Retail books are costly, especially if you add in the price of a latte at the bookstore cafe.

Public libraries may not be open when you can get there. Or, your branch might have a small collection (they might provide a workaround for this -- read on). Or there may not be a library anywhere you can get to at all. If you're a slow or forgetful borrower, library fines can add up, too. Plus, your karma takes a hit for each book you keep out of circulation.

Still, a person's gotta breathe, gotta eat, gotta read. (Not necessarily in that order.) So what's a frugal-minded bookworm to do?

Second-hand or used books can be found in a variety of places.

• Independent booksellers have unique personalities along with books both old and new. When you support an independent bookseller, you support your community, too! Here's one easy way to find an independent bookseller in the US.
• Find fellow bookworms. Book collections, single books and yard sales that include books can be found on good ol' Craigslist. (Don't forget to check the For Free page!)
• Your public library. See more below.
• Thrift shops & second-hand stores. Most stores offer at least one shelf full of books for pennies apiece.
• ... and, of course, online. See sidebar.

This can be a great way to get to know neighbors or co-workers or just to breathe some fresh air into your collection! Swaps can be permanent, or they can be temporary, just like a lending library.

My workplace has a few little corners tucked here and there where folks drop books off and others pick them up; a permanent swap (though some books keep popping up again like bad pennies.)

Neighbors can set up a swap shelf on someone's porch, or meet in someone's house or garage for coffee and swapping. It's a great activity for grownups at kiddie playgroups, too!

If your neighbors and co-workers don't read (or don't read what you do), a bunch of cyber-swap sites await you (see sidebar).

Be grateful if you live close to a public library that's actually open when you can get there. If their collection is broad enough to suit your needs, you're doubly blessed!

In all too many areas, the free public library is on its way to endangered species status. Support your public library!

The Good News Is This: Even smaller, less accessible libraries may offer off-hours extras for their more voracious readers:

• Interlibrary Loans. If the book you want is not on their shelf, ask your librarian if your branch offers interlibrary loans. Here, the library borrows the book for you -- sometimes they can borrow the book from a different library system, such as a university library. You read the book, then return it to your branch. It may take a few days for you to receive your book. In a rush? Ask your librarian whether the other library will hold it for you. If so, you can then go and fetch it yourself.
• Online Books & Reference Services. Your library system might offer e-library cards which, in turn, can be used for borrowing books from your library system's online collection, or may open the doors to any online reference services (e.g., JStor or InfoTrac, among many) with which your library system has a contract.
• Book Sales. Public libraries often supplement their revenues by offering sales of discarded books and/or books donated by their readers. Typical price per book is under a U.S. dollar. Your library might keep a special shelf of books for sale, or hold a big sale on certain weekends, or both. (HINT: If your library holds big weekend sales, ask if they offer a "bag sale" close to closing time. At a bag sale, you pay around $1 - $5 US for a sturdy grocery bag, stuff it with as many books as it will hold, then lug 'em home.)

For the true bookworm, nothing can ever replace a real paper book. On the other hand, who can pass up a quality freebie?

Have your book and reader too! Cyber-libraries save floor space and lots of cash.

(SPENDTHRIFT ALERT: Some libraries aren't completely free.)

All of these collections will work with your desktop or notebook, and for some mobile devices as well. Formats for mobile devices change quickly on these sites (so, for that matter, does the variety of mobile devices), so please check out each site to make sure it will work with your electronic buddy.

Project Gutenberg is the grand-daddy of all cyber-libraries. It is completely free, but they will gladly accept your free-wlll donation ... and if you've got some spare time, you can volunteer to help them add to their vast collection.

The Online Books Page is a guide to free books throughout the 'Net, with suggestions for supporting free book communities.

Questia is an online library with free and paid collections, and tools for classroom teachers.

The Online Library of Liberty is a collection of great thinkers on liberty and governance. Aeschylus, Adam Smith, Voltaire and Thomas Paine can all be found here.

Baen Free Library. Free science fiction and fantasy books!

Umm, well, you could try selling them, or giving them away, as hinted above.

But if you're experiencing a certain ... resistance ... to setting your books free, well, that's beyond the scope of this Hub. Not to mention, the ability of this Hubber.

So if you find something that works, please let me know!