Today PaperBackSwap turns 8!
For those of you who don’t know the history, our Founder Richard Pickering found himself with many many books. Not wanting to throw them away, and quickly losing the battle to store them he first tried setting up a lend-to-friends library. Soon people were leaving more books with Richard. That obviously wasn’t the answer. He kept mulling over the idea of how to share his books with others who would love to read them. And soon the idea for PaperBackSwap was born.
At first the site was a place for friends, and friends of friends to swap books. And it grew and grew and grew from there. Today PaperBackSwap has members in every state, and every US territory across the globe.
In what is truly a labor of love, PaperBackSwap is first a wonderful site to swap books, but it is also a place to find friends, community, new authors and a connection to a larger world.
For PaperBackSwap’s 8 year anniversary, we asked 8 members to tell us about 8 books that have mattered to them. For the next 8 days, here on the Blog, we will feature a member a day and their personal story of their love of books.
And of course what better way to celebrate 8 than with a contest for our wonderful members! Our birthday present to you, 8 book credits to 8 members!
To enter our PBS is 8!! drawing, just respond to this post and tell us how long you’ve been a member of PBS. If you aren’t sure how long you’ve been a member, you can find it in “My Profile” under “My Account”. If you haven’t chosen a nickname or made a profile yet, now would be a great time. Simply go to “My Account”, choose “Settings” and click “Set Up a Profile”. You can also see the date you joined on each forum post you write.
We will draw 8 responses at random to receive 8 credits each! The contest will end on Saturday, September 8, 2011 at 8:00 pm. We will announce the 8 winners of 8 credits each on Wednesday, September 12, 2011.
Good Luck to all and Happy Birthday PBS!
Tags: Contests, Free Credits, Milestones
I have been a member Since: 7/8/2005
Have loved every minute of it. Thank you!!
I have been a member for just over 4 years and I absolutely love this site. What a fantastic way to share books. Thank you!!!
I’ve been a member since 10/24/2007. It’s been a great source of hard-to-find books and homeschooling materials. 🙂
I’ve been a member since 10/26/2008.
I was looking for a way to recycle my old books instead of throwing them out. I was so excited to swap my first book. Almost four years later, I still get excited when I get to send out another book!
I have been a paperback swap member for almost 2 and a half years. I absolutely love this site and recommend it all the time. I prefer second-hand books and this is the best way to do it! Thank you paperback swap, and happy birthday!! 🙂
I have been a member since March 2009 and think this site it the best thing since sliced bread! I have SO many books to read that I have traded and many more on my Wish List! As soon as I read about a book that interests me, I search for it! I am truly addicted to swapping!!
I’ve been a member since 9/29/2008. I love the site and have found some really great books for my self and my daughters!
Fun to hear the story of how PBS got its start. I joined back on 6/24/2005 and have swapped and swapped here since. 🙂 Happy 8th, PaperBackSwap!
I’ve been a member since April 2008.
Member Since: 12/6/2007
The time has flown. I love this site. I always check here before ordering hard copy books. 🙂
I love paperbackswap.com. I have been a member since 04/22/2010. I check out this site everyday. I love it when someone finds something on my bookshelf they want. I know I always will find something I like since I have a long wish list and even longer reminder list.
Since April 2011; great way to recycle books.
I joined on 10/7/11, 11 months ago. I love being able to give books to good homes and “shop” for new ones. I also think it’s fun to track where my books have come from or go. PBS is great!
I have been a member since 8/16/2007!!
PBS is awesome!! Happy 8th PBS!!!
I’ve been a member since 9/13/2007, so it’s almost my 5th PBS birthday!
I’ve been a member for 3 1/2 years, 2/2009, and love all the books I’ve swapped.
Been a member since 3/12/07 and have loved every minute of it!
I have been a member since 3/5/2009. LOVE LOVE LOVE this site and share it with all my book loving friends.
I joined on Feb. 26 of this year. I am looking mostly for knitting books to add to my collections. I read all the time and have had lots of fun looking for new books.
Happy 8th !! I have been a happy member since, 4/22/2007 and love it~
I’ve been a member of PBS for over 6 1/2 years! It is my favorite website and I’ve gotten so many amazing books.
I havebeen a member since Sept 2009! Love your website. I have been ableto find lots of books that I can’t get at my local library.
I have been a member for about 2 years. I enjoy getting the new books, but I also enjoy meeting new people through the website. Thanks.
I’ve been a member since 7/13/2005
I have been a member since Oct 2007 and have been swaping books ever since! It is my go-to place for books that are hard to find.
6/11/2008
Love PBS! Been a member since 4/2009! Time flies! Getting a book in the mail from my wish list is always a wonderful suprise! Happy birthday.
Became a member in 12/2005 and love it! We’re a military family and move often and sometimes don’t live in places with good libraries or bookstores and PBS has been a lifesaver! Even got to meet some of my fellow swappers on the cruise this past February. Happy Birthday, PBS!!!
Happy Birthday! I have been a member since April of 2007. I cannot thank you enough for this site. Most of my favorite reads have come from this great community. A special thanks to those of you have posted text books and required college books. You all have saved me so much money. Plus, there is just nothing like shipping a book off to someone who is eager to read it.
Happy Birthday; I hope this site lives a long long time.
I’ve been a member for almost a year! I love bodybuilding books!
I have been a member here since 3/2/2009 and love PBS so much that I volunteer on here as well! It is a great site, and I would never have the book collection I have today if it weren’t for PBS!
Well, it looks like PBS and I have more in common than books. We have the same birthdate!! Happy Birthday to Us! 🙂
2/26/2009 is the day I became a member, (3 1/2 years) a decision I have never regretted. I have discovered many new authors and have some new favorites. I’ve also discovered “games” and have made some friends. Thanks for a great ride PBS! Time flies when you’re having fun!
Happy birthday PBS! I’ve been a member since 4/26/2010 and have loved every minute, and am looking forward to more years to come!
I have been a member since 7/5/07. I love this website! Whenever I see people reading books, buying books, talking about books, I tell them about PBS. The hardest part is convincing them that you pay to mail your books and then people send you books on their dime. So much trust is involved. It is a great hurdle for them to get over. I have mailed 267 books to date and have received 252. I’m so proud of the growth of this site and all of the good things that come out of it. Those 252 books are putting off my purchasing an e-reader. I keep saying, I can’t get an e-reader until I finish all the books on my shelf 🙂
I have been a member of PBS for less than a year and LOVE it! Greatest idea ever.
I have been a member since 11/2/2005. I’ve gotten some beautiful books and even better made some great friends. Happy Birthday PBS -the best book swap site ever!
I’ve been a member since 1/27/2007. Man, looking at some of these other join dates are making me feel old and I feel like I should be on my porch telling whippersnappers to get off my lawn!
I’ve been a member since 4/12/2007! I have mailed 418 books and received 365 — I for every day of the year! 🙂 What a great story about how PBS started! <3 my PBS! Made some good friends, too!
I’ve been a member since 9/14/2007-soon to be five years!!!~~ and have shared it with everyone I talk to when we get to talking about books. I’m a grandma of 8! grandkids and one of them is an avid reader like his grandma so I am always getting him books from here as well as myself. It’s a great Idea and I’m so glad Mr Pickering came up with it and started this website! Thank You so much!!!!!!!
HBD, PBS! I have been a member since December 2006 with 299 outgoing books and 267 books received in that time. But I wish I had a count of how many times I have recommended this site to people.
I’ve been a member since Member Since: 2/25/2009 and looking forward to many more years to come 🙂 Thank you PBS!
I have been a member since 7/18/2010
2.2.2007!
I had no idea how long it had been for me, nearly six years! 277 books received and counting! 🙂
4/8/2007 since then….
and i have recvd 1,059 books…….OMG wow to myself lol lol
I joined on 5/29/2007. I’m hooked.
Member Since: 12/18/2005.
Books mailed: 454.
Books received: 488.
Favorite author: Augusten Burroughs.
*NOTE: Everywhere I go, everyone I meet, from old friends to total strangers, if our conversation turns to books and reading, (which it often does,) I immediately turn them onto PBS. With a look of confusion, their eyes usually light up and they reply with a “Really? You can do that?” Then, after a brief explanation of the book-swapping process and an exchange of personal email addresses, I am almost always guaranteed a response in the future when that persons gratefully thanks me for my recommendation to PaperBackSwap. PBS has always been a great conversation-starter and I’ve made numerous new friends over the years from my participation on the site. It’s a win-win for everyone! Thank you PBS! ~Rumples
I’ve been a member since 10/12/2006 and I’ve loved every minute of it!
I’ve been a member since August 20, 2006. Thanks for everything!
Joined PBS 11/10/2006. Have sent out (and received) over 1,000 books in that time….no wonder I have no more room than I started with in the house for books. In addition to getting some great books, I have met some great people through PBS. Some have become good & valued friends even if we have never met face to face – though I have had the pleasure of meeting several in person.
Plan to continue swapping for as long as PBS exists….
I’ve been a member since 12/20/2010. I’ve found some marvelous books here, and it gives me a lot of pleasure to send out books to people who will truly appreciate them. Happy Birthday PaperBackSwap, you’re the greatest!