PaperBackSwap: The Internet's Hidden Gem

It was one of those happy coincidences that while I was searching the Internet for a way to publish some of my writing I had come across a Web site called PaperBackSwap. Although it wasn't precisely what I was looking for I decided I'd check it out as I was interested in books.

Soon as the home page opened in my browser the first thing I noticed was the Blue and Yellow Triangle logo which is in-itself a hint at how PaperBackSwap works. Its quite simple, you swap books back and fourth with other members, using whats called 'Credits' as currency.

After clicking on the image of a book to learn how it works I discovered it was quite easy:

*Join and list 10 books that you wish to trade, once you list 10 books, you get 2 free start-up credits so you can order books.

*If a book you want is available, doesn't matter if its Paperback or Hardback, you order it for 1 credit. Audio-books are 2 credits.

*If you search a book and it is unavailable, you can add it to your "wish list" and you will be notified by email once its available or if you so choose, you can even have it automatically take a credit from your account and have it book sent on to you with no email.

*When someone orders a book from your list, you will be notified by email with the address of the person you send the book to, PaperBackSwap will even provide you with the wrapper to wrap and send the book.

*Once the book is marked as "Received" by the requestor, you earn the credit or if it is an Audio-book, then you will receive 2 credits.

*Once you receive your book, either print or audio, its yours too keep! Once you are finished with it, you can even re-list it for trading again.

Once I finished reading how to join, I signed up immediately and listed 10 books. I have been a member since December '07 and have already found books that I couldn't find in my local library and I even found the book that was missing from my wife's collection. So I was able to surprise her when I presented her with the book she was needing.

Some people who read this article maybe of the opinion that PBS just sounds like a glorified 'bookworm' hangout but I can honestly say that it isn't. It offers more that just books, once you sign up you can access the site's chat room where there is the friendliest people of the uppermost caliber, who will happily inquire as to how you are doing or if you have any problems or questions that they can help you with.