In the newsletter they asked for credit or cash donations but I don't see where they said they would use the credits and cash....WHAT IS THIS FOR??

Thanks ahead

It's to maintain the site and keep it running.

from the Friends of PBS page:

We've been asked so many times by members for a way to give back to the club. Members who love swapping here tell us they want to support the club, and to be sure it continues to grow.

In response to the pleas we have gotten of "What can I do to keep PaperBackSwap going?" we have made the Friends of PBS feature available. To become a Friend, you can just click here to donate credits or PBS Money to the club. This will really help out the site! It seems strange, we know, but donating credits back is really great - the IRS requires us to maintain a financial liability for the cost of all credits issued on the site. This liability impacts the clubs operations and limits our options on future growth.

Donating back just your startup credits (2 if you joined after 10/5/2007, 3 if you joined before then) means that those credits can be recycled to new members and will reduce the overall liability to the club. Giving back more than your startup credits helps more! You can also give PBS Money if you like (who doesn't like money?). Members who reach the "Silver" donation level will get a badge to wear with honor on profile and forum posts; higher donation levels have their own badge desgination. The badges will be "cumulative" - so if you donate now and donate again later, these donations will add together to determine your badge.

In additon I think that (for now) this is in lieu of membership fees and ads. My fiance is a web developer and I can't even imagine how much time and money it takes to keep a site like this going.

I believe Liesl is correct. 

Also, in the past when the idea of selling PBS merchandise to help cover the costs of the site and avoid membership fees has come up, some people (me included) have said that we'd rather just be able to give a a couple of credits back to PBS than buy things.  At one time, I had a bunch of extra credits back so I gave my initial three credits back.

While giving credits back might seem selfless,  it's not because I benefit from there being lots of people on PBS with books.  There are people who would drop out if there was a membership fee because they couldn't afford it.  There are also people who would never join because unless they heard about PBS from someone they knew and trusted they might be afraid that it was a scam.  What if you paid the membership fee and there were no books?  Since there is no fee and you get the start-up credits you can see that the site is "for real" right away.  Then once you know us and trust us you are hooked.:-)

While credits don't have any value outside the PBS world, the folks at the IRS see things a little differently.  Every credit must be backed up by a book or a cash equivilant of a book.

I'm so glad the PBS Team is doing this, they have really worked hard to keep from having to charge a membership fee. The Tour Guides and Book Data people are volunteers, not sure if Richard is paid or not but there is so much work going on beghind the scenes, it's really amazing they've kept it free this long.

I'm listed as a Bronze member but I guess I don't get a badge until Silver.

I for one would have no problem paying an annual fee to help the site, as I have benefitted so much since joining---not only in books,  but in making so many new "cyber friends". 

i logged on today specifically to find out this answer.  thank you for knowing all the answers :-)

Well, I donated them 10 credits in response too the request, partly because I have enjoyed the site so much, and partly because I am currently very long on them.  I did wonder what good it did them, since they really have no intrinsic value.   If it will keep the site going and the IRS thinks they have monitary value, I may donate more some time.  I guess I get a silver badge for this, though I haven't gotten any comment on the badge yet from anybody.  (By the way, I have credits for sale, too.  Send me a note if interested!)

Winston, your badge isn't showing up yet but I think they are a bit behind.   First we got one type of badge and not many liked them.  Then we got another style.  Some liked and some didn't.   Poor Richard and company - we are hard to satisfy!    They also have been getting a lot of donations.    I so admire all they do for and to this site. 

Winston's badge is showing now. I actually LIKED the actual badges (looked like police ones) and am less into this weird blobby rectangular thing.

I liked the original ones too - and Winston you do have a badge.  These look like jewels, but it's ok.  I don't care what I get. LOL.  Pat

I think they are supposed to look like the PBS Credits from the Kiosk.  Or at least that's what they made me think of.

ETA:  Not too long ago I tried to see what the "badge" icons were for but didn't see an explanation listed with all the other PBS Icons (boxers, PBS postage user, Tour Guide, etc).  Don't know if the Friends of PBS icons are added there already or will be in the future.

Oh OK thanks all I could not find anything as to why. I only have 2 credits and seldom  use the site anymore ...its very rare I even post......I thought the fee for credits when it went up was to help the site.....at least 1 time maybe twice.. was for that......ditto changes for the new members to want to post more books....Its all cool......As I am VERY seldom on please do not be hurt should I not post back to you all but I do appreciate the information...I will take donations too lol

j/j  ...or am I :-)