In Which Books Want To Be Free.

I just added a new LibraryThing widget to my page. The older one (below the archive links) is for books I'm reading; the new one (just under the moon) is for books I'd like to give away. (Please don't confuse the two.)

I have a small number of books I'm done with and ready to pass on, and a somewhat larger number that I acquired cheaply or free in order to build up a stash of credits on PaperBackSwap.com. This strategy worked well, but now that I have plenty of credits, there are quite a few leftovers I'm eager to dispose of. Disclaimer: None of these were acquired through the library that employs me. I maintain a strict distinction between my books and my employer's.

So these are the books that appear randomly in the new widget. All are in decent condition, but most aren't worth more than a buck or two. I could easily haul them off to a charity or donate them to my employer, and at some point I may. But here's the thing: I'm addicted to that glow of satisfaction I feel when I connect a book with someone who wants it. PBS has been a great way to get that fix. Maybe this will be another.

So here's how it works: if you see a book you want (or if you know someone or some organization that would benefit from it), just let me know via e-mail or comment, and I will give it to you next time I see you. If you live far away, I will mail it to you free of charge. If I don't know you, but we have mutual friends, I'll gladly pass it to you via our human link. If I don't know you and we have no mutual friends... hmm... well, leave me a comment with some kind of contact info, and we'll talk.

Of course, I'll be happy to provide more info on any titles that catch your eye. Later on I may even create a separate page where you can view all available books (there are currently 27), but for now, you'll just have to hit refresh if you want to see more.