Welcome to BookCrossing!
You've come to a friendly place, and we welcome you to our book-lovers' community of over 889577 members, in over 130 countries. Sharing your used books has never been more exciting, more altruistic or serendipitous than with BookCrossing!

You are registered with the screen name [.......] at [[email protected]] and the password [xxxxxx]. Your email and password are all you'll ever need to log in at BookCrossing. Should you ever forget, see the site's FAQs (frequently asked questions) for help. The link is easy to find at the bottom of every web page on BookCrossing.

How Do I Start?

Grab a book of yours that you're willing to share with others. It can be one you've loved, or one you never really want to read again. Got a second copy of the same book for your birthday? BookCross it! Does a favorite aunt keep sending you books that she likes but you don't? BookCross them! Just Label, Share & Follow!

Go here and fill in the appropriate information in the drop down menu to register a book.

Inscribe the BCID number that our system gives you for that book into the book. It can be a handwritten note, one of our free downloadable labels or create one of our exclusive customizable BookCrossing Bookplates using our Bookplate Creator.

You're done! You've now registered your first book and can see it here. You can now "release" it into the wild by clicking here or by doing a "controlled release" giving it to a specific person. For future reference, links for registering, releasing and journaling on a book are easily found under member links in our menu.

A BookCrossing book just found me-- Now what do I do?

Congratulations! BookCrossing books in the wild are sometime elusive! Just go to our journal entry page or our home, enter the BookCrossing ID (BCID) number found in the book, 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. When you make a journal entry on the book, and are logged in on the site, the book will be recorded on your shelf, and your profile will show that you have "found" a book . Plus, a message will zip out to previous members who have journaled on the book to tell them that the book is safe and happy with you. (Don't worry! All messages between members are sent via our mail system and your email addy is never revealed by us.) Once that's done, you can decide if you want to keep the book, read it, pass it on or set it free again, or any combination of the above!

But can I get books here, too?

To try and find BookCrossing books in the wild near you, see the hunt pages . But BookCrossing books might be anywhere; it's totally random, keep your eyes open! You can sign up to receive release alerts for quicker notification of wild releases, make a wish list, check out the Book Wish List and Bookring forums, or even see if someone wishes to trade a book with you. (Please keep in mind, though that trading is an optional activity on BookCrossing and not all members wish to do so. )

As a BookCrossing member, you now have a virtual bookshelf to keep track of books you own, have found, read and passed along into the world. There's also a bit of space to tell others a little bit about you in your BookCrossing profile. To see your page click here, click on your screen name up in the right hand corner of the site if you are logged in, or add the link to your Favorites/bookmarks for easy return visits.

Feel free to explore the site and open the covers on the world of BookCrossing. You may find the pointers below helpful to guide you on your explorations.

I hear you have forums -- What about that?

Our site is packed with information. Our menu will take you to all sorts of things: interesting statistics, entertaining forums (including a place to Introduce yourself to the community and a Newbies Forum), helpful information, a world map to see where books are being released while you watch, how to contact other BookCrossers in your area and much more.

English is not my main language--Help!

We have forums in many languages (Italian, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Finnish and a joint Scandinavian forum) and are currently in the process of localizing the site. Check our language setting page found here. If your language is not there yet, it is probably in the works. If you would like to volunteer to translate the site in your language, please contact [email protected].

So sit back and begin to explore the site. If you have any questions about BookCrossing or concerns about your membership or the BookCrossing site, contact us here. Please do not respond directly to this email, rather use our contact us link (found along with our FAQs at the bottom of every page on the site). We have a worldwide support team staffed by volunteers who are honest to goodness BookCrossers, who are happy to help you out with your questions about the site.

One more thing before you head off to explore BookCrossing -- BC membership is free, but we do depend on the support of our members. If you'd like to help, or just want to browse the cool stuff there, visit the Supply Store. There you'll find lots of great release products, T-shirts, and other items available! We have starter kits to help you get started registering and releasing your books. Plus, a purchase from the Supply Store gives you wings, and new ways to explore BookCrossing.

Once again, Welcome to BookCrossing! Now's the perfect time to make the whole world a library. We hope you enjoy BookCrossing, talk about it, and help us make it even better!