With one credit you may choose to receive any one of the over two million books already listed into the system. When a book comes to you, it does not cost you any money, it just costs you one PBS credit. Despite the name of the site they do allow swapping of hardcover books and board books. Audiobooks in cassette and CD format are also there but those cost two credits.
PBS has a wish list that allows you to input up to 200 books that you want that are not right now listed into the system. You wait in queue until the books become available. When they are available you are told of that and asked if you want the book, to go to the site and request it. If you know for sure you want it ahead of time, there is a button to click that will have the system automatically send it to you without asking you first.
There is a reminder list that you can add even more books into. I use the reminder list like an overflow wish list. I intentionally check the reminder list to can see if the books are in the system today you can then choose to order that book if you want. If a book on your reminder list is in the system now and is available that book pops right to the top of your reminder list.
One example of how I use PBS is to give away children's books that we are finished with, such as those we used in our homeschooling. Then I receive books that I am looking for such as books on my hobbies or other books that I'd like to own and read but that I'd prefer not to buy for full price new or to hunt high and low for the book if it is out of print. I have also swapped out cookbooks and books on hobbies that I'm no longer using to get books about my current interests.
PBS has discussion forums. There is a homeschooler’s corner there. That is convenient for posting when you have entered books into the system that you know are of special interest to other homeschoolers. People also chat there about homeschooling topics and ask questions about books and curriculum. The homeschooler’s forum is active. People do swap out curriculum on PBS too. Other examples of the way people use the forum is they will post when they have listed Sonlight or Five in a Row titles, or when they list teacher’s manuals for curriculum that a member may not realize has just been listed.
Also in the discussion forums is the Bargain Bazaar. That area is where people offer deals. Deals are things like 2 books for 1 credit, or 3 for 1 or 4 for 1 and sometimes even 10 for 1. Often people give offers for children’s books.
I have been on PBS for nearly two years. We have used many of these books in our homeschooling. It is great!
I am still a fan of attending used book sales held as library fundraisers. However PBS can be better for getting a book you need right now or that you are not coming across at library sales despite keeping an active eye open for it. Today at a tag sale, I found a third book in a series which my younger son begged me to buy, so I did. Now I will go to PBS to request books one and two, espeically if my local public library does not have those two books in circulation.
If you go on vacation or get too busy and don’t want to swap for a while you can put your account on hold with just a click of a button and that will pause the ability for people to request books from you.
As I said PBS membership is free. If you want to join and if you click through my link below or if you put my PBS member name down (ChristineMM—the same as my blog name) as me being the referring person then I get one free referral credit and I get to get one free book courtesy of you! If you do this, thank you in advance!
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