As I started posting my first set of books on the site I noticed that a few of my books had some highlighting in them from previous owners and so - in accordance with the rules - I simply put them aside and did not post them for swapping. The days have gone by, I shipped off a few books, and now I am sitting here staring at a stack of books that won't do anything other than sit on my shelf because I can't swap them... Is there anyway that I can still post these books regardless of the highlights? I don't these things to go to waste.

Jake -- you can post the books with highlighting on them and treat them as textbooks (regardless of whether they are conventionally considered or not--see Help Docs on "What is a definition of a textbook?")

You must then PM the person who requests it, and have him agree to receiving a book with highlights.

From the Help Docs:

Exception: if it is a textbook or workbook, these are expected to have highlighting/underlining/writing

• if you post a textbook/workbook, the condition must be described to the requestor in a Personal Message
• AND the described condition MUST BE AGREED TO in a reply PM before the book is sent

ANOTHER alternative is to list them in the Book Bazaar, describing the condition. You can ask for up to one credit on each book. These would be unofficial transactions (involving buddied credits, for example, instead of posting them officially.)

Good luck.

Welcome to PBS Jake, it would appear your books have been used as textbooks.  Yes they can be swapped at PBS, BUT you must follow the Textbook Waiver carefully.  Before posting, look up and become familiar with all Textbook Help Documents (including Swappability).

ETA - if you have specific questions after reading, please ask (better than having a problem swap).

Books may also have been used in book clubs. Most members will NOT want books with highlighting unless it's a textbook. Classics are often used as textbooks so I accept those with highlighting. My daughter has a BA in English so I just pass those on to her if I think it won't get requested with highlighting.  AND I personally wouldn't decline a highlighted bookclub selection --like from Oprah's list.