How it works
Ketab Gardesh is a free, peer-to-peer book circulation network for readers across the United States — any language. No store, no subscription, no platform cut — just books moving from one reader to the next.
Step by step
List a book you've finished
Add the book to your library: title, author, condition, and an optional photo of the cover. Your listing appears instantly in the public browse page for anyone to find. You stay as the book's current holder until you approve a request.
Someone requests it
Readers browse or search by title, author, or category. When they find a book they want, they send a request. If the book is already in circulation (with another reader), they can join the waitlist and get notified when it becomes available again.
Approve & ship
You review the request and approve it. The requester then pays for a prepaid USPS Media Mail label (typically $4–$8 depending on weight and distance) and it is emailed to you. You pack the book and drop it at any USPS location — no printer required if you use a QR code drop-off. Ketab Gardesh never takes a cut; the label purchase is postage pass-through.
Confirm delivery & leave a rating
Once the book arrives, the recipient confirms delivery and can leave a short rating. Ratings build trust in the community — they help future holders and requesters know who they're exchanging with.
Relist and keep it moving
When you're done reading, relist the book. It now travels with a journey history — a record of every city it has passed through. Over time a single book can reach dozens of readers across the country.
No fees. Ever.
Ketab Gardesh does not charge for listings, requests, or membership. The only cost in any exchange is the shipping label, which the recipient pays directly to USPS. USPS Media Mail is the lowest-cost domestic mail class for books — typically $4–$8 for most shipments. See current rates →
Your address stays private
Your mailing address is never shown publicly. It is only shared with the other party after both sides have confirmed the exchange — and only for that specific shipment.