How Pothio works

1. 1. Add books you own

   Scan a barcode, snap a photo of your whole shelf, or search the title to build your shelf in minutes. These are simply the books you have.

2. 2. Offer them for swap

   Flip a book to “Available to swap.” You can hand it over in person — handy if you're in the same society, campus, or office — or post it anywhere in India. List 5 books as available to give and you'll earn a +2 Karma welcome bonus, enough to make your first request.

3. 3. Request books you want

   Find a book you'd love and tap Request. When the owner accepts, they get it to you — and a new reader gets a new story.

4. 4. Swap close to home

   Join your society, university, or workplace on Pothio to see what the people right next to you are offering, so a swap can be as easy as a handover in the lobby.

5. 5. Karma, in one breath

   Karma isn't money — it's just a way of keeping the giving fair. Here's the whole of it:

   • +2

     StartPut 5 books on your shelf to give — your first two requests are on us.

   • +1

     GiveWhen a book you send arrives, you earn one.

   • −1

     ReceiveWhen an owner accepts your request, you spend one.

   After your first two, each book you give funds the next one you receive. Nothing is bought, nothing expires — the circle just keeps turning.

6. 6. Always free

   Pothio is free, forever, and not-for-profit. No fees, no selling. The only thing you ever pay is your own postage, and only if you choose to ship.

Give a book, get a book, keep reading.