I know the premise is to release a book for someone to find and journal about. But don't most of you send books to each other or something? I don't understand how that works.

That was the primary focus of it when it first started. However, the way most of us tend to look at it is simply a way of journaling a particular book and keeping a journal/log of it's travels.

Even if it's a book we're trading here, by using it's BookCrossing ID (BCID), we're able to track where it goes after it leaves our hands. And as others read it, they generally leave their opinions and rating in a journal entry which all the previous readers can see. (If you're registered, you can have these entries sent to you automatically via email... or turn off that option if you prefer.)

Yeah some of the Bookcrossers hold true to their belief that Bookcrossing should only be used for registering and wild releasing books. But I think that you will find the majority of the folks here on BookObsessed are much more laid back. We just like books, like to share said books, and like to see what people think of the books and where in the world they are. It takes time & practice, but you will get the hang of Bookcrossing.

BTW I accepted your 'friendship' over at BookMooch. Welcome to the family. :wave:

So there's no way to directly contact someone who has a book you want and get it sent to you? You can only send them out with other groups and track them at bookcrossing?

BookCrossing is not meant to be a trading website. People do trade BookCrossing books, but it's not a site like PaperBackSwap or BookMooch where you go "shopping" for books.

With that said, read the person's profile - sometimes they'll have information about trading on their profile (for example, mine says I'll only trade for a book off my wishlist). If they do, follow whatever it says. If they don't, you can send a polite PM saying that you are interested in a book and would be happy to trade (either for anything AVL on your shelf or a wishlist book of theirs) or pay for postage if they are interested.

I don't know of that option. Where is it? 'Cause I've never heard of it.

You know... they really gotta make it easier to find because I can't find it now either. It's somewhere where you choose what types of communications you want to receive from the site. I know it's there somewhere as I came across it before but damn if I can find it again. Anyone else know where to find it?

I checked "edit your profile" and all I see there is to check whether you want to receive the newsletter and/or PMs.

Hmmm... maybe I'm thinking of the part where you can remove release notes. :shrug: So maybe it's not there and I'm just confused. What with all the shit I've been dealing with here, it wouldn't be unjustified! :wacko: (And perhaps seeing it somewhere was just another vivid dreaming example cuz I could almost picture it in my head...)

It can't be turned off.

I just found this via the FAQs

The whole thing is here with this section in bold:

An option to getting rid of them, or not seeing them is to setup a rule in your mail program to move those to a folder or trash. I did 2 "How To"s. 1 for gmail and another for yahoo. I think most people are on one or the other.

Gmail:
Click on create a filter (close to the top near the search option)
On the criteria in the From box, put JournalAlertsNOREPLY@bookcrossing.com
Then, click next step
You can then choose to archive it, star it, apply a label, forward, or delete it.


Yahoo:
Click on options
Click on filters
Click on Add
Name the filter such as BCJs or something
In the box “from header:” leave it as contains, then in the next box put the email addy JournalAlertsNOREPLY@bookcrossing.com
Then towards the bottom you’ll see
“Then…
Move the message to” and a box. Choose the folder to move the message to
Then click (towards the topish part on the left) “Add filter”


That’s it boys and girls! So you can kinda not see them if you don’t want to.

Thanks for looking all that up Lei! :hug:

Though I could've sworn I'd seen an option to do just such a thing within the BC system itself at one point. It must've been either another vivid dream episode where I can't tell dream from reality (as if I really dream about BC, but sometimes esp around like convention time, I can see it happening) :lol: Or else my brain being so scrambled from all the crap I'm sorting through here. :(

I could have sworn I saw that option too. :shrug:

I really do think in the beginning that WAS an option. I seriously think that at one point I had mine turned off... then again I've slept since then. :shrug:

I think all of you have just been smoking the same thing. :lol:

I think Kel's jealous and wants some. :giggle: