Because really, I think I'm addicted, lol.

Lately, I've been going to the Goodwill Store in the town where I work.  They have a nice little wall of books, and if anything looks promising, I'll jot down about 20 ISBN numbers on a piece of paper, then log on when I get to work and check to see if anyone is wishing for them.  If they're on anyone's WL, I'll go back and buy them when I get off work.  (There's always at least one, and last week I was thrilled because I found 4 WL books in one trip!)

Why am I doing this?  I have no idea, lol.  I'm not hurting for credits.  In fact, in the last week alone, I have mailed out more books to other members  than the total number of books I've requested for myself since signing up.  I just like doing it.  It makes me feel like Santa Claus, and I like to think that I'm making someone's day brighter.  Besides, it's not like 50 cents a book plus postage is going to break me.  And I can always justify it by saying that I never know when I might need those credits later . . . to stock a library for a small third-world country, lol.  (Okay, so it's not quite THAT bad.)

So am I the only person who's nuts enough to do this?  Am I enjoying this too much?  Do I need a 12 step program?  Anybody want to form a PBS addicts/WL fillers support group?  :)

I bought like 50 books last weekend at the FOL sale mostly just to post.  10 of those were audiobooks that I loaded onto my IPOD.  But some were books I've already read that I got just to post and beef up my boxing shelf.  I have 40 credits. I didn't really need anymore. I have 500 books in my TBR.

I do this too, but I just pick up promising looking books, and come home and see if they're WLd or have short lines.  Those I can't use I take to the FOL or the UBS.  Like you, I don't need the credits, but it feels so good to fulfill someone's book wish - I'm an 'enabler'.  LOL. Pat

Hey Amy,

    You are not alone!!!  LOL   I feel like I am definitely an enabler!  I have been an avid reader all my life and it's just great to be able to connect with others like myself.   Unlike alot of you however, I just joined about a month ago so I am still in the process of building my credits up.  I have sent out twice the number of books I have requested though.  Like someone else said, it makes you feel like Santa Claus!   I login numerous times a day just to check out not only my account, but also the discussion forums.   It's always such a thrill to find a book has been requested from me!  So, yes, I am an addict ! LOL

I enter contests I find on blogs if they're books with a lot of members wishing for them. If I had a Goodwill in my area or found a book at a used bookstore I knew was wish listed I would probably buy it just to list it. I'm always short on credits it seems. I've got about as many books as I've sent so things have kept pretty even where my points are concerned!

I'm addicted as well.  I've read many posts that talk about getting books at a goodwill store and so I was very excited to hear they are building a new goodwill store in my town!  I bet not many people are as excited as I am for this store to open!   I think it's a sign of addiction to PBS if your excited about a goodwill store opening. 

I'm addicted to the whole concept of PBS, and I love trading books and talking books with other bookaholics....but I don't go out and buy books to post, except twice a year when I do my local FOL sale. And then I usually limit myself to spending $40 each time. I have enough books on my own TBR stacks to post when I'm done reading, and am rolling in credits...I don't have the postage money to send more than I already do.

Anyway, why would anyone WANT to be cured from this addiction. Revel in it! :-D

Cheryl

I'm addicted as well - but I don't want to be cured.  I can't go out and look for books but I do beg every family member to give me their good condition books. 

I want to know - Amee - how do you find these blogs with contests?  Is there a search engine for that?

Ruth

ETA -  even if we don't need the credits (I always do) - getting these books helps out the inventory on PBS and that's always a good thing - especially if they are WL'd.

Mrs. Lefty - you made me feel much better about my TBR - I have "only" a little more than 300 on my TBR!!!  ;D

I think it's the thrill of the hunt!  If I saw a book at Goodwill that I knew was on WL, I'd buy it to post as well.  Don't need the credits, I have plenty, but I like the idea of making someone's day with a hard to find book they've been waiting for.  You can always give extra credits back to PBS or I like to send some to newbies who are credit poor because I remember that feeling oh so well from when I first joined.

Ruth -- Yes, I have used search engines before, but those usually only turn up contests on larger sites and not the ones on personal blogs.

A few places you can go:

Author blogs-- They often hold contests for their own books and for other authors' books within their publishing house as well. The more established authors are more likely to giveaway other authors' books because they get sent the ARCs for possible cover blurbs or to mention on their blogs since there are obviously readers frequenting that blog!

Book Blogs-- The YA blogosphere seems to be the most prominent in giveaways (in my experience) but there are giveaways on all kinds of book blogs. They often link to each others contests too so you might go to one blog and find links to three other contests!

You can find book blogs through search engines and then go through their links list to find other similar blogs.

Larger book sites-- Bookreporter.com has contests for ARCs often (usually from the mystery/crime genres) as well as contests for gift baskets featuring a certain genre of book (like women's fiction). Those gift baskets tend to be final copies.

Teensreadtoo.com for YA giveaways. They have a monthly contest for a bag of books (usually 4-5 books).

Finally, publishers websites-- Publishers are now on Twitter and/or Facebook and will give out books that way. They also have contests directly on their websites too.

I definitely am a member of your "PBS wish-fillers addicted" group!!!  lol

Several weeks ago, I was searching to see what children's books are wishlisted.  Several were available through the Scholastic Flyer that I send home with my students......and I bought them......yup.....paid for them....just to get them into the system and grant those wishes.  Made me smile to think of how happy and excited these children would be to get them!!!

I never thought of it in that way......but your right.......is it that "Santa Claus" feeling!!!!!!

edited for typo

Hi, I'm Terri and I am a compulsive book-hunting addict :)

Our public library doesn't have book sales anymore..... instead, after a recent renovation, they have a whole wall of books for sale all the time!!!! And they are constantly adding to them.  Some are ex-library books, but most are books donated to the FOL.  I'm talking about a bookhunting paradise!    I stop in at least once a week..... and I gather up books and sit in a chair with my cellphone and connect to the PBS mobile site.  I can find out instantly if the books are wishlisted.  I can honestly say that at least 75% of the books I buy are NOT for me, but for other PBS members.   With postage, it still ends up being less than buying a credit.  And I feel like a good PBS citizen by adding books into the system.  Oh, and yes, there is that Santa Claus feeling, too.  Not to mention, I have brought home books that were WLed and ended up reading them because they sounded interesting, thus opening my horizons to books that I probably never would have thought to read.  So it's definitely a win/win for me!

We also have a great Salvation Army thrift store, and a Goodwill, and they recently opened a St Vincent de Paul thrift store, and my husband thinks I've lost my mind because I can't pass a thrift store without going on a book safari :)

I am so glad that I am not alone!  :) 

And now we've all been enabled, so Monday afternoon, I guess I'll be fighting to stay away from Goodwill . . .(I'd say I need a hobby, but apparently this IS my hobby, lol.)

I do buy some interesting combinations of WL books from Goodwill, though.  The other day, I purchased a book about multiple personality disorder, a book about sightings of the Virgin Mary, and a book of Wiccan spells.  I don't know what the cashier must have been thinking when she rang me up - maybe that one of my personalities was Catholic and another was Wiccan?  ;)

My name is Bernie and I am a bookaholic.

Thank you all !!  I am so glad to find out I am not alone.  I started with PBS aboutu 1.5 years ago and have been buying books for about a year just to grant wishes.  My BF thinks I'm nuts but I know how I feel when I get a book in the mail and the thought of making someone's day, makes me smile.

I'm a PBS addict and I'm proud... :)

My name is Donna and I am a bookaholic. (but I don't want to change)

Thanks, Amee!  I think you are a much more determined searcher than I am.  I'd get tired very quickly of searching for all those sites and contests.  I like to read some blogs - but I'm fickle and lose interest in them after a while.  I don't even read my DD's blog!  (I know - that's cruel)  There's only so much reading I can do on a computer monitor.  I don't think I'll ever be a Kindle owner. 

Ruth

I am waiting for my DH, the guy at the P.O., and my boss to schedule an intervention. Especially my DH, because everytime he passes the bookshelf (which now sways in the middle as if about to implode on itself) he looks increasingly concerned.

My name is Bonnie and I am a bookaholic.  I have bins of books packed in my shed as I have no space in my mobile home to keep them.  We are saving toward a house and my family keeps telling me about the library they will build me to put my books.  I watch for WL books also at the Goodwill, Salvation Army stores.  Yard Sale Season is almost here!! YEA!  I always find great books at the yard sales.  I love my addiction and PBS.

Ruth -- I'm big on signing up for newsletters. The bigger websites and publisher websites I mentioned send them out weekly or monthly and include any contests in them. I generally only read about 10 blogs with any regularity. I just wait until the ones I do read tell me about a contest elsewhere. Same with author blogs. There are some I read regularly but they also lead me to other blogs for giveaways. I've really just stumbled upon all the above information slowly. I haven't been scouring the Google search engines for it all. ;)

i'm so addicted. i went to a new used bookstore today and got 3 books for $5 ... i wanted to buy soooooooooo much more, but i don't read quick enough.  It's sad.  I'm going to have so many books.

What a great post to read on my Monday :-)

I too really love this site...I just joined a new bookclub and have been buying the books new rather than go to the library.  After the club session, i know I will post these books and see them on their way.  Half the fun is learning the new towns to where all my books travel. 

Best to all,

Stephanie

Amy, I like the "Santa Claus" feeling, too. :)

Whether I need credits or not, I tend to keep my eye out for book deals (i.e. 50 cents or less) on good-looking books I can post.  I live near some great thrift stores and library book sales that keep me supplied.  I usually just take my chances with books that look good to me and bring them home, but I have been known to go to the thrift store with my cell phone and my daughter stationed at the computer at home to check ISBN's for me. (Should I admit that?)   I love the feeling that I helped someone find just the book they were looking for. 

However--isn't the first step of a program the need to want to change?  I wouldn't qualify then....  I love my addiction! ;)

Dana, if you have web access from  your cellphone, use the PBS mobile site.  Since I found out about that, I use it all the time to check ISBNs for WL status.  It's awesome!

I'm with all of you, there is something very satisfying about having books that are on others' WL - and I feel pressured to finish those books more quickly.  I wish there were more UBS or library sales near where I am - I'm a sucker and usually buy a WL book for full price (especially if I'm far down on the list) because I can "justify" the purchase by posting it here!

ETA: plus, I love the discussion forums!