Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I found a book with a BookCrossing number in it. What do I do now?

First of all, thank you for coming this far and making it to our site! That book, the person who registered it, and any readers along the way who have made journal entries, are all counting on you to keep the chain going by recording a journal entry on that book. It's very simple... just go to our journal entry page, enter the BCID number, and leave a brief note so that others will know what's happened to the book. Or if you're not even interested in the book and don't plan to read it, that's okay too... just say so. Finally, when you're finished with the book, pass it along to a friend or release it into the wild for someone else to enjoy!

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How will I know when someone finds a book I've released?

Our system will send you an email notification whenever someone makes a journal entry on a book you've released. You can also check your Bookshelf page on a regular basis to see all the journal entries on your books.

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Is it ok to register things that aren't books, like magazines, phone directories, DVDs or catalogues?

No, BookCrossing is only for — well, books. Audio books and e-books are okay, as they are forms of books. Magazines, catalogues, zines and other such things are not usually durable enough to withstand the travels, and frequently, the material is quickly outdated. Some members choose to register journals that are then filled as they travel. If it represents an actual, physical book, it can have a BCID. And DVDs are, well, DVDs, not books.

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I want to tag library books, I think it's fun to know who's reading them. Is that okay?

No. Do not ever label books that you do not own -- unless you have the permission of the owner. This includes library books. There are libraries that do participate in BookCrossing, but always, always ask permission before even thinking of registering a book that is not yours. Some libraries also have special book-swap shelves for books that are not circulating library copies; you can use those for releasing BC books and can register books you find there. But books that are part of a library's circulating copies are the property of the library and should not be marked up in any way. (This includes "registering" library books by inserting bookmarks with BCIDs on them; if you can't attach a label to a book it could easily fall out, so you won't be able to track the book, and this defeats the purpose of registering it in the first place.)

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Do I have to read a book before I release or register it?

It's totally up to you. Release whatever you want, whenever you want, whether you've actually read it or not.

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I see some members have more "Releases Caught" than others. What exactly is a "caught" release, and how are "releases caught" different from "books found"?

As currently defined, a "caught" release is a book for which someone else has made a journal entry after you. So, the book may have been released into the wild and found, and the finder made a journal entry, or the book may have simply been given to a friend, and the friend made a journal entry. "Books found" refers to books that you journaled after someone else. So your "book found" will be someone else's "release caught" and vice versa.

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What percentage ok book releases are "caught" (see above)?

A minority so far - approximately 20-25% depending on where you release it, and how well you label it. However, do note that we're still very early into this project, and books travel slowly, taking time to read. And of course not everyone has internet access - perhaps your book found a person of lower income who cannot afford internet access. The world is still a better place due to your generosity. Most of our members release for the joy of sharing - "caught" releases are just icing on the cake.

Think about this: you may get an email notification 5 years from now, letting you know someone has made a journal entry on one of your books. And that someone might be halfway around the world. Imagine how excited you'll be that day, and how much you'll wish you had seeded the world with even more books over that 5 year period. Every released book, just like every message in a bottle and every note in a helium balloon, won't get caught - but the ones that do have the opportunity to brighten a day, initiate a friendship, or even change a life. So keep the faith, and keep releasing, and good things will happen in time.

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Where can I read journal entries on recently found books, recently released books, or most-travelled books?

Check out the links on our Leader Board for Books.

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I'm looking at your site here, and I can't believe what I'm reading. Do you actually want me to give away my books?

Ummm, yes. Trust us on this one. Registering your books with BookCrossing.com, then giving them to a friend, a charity, or otherwise releasing them "into the wild" and following their progress and travels, is infinitely more fulfilling than the small satisfaction you'll get by looking at your books in your bookcase every day. As Austin Powers would say, "It's karma, baybee!"

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Hey, wait just a minute... aren't you prompting littering here, by suggesting that everyone just leave books lying around all the place? You should be ashamed!

Aw, come on. Nobody considers books "litter" (we could do focus groups to prove this, but you'll have to take our word for it here). Also, it's nearly impossible to throw a book away; it's just one of those objects with some special kind of intrinsic value that tells you it's to be saved, to be treasured. So lighten up! What's the worst that could happen... you might see a few books on park benches, or bus seats, or diner tables? Make the world one big library! Or take the safer, more conventional route, and give your books to friends, or to charities, or trade them in at a used book store, or whatever... just pass them on so they can touch more lives.

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