NEW YORK — One budget line Wendy Li isn’t
watching even in this tight economy is her spending on books. That’s because she
uses PaperbackSwap.com, one of the book trading sites that are growing in
popularity.

“All I have to pay for is the postage,” said Li, a
44-year-old banker in New York City. A diet of three books a month costs her
only about $6, clearly a bargain for an avid reader.

Whether it’s trading titles, downloading e-books
or tapping discounts at major retailers, borrowing from the library isn’t the
only way readers can cut costs.

Here are five ways to ensure that your love of
reading doesn’t become a casualty to high food and gas prices.

Start swapping:

If you’ve got books to barter, check out sites
such as PaperbackSwap.com, Bookins.com and BookMooch.com.

The rules are simple; generally you list the books
you’re willing to trade. Every time you mail a title out, you get a credit or
point, which you can redeem for a book. At PaperbackSwap.com, which lists 2.4
million books, you also can purchase credits for $3.45.

Membership is free on all three sites, so your
only cost is shipping. Mailing a paperback at the lowest rate typically takes
about seven days and generally costs less than $3. After you get a book, it’s
yours to keep if you wish.

One drawback to these sites is that new or rare
titles may be hard to find. Also, because you’re trading with strangers, you
won’t get the same guarantees as with a retailer.

Buy smart at major retailers:

If you’re ordering a book online, remember to
compare prices at major retailers. On Amazon.com, for example, a new paperback
copy of the best-seller “Eat, Pray, Love” was listed for $9, compared with
$10.50 at Borders.com and $13.50 for nonmembers at BarnesandNoble.com.

Go electronic:

With the help of volunteers, the nonprofit Project
Gutenberg compiles e-books and offers 25,000 free titles at www.gutenberg.org.
The catalog includes fiction, nonfiction and reference books no longer protected
by copyright.

DailyLit.com sends serialized books via e-mail.
You can set the time it arrives in your inbox and adjust the size of how much
text you want in each installment.

Hit the pavement:

Trade in your unwanted books at a used-book store.
Most used book stores don’t pay much, but you might get a better deal in store
credits.

Set aside some time to browse the shelves. They
may not be as tidy or well organized as at a major chain, but you may come
across a rare or out-of-print title you wouldn’t find elsewhere.

Buy at the library:

Libraries often hold sales to clear out space for
new books. Prices are generally even lower than at used-book stores.
While you’re there, don’t forget to sign up for a library card if you don’t
already have one. You won’t be the only one checking out books in this economic
climate.