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Book Web Site To Aid Hurricane Victims

Chattanooga Times Free Press (Newspaper) - 3/23/2006 by Wire Report
For many victims of Hurricane Katrina, finding a good book to read as an escape from their worries can be difficult. The devastation caused by the hurricane left many libraries in the hardest-hit areas with little or no inventory.

To help, Atlanta-based PaperBackSwap.com will ship more than 5,000 books this spring, all donated by its members, to areas affected by the hurricane.

"Our members are avid book lovers, and they know what a good book can do to relieve stress and provide an escape," said Richard Pickering, co-founder of PaperBackSwap.com.

The Web site has more than 400,000 books posted by its members.

Unlike conventional libraries, books received from PaperBackSwap.com don't have to be returned. They either can be kept by requesting members or relisted on the site to earn a credit when other members request the book.

Membership to this Internet book-swapping club is free. The only charge is the postal cost of mailing a book via media mail, usually $1.59.