really sad that they use a tragedy for their own entertainment.

@Verb3naSantos
The advice is to stay home.
So how can you borrow a physical book?

You could easily arrange your exercise as a book pick up from a local doorstep you can walk to. That is what I’m doing for my dm. I’m dropping them on her doorstep but would happily leave some out for a friend. I have loads I haven’t touched for years.I checked out 9 from the library last week and will pass them on to mum as checked out until June. She’ll wipe covers but won’t touch them for 24 hours after that .

Not hard

Really sad that some may be causing a tragedy because they think the rules don't apply to them.

Of course the OP's need to get library books is essential. It's a perfectly good reason for her and others to leave their homes and spread the virus. The rules are for other people, not her. You're right to attack anyone who disagrees.

What part of "don't leave home" is too difficult?

Can one of you explain it to me please?

No. You are permitted to exercise.
But you shouldn’t be doing it as an excuse to drop things off.
You stay home.
FFS at this rate things are only going to get worse.