How to Join and Use Paperback Swap

Bibliophiles have a major weakness: books. You know the feeling. You walk into a bookstore- new or used, or a library and the mere smell of the books sends tingles straight down to your toes. You find yourself wandering aimlessly down aisle after aisle of books, stopping to touch their spines or perhaps thumb through a few pages. For the book lover, this is heaven.

Unfortunately, the price of books can be prohibitive for those who love to collect them and read them. Yard sales, used book stores and library book sales are great places to find books at reduced prices, but one of my favorite places to find all the books I want to read is Paperback Swap.

It's a simple concept, but one that works fabulously and helps to fulfill the bibliophile's constant need to be surrounded by books.

Joining Paperback Swap is easy and best of all it's free! You just need to provide your valid email address and a mailing address so that you can have books mailed to you. Then you just list all the books you would like to swap and they do not have to be just paperbacks. Hardbacks are also acceptable. When you have nine books listed, you will get three free book credits from Paperback Swap. You can use these credits to pick out books that you would like to have sent to you.

Search for books that you would like to read and click on "Order This Book". The person who has the book will send it to you. It is yours to keep and you pay nothing.

If a book that you have listed is requested by another member you will receive an email from Paperback Swap letting you know that it has been requested. You respond to the request. Then you will print out a mailing label, which you wrap the book in. Take the book to the post office and pay for the mailing costs (this is usually $2.13 for a paperback) and send it on its way to another member. Packages mailing less than one pound can be mailed from your home using postage stamps.

When the member receives the book you will receive a book credit that will allow you to order another book from a member. You are also able to purchase credits. Paying to have delivery confirmation added to the mailing label allows you to receive an instant credit when the post office scans the delivery confirmation number into their system.

I cannot sing the praises of this site enough. It has allowed me to read books that I might otherwise have been unable to afford. It also has some of the friendliest participants around. With over one million books to choose from you are certain to find something you want to read. Check it out today and see for yourself how easy it is to get books for nearly free.