VT Christian Reading Challenge discussion

I'm curious about what different ways people use to acquire books (aside from simply buying them all new), especially those of you who are already reading many many books a year.

I assume libraries play a part (though the ones in my area seem to have few Christian books), and borrowing from friends or buying at yard sales or flea markets. I'm also a member on BookMooch which sometimes helps, but I wondered if there are any other book swapping sites or other avenues that others have had experience with.

Thrift stores sometimes have books really cheap and in good shape. You have to be patient sometimes though.

I read almost everything on my kindle since we've lived overseas for decades. I actually use my library to check out pretty much everything, accept theology, through overdrive. We expense our theology books through work and have an annual budget for that. But you would be surprised how many books are available through the library. I always check there first.

Most novels and literary non-fiction I get from the public library {or from our school library, as I'm a teacher} but most books I'd like to keep I buy cheap used copies on Amazon. Most of the time they're under $10 and I like having copies of books. If I really like a book I'll buy a few more used copies and send them to friends.

I'm a "footprinter", so I like to leave notes in my theology books, which means borrowing them is really out of the question.

My go-to source for bound (paper as opposed to electronic) books is allbookstores.com which lists books from least expensive source.

I'm a recent Kindle convert. I love having the ability to buy books inexpensively and get them from my library digitally. The blog "Modern Mrs. Darcy" curates a collection of Kindle deals every day that I've found quite helpful between. Between her site and Challies.com, I've snagged some great deals for my Kindle.

A Kindle also allows me to make notes and highlights, and then export them to Evernote. And you can loan books to your friends via Kindle.

Hmmmmm... I didn't know about loaning. I can't afford a Kindle now, though I've considered it for the future, but that's been one of my hang-ups is that I can't loan out or borrow books with friends that way unless they have a). an e-book reader, and b). the same kind of reader as me.

I think that a Kindle book can only be loaned once and for three weeks or so. After the loan period, it will automatically be deleted from the borrower's account when an Internet connection has been established and the Kindle has been turned on or app opened. So if you lend a Kindle book, you need to make sure that the borrower is ready to read the book at that time.

Only some books are lendable. I think it's up to the publisher to decide if a book can be lent.

A Kindle is not needed for reading Kindle books. Amazon has Kindle apps for Android, Apple devices, and computers. So almost anyone can read a Kindle book.

I check http://christianfictionebooks.blogspo... and http://vesselproject.com/ every day for free and low-priced Kindle books.

The Libraries in my area have a variety of Kindle, epub, and electronic audio books available. A church run consignment shop or rummage sale is a nice place for theological titles at times, especially after a recent change in Pastors.

I have used www.paperbackswap.com for a few years now. It's not just paperbacks. You can up to 500 titles on your wish list! I have enjoyed it very much.

I read my wife's book purchases as we share a kindle. Of course this only really works if your interests are shared.

In terms of physical books, we try not to accumulate too many, so giving books away is a good way to initiate a culture of asynchronous exchange. *Some go in big boxes to the charity shop, but the individually selected ones that we give to friends are what I'm talking about.)