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 love PBS! I’ve been a member since 3/13/10. A little over 2 years. I love how I can get books I really really want for a small price. I’m not sure what I’d do without PBS!
I’ve been a member since 2006 and I rave about this website to everyone I meet! And as a result, I’ve got a huge bookshelf FULL of books I have not yet read, because I get in many more than I send out!!! 🙂 But I love it, and I loved meeting fellow members and PBS staff on the PBS cruise! Here’s to many more years, PBS!!!
I have been a member for almost 5 years – I cannot believe it has ben that long. I joined in November of 2007.
I have Been a proud member since 9-10-2005. It is almost My Swapaversery.
Love PBS! recommend it all the time.
I have been a member since 8/24/2009.
Happy 8th Birthday! Hope we have many more to come.
I’ve only been a member since May 2012, but PBS has given me great books to read and countless suggestions for more.
5 years and 125 books sent and received!
Happy birthday, PBS!! I’ve been a happy member since January 2006. 😀
Happy Birthday! I’ve been a member since 2/08/08. that’s a few 8’s for your 8th Birthday!
Happy 8th PBS!!!!!! I love it here! I’ve been a member since 7/25/07. I hope to enjoy more years to come.
Hi All,
I’ve been a member since 2008 and just love this site! I found reading books is a “place to hide”. I’ve been overwhelmed these last few years and find that reading is my escape and I can go to my Hidey place when I need too….my comfort food!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY and many, many more
Wow…I’ve been here 4 1/2 years. It doesn’t seem that long. I found a mention in a magazine. I had looked into another similar site and it seemed too cumbersome. I instantly loved PBS. I slowly discovered other aspects besides swapping and have met some of my best friends here!
I L O V E paperbackswap!
Simple as that… and I love volunteering with the staff when opportunities are available…
I am a member for life and tell EVERYONE I meet that reads… “you gotta go to paperbackswap.com !!
Now, I need to add to my 578 paperbacks… or is it 673?? anyways…
http://www.edparton.com/blog/paperback-swap-turns-eight/
I’ve been a member since 1-19-2009! 126 mailed! Glad I could make so many little wishes come true!
Goodness! I’ve been a member since January 2006 and I’ve sent out 758 books, not counting private swaps.
As a book addict, I’m so happy to have a way to feed my habit!
Thank goodness for PBS. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve told about it. I hope to be swapping for years to come.
I have been a proud member since 7/27/2005 just two days after godessani (Ani K) who I count as a special friend among the many members here. I have “turned on” so many people to PBS, I am thankful that I saw an article about PBS in my local paper in July 2005. PBS ROCKS!
I have been a member since 7/28/2010 and loving every minute!
I’ve only been a member since May, but I love it! It’s kind of helping me clean out all the books i’ve got laying around…I say kind of because I keep getting new things to read! 🙂
I’ve been a member since March 2009 and have rarely missed a day checking in! Have swapped lots of great books but the best part is getting to know my great PBS friends!
I’m a member since February 2010, and it’s really fantastic the new books I’ve been able to get and enjoy. Happy 8th birthday, PBS, and I hope you are around for a long time!
I’ve been a member since 9/13/2010 (my anniversary is coming up!) and I have been in love ever since! I’m involved with the site in a number of different ways and love that I can free up bookshelf space and get new books while knowing that the old ones are in a good home 🙂
I have been a member since Member Since: 9/20/2008
I have been a member since July 2006, six very happy “reading” years, with over 450 books mailed and 450 books received! Wishing PBS a very Happy Birthday!
Woo-hoo! I’ve been a member since 2005! Happy Birthday, PBS! and many more!
I already responded, but I just wanted to add that it would have been a bit more interesting or fun if, in keeping with the theme of the 8th aniversary of PBS, that the contest ended at 8:08 p.m. But that could just be my Asperger mind at work.
I’ve been a member since 1/13/08 and its been a great 4 years
I’ve been a member here since Feb ’07 and still going strong. The community here at PBS is awesome and I’m glad I found this place. 🙂
I have been a member since December 26, 2008. I love the fact that I can receive books that I love, but more so I love the fact that books I have read find a good home with other people who love to read.
A little over four years, 8/2/2008 wow, what a great time!
A proud member since 1/24/2008!!
My bookshelf thanks you PBS!
I have been a member since November 2006! Love PBS!!
Have been a member since July 2009. This site has been one of the worst things that has happened to me. My previously adequate bookshelves are now bulging and cracking, books are stacked in numerous corners and more often than not toppling over, too many hours of the day are spent lurking in the PBS forums or reading book reviews or hunting for WL books in UBS, and my marriage is in danger. Otherwise, I love PBS!
I’ve been a member since 2010. My two year anniversary is coming up! I dont know how I functioned before PBS! I’m always on the site, joining swaps, and find myself saying, “I wonder if that book is a WL book!” I’m also pretty sure everyone has heard me say, “On PBS today…”
Happy Birthday PBS!! I have been with you 7yrs 6/29/2005 I too had tooo many books and didn’t want to just give them away. I was sooooooooooo happy when I found you and knew the person I sent the book to WANTED the book . There have been many books swap in those years but my book shelves are still full…..
I just can’t say no to books. We really have grown !
Thank you Richard for keeping us the best wedsite online.
Happy 8th Birthday
I’ve been a member since 3/25/06–can’t believe it’s been six years of wonderful people and great reading! Thanks, PBS!
I have been a member since 11/11/11. I love this site and wish I had joined sooner! Thank you Richard and all the folks at PBS. Happy 8th Birthday!
Wow! So many comments! I have been a member since 2/07! I have met some really wonderful people on here thru the years and one very best friend. I have never found a reason to try any other book or chat sites because everything I need is right here. Picking books, donating books,sharing books thank you PBS for being all that you are!
ps Happy Birthday!
Been a member for 3 1/2 years. After finding this site I now have more books than I could possibly finish in a lifetime and it scarey because I keep getting more. Ive met some very interesting people on this site as well. Thank you PBS for enriching so many lives in so many different ways. Happy Birthday!
I’ve been a member for 2 years. Happy Birthday! Love the website!
It’s hard to believe, but I have been a member of PaperbackSwap for SIX YEARS! It has totally changed how I read. I have discovered countless new authors and tried so many genres. I am the go-to person when a friend or family member wants a book, and I am also the person who receives all the books others have finished with. I love sharing this site with others. I remember a time when I used to have to explain how the site worked….now, I just mention the site and most people have at least heard of it. The people at my post office know me as the “book lady.” I have “met” some wonderful people here too, which is just icing on the cake. PaperbackSwap is worth the price I pay for the internet every month, and I hope it is around forever. Happy 8th Birthday!
Happy birthday my favorite website! I joined on 8/26/2006. Can’t keep away.
I have been a member since 1/22/07
Happy 8th birthday and hopefully many more!!
I found PBS on Google in a search for Any Two Can Play by Elizabeth Cadell. That was Feb, 2006, and I’ve been a member ever since! PGS has become the only addiction to rival my love of reading!
I’ve been here since 9-18-05….it’s almost my anniversary too! WOW! I adore this site and love the friends I’ve made here. It’s amazing to me that I have been here this long and that I’ve been able to be involved as much as I have. I love helping people so being a Tour Guide is a great way for me to contribute! 🙂
over 4 years =) <3 PBS!
I have been a member since 12/27/2010. Happy 8th birthday PBS!
I have been a member since April 21, 2005!! I have been loving the site since then!! Wow, does not seem like it has been that long!!!
I joined PBS just a little under a year ago, in Oct. 2011. I wish I had known about this site years ago – just thinking about all the great deals I could’ve gotten! Plus I love the fact the my used books are going to good, book-loving homes! Keep up the great work!
My goodness, how good times fly. I’ve been a member since May 23, 2005!