Yes, sign up for a library. You can get digital books even if you can't physically go.
this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2023
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The Libby app connects with a lot of libraries. There are a few others that are library specific such as cloudreaders, hoopla, and kanopy. If you have a library card, try checking your library's website for a digital collection or elibrary. Depending on where you live you may have access to more library cards as well. I have one for the county library that uses Libby and one for the public library that uses cloudreaders.
This. You can even get audiobooks through Libby.
Yes, I second libby. You can access books, comics, even a wide selection of audiobooks to borrow. A+ app.
The below are all legit sources of free books that are above board.
For publishers offering free digital versions you have the following:
Tor has a free book of the month club for sci-fi & Fantasy.
Subterranean Press says they are doing something similar
Others specialize in cleaning up and offering improved copies of public domain books:
Nooot as legal as the other alternatives here, https://libgen.is has a gigantic catalogue (if you know what you're looking for) to download ebooks from.
I'll add that if you can't find it on libgen, or if you're looking for comics and manga ie things that might not be on there, FMHY is a great thing to google ;) includes audiobooks if you'd prefer that to reading. Includes direct downloads as well as torrents.
That said, depending on what you want to learn, there may be a youtube video on it. There's tons on youtube for certain subjects like video editing or coding if that's what you're interested in.
Edit to add: if you'd rather buy a physical copy, ebay and AbeBooks are great sources.
(AbeBooks is owned by Amazon - bookshop.org might be a better alternative.)
Since I’m seeing Libby mentioned a lot: for those in the US, check the libraries in the large cities in your state, too. Sometimes they have digital-only cards available for statewide residents. You can have several library cards on Libby so you have lots of options!
Also check your area for Little Free Libraries, which are free “take a book, leave a book” boxes!
Yes, and there are libraries with cards for non-residents, too! That's what I use on Libby. These are typically not free, but some are low-cost. If you don't have a library card already, this is a great way to get one without having to drive somewhere. For example, according to this list, Fairfax VA charges $27 per year for access to a catalogue of "over 50,000 ebooks and 21,000 audiobooks".
I really need to check out my library again. I have one near me and I really should take advantage of it again.
If you live somewhere that's reasonably resembling a city, your local library almost certainly has access to overdrive/libby or something like it included in the library membership, which may or may not be free but is probably worth looking into.
My local library uses the app hoopla and I'm not the biggest fan of it.
Most libraries have a way to virtually rent ebooks and audiobooks. Check on your local library's website.
Also HumbleBundle pretty regularly runs limited time sales for cheap ebooks.
And then of course there's always the less than legal options such as torrents.
Thanks, also I can't do Torrents what about direct downloads?
I'm not sure what beehaw's policy is on posting links and sites that host pirated stuff, but lemmy.ml has a piracy community that might be a helpful.
Someone above mentioned libgen, which is pretty good. Another good source, but one that is too confusing to explain in a comment here, is the bookz channel on irc. There are likely guides if you search for it. I’d only go that route if you really can’t find it elsewhere.
Holy shit, people are still doing IRC dcc?
Yep and it feels pretty dated. Using libgen is much easier. Using your local library is much easier and you get to show your library / local govt that the library is getting used.
What kind of stuff are you interested in learning how to do? I can recommend books for tech stuff, but aside from that I only really read sci-fi and a little bit of history stuff.
I do like some basic sci Fi...
I'm just about finished with Leviathan Wakes audiobook, the first book of The Expanse series. I'm quite enjoying it!
Also almost done reading The Southern Reach Trilogy (only a few chapters to go on the last book). The movie Annihilation is based on the first book of the trilogy. Very weird, which is to be expected if you've seen the movie, but also really enjoying it.
And I've heard nothing but good things about Project Hail Mary, probably going to be my next one.
Kindle Unlimited, a Audible sub and public library mostly.
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