Paperbackswap.com

I would never get away with my new book snobbishness (I’m now purging my house of mass market paperbacks) if it weren’t for paperbackswap.com. Its the perfect place to unload those dry classics you read in college, and replace them with something jucier. Or drier, if that’s your thing. It’s where you can take that great European travel book and replace it with What To Expect When You’re Expecting. Or trade the how-to-make-a-million-overnight book with a living-on-a-shoestring guide. You get the picture.

The process is simple. Once you have registered on paperbackswap, you gather up the books you no longer want, and post them to the system, using the ISBN number (which can be found on the back cover or with all the publishing info on one of the first pages). Then, when someone wants your book, a request is sent to your email. You can either accept or reject their request, depending on if you can actually find the book, and if it meets their conditions). You mail the book to their address at your cost. Then when they receive the book, they mark it and you get one credit toward a book request of your own, which someone else mails to you on their dime. simple, right?

Of course, some books are more popular than others. You may post your copy of The Da Vinci Code, but it gets put in back of the list of all posted Da Vinci Code books with your ISBN. And since the DaVinci code is SO five years ago, it may not be requested for a long time. Conversely, just try to get your hands on a copy of Breaking Dawn (the 4th Twilight book.) There are nearly 1,000 people waiting for it right now.

So, what’s the benefit of paperbackswap over, say, the book section of a thrift store? Well, paperback swap is like taking the book section of all the thrift stores in your state and putting them together into one. Minus the old National Geographics and 1970′s Encyclopedias. Also, besides books (hardcover and paperback) for all ages, paperbackswap offers audiobooks for 2 credits each. Considering how rare used audio books are, that is a great deal.

Paperbackswap is entirely free to use. You can pay for certain features, like having the postage printed right on the wrapper, or extra book credits, but the typical user doesn’t pay for anything except shipping their books out to other members. Beyond the basic book-swapping, PBS has a great community with lots of stuff to do and see. You can make lists of books you’ve read, suggest books to friends, rate and review books, use your ratings to find something else you might like, visit the forum, play games, read things written by other members, swap recipes…. basically, it’s the go-to site for librophiles like me.

if you sign up, add me (hookedonmonix)to your buddy list. I look forward to seeing you there!