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]]>by Jaylynn Korrell
Technology and books: Friends or enemies?
If there’s one thing that book lovers love, it’s books! More of them. No matter how they find them. Ebooks, audiobooks, paperbacks. The more chances to read the better. And with the right book apps, they can be totally free!
You don’t have to worry about feeling like you’re betraying your beloved paperbacks! Think of these apps as an extension of your love of literature or a portal into even more literary engagement!
But not all of these book apps are simply for reading books.
There are apps that allow you to browse & buy brand new titles, read reviews, log your reading, track your patterns, and even keep your kid reading. The options are all endless so long as you have the right digital resources.
So check out these awesome book apps!
(Everything on Independent Book Review has been selected by a very picky group of people. As affiliates we may earn a commission on items you purchase through our links.)
There’s no better place to start than my absolute favorite cheap & free eBook app! BookBub’s got unbeatable deals with author updates, handpicked recommendations, and truly some of the best indie & big-five books available. If you haven’t tried BookBub yet…you’re welcome.
The Kindle is definitely one of my favorite e-readers, but it’s also a great app to have on your phone or iPad. Not only can you find & download nearly every eBook on the internet, but it’s extremely readable as well. You’ll always have access to your favorite books with the Kindle app, and the app will keep track of where you left off on a different device and save it in the cloud so you’ll never lose your place.
Ummm…you’ve heard of Goodreads already? No surprise! This is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations. Readers can search their database of books to find people’s honest reviews before buying anything. Or, they can join the conversation and write their own reviews!
Classic books are classics for a reason. People have loved reading them forever. But a lot of people find them difficult to get through, even if they end up loving them. Serial Reader gives readers a more digestible way to read Classic books by dividing them up into 20 minute sessions. You can read an unabridged 20 minute portion of these books daily with this free book app, and slowly but continuously check some classics off of your “to be read” list.
Find yourself too busy (or homebound) to take a trip to the library? Check out this extensive digital document library! Book apps like Scribd provide readers with access to over 170 million documents, while also allowing people to upload their your own documents. It allows readers to keep a number of useful audiobooks and ebooks in one place: a truly great learning and sharing resource for readers and writers.
Finding this app was a game-changer for me. If you’ve got a library card, you’ve probably got access to Hoopla (or Libby). Hoopla allows you to access books found in your library’s database, as well as audiobooks, comic books, and even movies. So much free content!
Looking for somewhere to read original works of fiction? Wattpad has over 90 million subscribers who are reading and uploading fiction works and connecting with other readers and writers. This may just be the place to find your next favorite author before their writing career takes off. These are not always published books like you’d find on Kindle, so you’re finding some real hidden gems here.
Love poetry? Check out these gifts for poets & poetry lovers!
There are ways to read books without opening your eyelids or flipping a page. Audible the dominant force in audiobooks. This app offers monthly membership subscriptions or individual purchases so that you can listen to new, old, and bestselling audiobooks while doing household chores. Try a free trial!
How long does it take you to read? This book app is a valuable tool in helping you reach your reading goals by tracking your reading progress, maintaining an organized catalog of your completed books, and helping you set monthly or even yearly reading goals. It even provides you with personalized stats in real-time so you can track your progress. People who are trying to develop a good reading habit will like this!
Blinkist caters to those who don’t have the time or maybe even the interest to read an entire book. With this book app, you can get a summary of thousands popular nonfiction books in 15 minutes or less. So if reading isn’t your thing but you want the information from some of the best nonfiction books, Blinkist is the way to go.
Have you ever wished for a better way to pick the perfect next book? StoryGraph might be the way to do it. This app takes tracking to the next level by taking into account your mood and the mood of the books you’re usually reading (emotional, lighthearted, relaxing, etc). You can also view how your stats progress overtime to give you more insight on what books you should pick up next.
Unlike Blinkist, Summary Z provides a short summary of fiction books as well as nonfiction. So if you’ve got work to do for class and could use a refresher on a novel, check this one out! Summary Z is a great reference.
Poetry lovers, unite! Apps like Poetizer allow people to read, write, publish, and buy poetry. Poetry collections can be delivered to your doorstep and then promoted on your personal Poetizer platform. It’s an excellent app for writers & poets.
After you read a really great book, it’s hard to not want to talk about it with everyone you come in contact with. Having the community to do that with is rare. But it doesn’t have to be! Litsy is a place to share blurbs, reviews, your favorite quotes, and more. It’s my preferred social media account for book lovers!
Make your book club experience a lot easier by downloading this essential bookclub app. This app is excellent for those looking to simplify every aspect of being in a book club, from setting up meetings to picking your next book club book. Look up top book club books of the week or use their discover tool, and don’t forget to ask good book club questions!
Book apps aren’t just for adults. Kids book apps like Epic exist just to engage readers 12 and under. Epic is the largest digital library just for kids who love to read. It has over 40,000 kids titles to choose from, and they have audiobooks and learning videos available too. This app is free for educators and students to use during the school day.
A book subscription box is a great way to gain access to new releases easily. Aardvark Book Club’s app allows subscribers to choose three new released books from a curated list of 4-5 newly published books to have delivered to their doorstep each month. Then you can discuss your favorites on their app in their discussion community. It’s just like having a bookstore and a book club in your pocket!
So which of these book apps will you be downloading? Let us know in the comments, and tell us if there are any you think we missed!
About the Author
Jaylynn Korrell is a nomadic writer currently based out of Pennsylvania. In addition to her writing and reading for Independent Book Review, she curates lists at GoodGiftLists.com.
Thank you for reading Jaylynn Korrell’s “17 Best Book Apps for Avid Readers” If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.
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Where can you find meaningful gifts for librarians?
Some of my earliest literary memories involve librarians. Whether it was my weekly kindergarten walk to story-time or the exciting day that i was issued my first official library card, I can’t forget the impact librarians had on me. For many, they are the first real introduction to the wonderful world of books.
But finding the best gifts for librarians can feel like a tall order.
Luckily, we’ve got your back.
The best gifts for librarians are ones that they can keep forever, display in their workplace, or just remind them of their love of literature. We’ve found incredibly useful gifts, unique gifts, and even fashionable options that can help you choose the best thing for the special librarian in your life.
And if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, you can also find some great gifts for book lovers or gifts for writers here at IBR.
Here are some of the best gifts for librarians you will find.
(Everything on Independent Book Review has been independently selected by a very picky group of people. We may earn a commission on items you purchase through our links.)
1. Library Card Socks
Can you ever have too many socks? These comfy feet-companions pay tribute to the due date card often seen in the backs on library books, and they’re one of those special, “Guess what I’m wearing,” kind of quiet library surprises that librarians love.
2. Book Tissue Box Cover
Whether they’re looking to spice up their home or their desk area, gifts for librarians like this one are sure to do the trick. Standard disposable tissue boxes fit well underneath this book-themed tissue box cover, and they give a literary feel to any common space.
3. Literary Candle
A candle is a gift that most librarians will find use for, but it’s made even more special with a notable writer’s quote on its surface. This candle is called the library scent and features wise words from Edgar Allan Poe.
4. Library Due Date Card Mug
Librarians love to drink hot beverages throughout the day, and what better mug to drink out of than this library-themed one? This mug resembles a traditional due date card and is one of those gifts for librarians that will get a lot of use.
5. Neck Reading Light
Reading at night can be a difficult task without the right equipment. This handy neck reading light allows people to continue reading without having to hold up a flashlight under the covers. It allows for a seamless handsfree reading experience at any hour.
6. Literary Pins
These fun book pins look great attached to work bags, purses, backpacks, or even clothing. The options are endless, as these pins will elevate any surface they’re attached to.
Does the librarian in your life love poetry? Check out The Best Gifts for Poets & Poetry Lovers!
7. Novel Teas
Tea lovers will rejoice at receiving a gift like this! It’s probably the tastiest option for people who love and read a lot of books.
8. Book Scarf
Librarians can keep cozy with a fashionable infinity scarf such as this. This one in particular features a plethora of books to help them rep their favorite hobby.
9. Reading Journal
Gifts for librarians can be hard to come up with, but this one is something that nearly all librarians will use. This reading journal will give them a designated space to jot down every title they finish and keep a good account of their reading accomplishments.
10. Audible Membership
There isn’t always time to cozy up with a good book, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the words on the page. Audiobooks are the BEST way to make use to the times that you can’t physically read, such as driving to and from work or doing activities that require your hands. I personally love it when doing dishes and cleaning! An audible subscription will make a great gift for librarians who enjoy hearing stories.
Try a 30 day Audible Free Trial to see how you like listening to audio books!
11. Book-Themed Canvas Pouch
This bookish canvas pouch and others like it would make great gifts for librarians who like to keep things their stationary organized. It’s a great option to hold loose pens, pencils, snacks, and other odds and ends.
12. Book Stack Earrings
Looking for something a little quirky to get the librarian in your life? Look no further than these fun book stack earrings. They’re a cute and small token of your appreciation that are more than appropriate for them to wear to work.
13. Shakespeare Mints
If you’re looking to give a small token of your appreciation or filling a gift bag or stocking for a librarian, these cool mints are definitely the way to go. Featuring Shakespeare on the cover, these Shakespearmints are a funny gift your librarian can enjoy and use after too many cups of coffee.
14. Personalized Library Stamp
Help make your librarian’s personal library just a little more memorable with this personalized stamp. This stamp can be customized to say your librarians name and stamped on the back of all of their treasured books.
15. Library Tote Bag
Tote bags are gifts that keep on giving. They can be used to tote around countless things like books, groceries, workout gear, and more. This one in particular features the popular library due date pattern featured on some of the gifts mentioned above, and I’d be hard-pressed to find a librarian who doesn’t use it.
16. Card Catalogue with Notecards
These note cards come with the timeless card catalogue box and can give a vintage feel to any librarian’s desk. You’ll be surprised how often they end up using it.
17. Library Jigsaw Puzzle
A good jigsaw puzzle challenges the mind, which is something many librarians would be interested in. This one in particular features two images (it’s double sided!) making it a great challenge for any library lover.
18. Thoughtful Bookmark
One of the more sentimental gifts on this list is a a special bookmark reminding your librarian of the impact they’ve made on you. This is a great gift to allow your children to give to their school librarian for the holidays or the end of the year.
19. Library Coaster Set
Tea, coffee, and books go hand in hand, which is why this library coaster set is a great gift for librarians. It come with a set of coasters that would complement any mug.
20. Quotation Stud Earrings
These little quotation stud earrings are great gifts for librarians who are a little more subtle. They’re simple, and would pair well with one of the shirts listed below.
21. “Support Your Local Library” T Shirt
There may not be a t-shirt more perfect for librarians than this one here. It sports a meaningful message and is visually appealing, making it great for librarians who like to dress casually. Here are some other book shirts if you want to browse though!
You might find more ideas for great gifts for librarians on some of our other literary gift lists!
22. Personalized Library Kit
It’s a bit of a given to assume that librarians are book lovers, and some of the greatest gifts for book lovers help them organize their own personal libraries. This personal library kit will assist them in lending their own books to friends and families, and ensuring that they get returned.
23. Book-Themed Pencil Holder
If you’re looking to liven up the desk of your local librarian, this book-themed pen and pencil holder will do the trick. It’s a great way to encourage organization and keep with the literary theme of their workplace.
24. Classic Book Handbag
A fashionable librarian will lose their cool after receiving this gift. Featuring the classic Pride and Prejudice book cover, it’s a purse they can be proud to be carrying. A good conversation starter too!
25. “The Reader” T Shirt
What a lovely toned-down t-shirt for librarians who like to keep it light and bookish. It comes in different colors and would make the perfect addition to any librarian’s closet, but I admit–I do love this blue one!
26. Coffee Tumbler
Keeping drinks warm all day won’t be a problem with a good insulated mug by your side. This bookshelf mug would make a great and useful present to give to a librarian.
27. “Bookmarks are for Quitters” Mug
There are a million mug and drinkware options you can give as gifts for librarians, but this one is one of the most popular and might have the best phrase on it. If your librarian is known to always have a good book in their hand, they’ll appreciate this gift.
Happy librarian gift giving! Want to pick out a book for them too? Here are the best books we read in 2022!
About the Curator
Jaylynn Korrell writes about books and gifts for Independent Book Review and GoodGiftLists.com.
Thank you for reading Jaylynn Korrell’s “27 Gifts for Librarians That They’ll Adore” If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.
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These cheap bookshelves will save you money for what you need most: more books.
It doesn’t matter what kind of reader you are, if you’ve got books, you’re going to want to shelve them properly. Without good bookshelves, you’ll be swimming in stacks and feeling guilty for buying too many. Don’t let that happen.
Beyond being just an attractive & organized space to feature splashes of different spine colors, bookshelves are an absolute necessity for people who read a lot of books.
Yet, a quick Google search will show you that bookshelves aren’t always the most affordable items.
While expensive bookshelves can be real show-stoppers, there are so many more options available to you. There are plenty of cheap bookshelves to choose from that will look great in both home and office.
While everyone’s idea of cheap is different, I had to draw the line somewhere. $150 is the ceiling for this list, but most of the shelves on it are much less than that. Small bookshelves, tall bookshelves, bookshelves kids would like, and everything in between are featured here. They would make great gifts for book lovers or a nice gift for yourself & your home library. I’m sure you deserve it.
Here are 15 cheap bookshelves that’ll look great in your home or office.
(Everything on IBR lists has been independently selected by a very picky group of people. We may earn a commission on items you purchase through our links.)
#1. Classic Oak Finish Bookshelf
If you want classic bookshelf vibes on the cheap, you’ll love this one. It features five tiers, making it a great option for a large amount of books without taking up too much horizontal space.
#2. Modern 5 Tier Bookshelf
This cheap bookshelf has a more modern industrial vibe to it. The sides are a bit open so you might need some cool bookends, but that just sounds like a good excuse to get even more creative with your display.
#3. Tree Style Bookshelf
This tree style bookshelf is one of our favorites. So often people think they need to have a library-esque bookshelf in their home, but it can be just as satisfying to add bookish flare to multiple rooms in your house. Bookshelves like these would look great in a bedroom or guest room.
#4. Leaning Bookshelf
A leaning bookshelf is the best way to display your best books and not have it take up too much room. These types of bookshelves look great in living and dining rooms. Try shaking things up and devoting one genre to a shelf like this.
#5. Ladder Style Bookshelf
Few things go better together than books and plants, and this ladder bookshelf showcases that effortlessly. Try pairing a few succulents next to new books in a space that gets drenched in natural light. This bookshelf will definitely shine through.
#6. Boxy Bookshelf
There’s just something about these oddly shaped bookshelves that make a room pop. They’re great storage options for any space, but when you throw some eye-catching books in there, it kind of beckons you to check them out. We love cheap bookshelves like these because they demand that you get creative.
#7. Standard Vertical Bookshelf
If you’re looking to give your large book collection its own space to thrive, this is the one to go with. It is the most standard bookshelf there is and can hold a ton of books. I should know; I have a few of these in my home.
If you don’t have enough books to fill it, you can always display one or two of your best or most exciting books in a square at a time. In the end, this will look like a part of your wall, just like we want out of our home library.
#8. Midcentury Style Bookshelf
This cheap bookshelf is the best option for bedrooms. Sure you can put it anywhere, but it’s that cozy kind of shelf that you can use to quit stacking too many books on your nightstand.
#9. Modern Industrial Bookshelf
We’re bringing back the boxy bookshelf, but this time it’s jagged! Featuring a few steel pieces in its frame, cheap bookshelves like this one can become a real focal point in any room. Could be a good place to put books that guests would be excited to see, because this thing will catch their attention.
#10. Small Tree Bookshelf
A good bookshelf doesn’t have to hold 1,000 books. A good bookshelf has to hold books–however few. This bookshelf is the perfect option for small spaces like desks, nightside tables, kitchen counters, and coffee tables. It’s one of the best small bookshelves we’ve found.
#11. Classic Small Cube Bookshelf
This cube-style bookshelf doesn’t take up too much room either. It could double as a nightstand or a cute mini bookshelf in any room. With such little space you have to be sure you curate the titles in this shelf carefully, but that honestly just sounds like fun to me.
#12. Industrial Ladder Bookshelf
Have a lot of books and have to get skinny with it? This bookshelf has 5 tiers but fits nicely into tight spaces like between your couch and wall.
#13. Classic Cube Bookshelves
Oh, the classic cube bookshelf! People have been using this cube storage in a million different ways since it got here, but it works wonders as a bookshelf. It’s a nice way to fit a bunch of books in one space, and it looks great and clean when lined up side by side. Wall of books? Yes please.
#14. Short 3 Tier Bookshelf
Short bookshelves like this one can go anywhere in the house, but I think they look really great in office spaces. Teachers get a lot of use out of little bookshelves like this one too. It’s a great first cheap bookshelf to own if you don’t have enough books to fill something bigger yet.
#15. Floating Bookshelf
If you don’t want your bookshelf to take up ANY space on the ground, try out these neat floating bookshelves. They get mounted right into the wall and add some elevation and finality to a space.
About the Author
Jaylynn Korrell writes here and for GoodGiftLists.com .
Thank you for reading 15 Cheap Bookshelves for Readers on a Budget by Jaylynn Korrell! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.
The post 15 Cheap Bookshelves for Readers on a Budget appeared first on Independent Book Review.
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