I'm not talking about new as in condition, but new, as in recently published. I often buy books that I want to read when they come out, or borrow from the library, because I know it can take YEARS to receive them on PBS. So usually I just buy them and then post them. But I can't buy every single book I want to read when it hits the shelves, so sometimes I request them on here, and note that no one posts them. For months. Sometimes, years. Even best sellers, which ostensibly millions of people are buying. I had loads of very popular books on my wishlist, and once I realized there was no way I'd ever get them from PBS, I just bought them. But this year I added some as soon as I heard they'd be published, meaning I am #1, 2 or 3 on the WL. And still, months and months go by without my moving up the list.

Has anyone else noticed this or is this merely my unique experience?

I have no problem waiting so I just wait.  I have plenty to read in the meantime.  I would suggest putting more than 26 books on your WL. The more lines you are in the more chances you have of getting WL books.  If you have a lot of credits, look around at what's available and order something to read in the meantime if you don't have a library you can use.

Unfortunately, some genres tend towards keeper books, not swapping books for some people so even if millions of copies get bought they still don't get swapped all that often. You have a very small wish list and what I see on it doesn't look to me to be those types of book that are the super best sellers that are read by millions and then are going to be swapped quickly like the common fiction of Twilight and the sort. Those books do get swapped, unfortunately its not at the pace you might like if you want to read them as soon as they come out.

New books aren't always posted here in high numbers. The new and -popular- ones have the best chance of moving along quickly. It just all depends on what everyone is looking for, and which ones people will break down and buy and post here. Hard to tell sometimes which books will move right along, and which ones will stall.

I don't worry about it too much. Almost all my WL'd books are Sherlock Holmes books. I don't think they have a huge audience to start with, and the older ones most likely didn't get saved by a lot of people to trade out. No one seems to buy them around here, so I hardly ever see any even at the used book stores. So I doubt I'll see many come my way, no matter what number I am.

But if nothing else, the WL here is a good way to keep track of the books I'll probably end up buying in the future. No harm in just seeing what happens while I wait.

I use the PBS WL primarily for books that I am interested in reading/owning/using at some point but not enough to go out and buy a copy.  I just keep a few credits on hand to cover them so I don't have much money just sitting here unused.  I do put some on there that I really want and am just not ready to pay for yet.  Sometimes I get them, and sometimes I break down and buy them.

I try to keep my WL maxed out so I have more opportunity to spend some credits.

A bestseller on my wl gives me an estimate waiting of 78 weeks.  It's been on my wl for 8 months so I figure it might take a total 2yrs until the book is offered to me.  There's the possibility that soon people will be able to buy used copies, read it, then post.  I myself found a highly wl book at the library store that I plan to read and post.  So there's a ray of hope of us getting books we want as long as people are willing to trade.   I agree the new stuff will move slow for the masses.  I knew when I joined not to expect quick results.  I only buy new books when I have to for my daughter's English class.  It's always a shock to pay $15.00 for a softcover novel at Barnes & Noble. 

These days a lot of newly published books are being purchased for the Kindle or other e-readers as they are significantly cheaper that way so I'm not surprised that it is taking longer for hard copies to come up for swap.

  
I read mostly popular mysteries and sometimes when I add a new one to my WL, I'm in the 600-800 range, but always seems I have the books in hand in under a year.  I rarely keep ones I order here for myself, though the YA books I order for my 18 yo daughter she wants to keep til she has kids I think!   Since I have over 300 on my TBR list, I'm rarely in a hurry for a just published book.  I used to ask for lots of books for Christmas and my b-day in January, but now that I have such a backlog to read, I just don't need new books.

Keep in mind that January is usually a great month to have WL books posted as people read books they received for Christmas. I have joined a WL at #120 and gotten that book in under 2 months on more than one occasion, it totally depends on what book you are wishing for and how popular a book it is. And yes, other times I will be #3 and have to wait a year or more. If it is on the New York Times bestseller list, they tend to move quickly. But newly published is no guarantee that the masses are reading it and posting it here.

The reason I have so few books on my wish list is that I ended up buying most of the books I was waiting for and removing them from the list! It's probably true that ebooks for kindle have changed the swapping landscape. I hadn't thought of that! I only read book books.

I'm fairly patient, and willing to wait for books because I do have a large stack next to my bed that I need to plow through. Maybe some of them will be on YOUR wishlists, and after I read these I can post them and send them to you.

January probably is a great time to get books from PBS, after the gift giving season. I will remain ever hopeful! I still love this site, its concept, and the pay-it-forward method it utilizes. (I buy a book, pay for shipping, and only afterwards do I receive a benefit.)

And my holiday wish for all of you is a whole lot of eagerly-anticipated books grace your homes.

I can only report my own experience, but the new books I get offered most quickly are genre books (generally romances because that's the genre I read most) that are published directly in paperback, no hardback edition. Those seem to cycle through wishers pretty quickly - I've gone from #300 to getting the book in less than 6 months. Ease of purchasing, as well as lower cost, may be a factor here - they're the kind of books that are sold at Target, the grocery store, etc. and cost less than 10 bucks.

Popular non-fiction or fiction in hardback, on the other hand, moves much more slowly. I suspect that what the others above are suggesting is correct, that fewer people are buying hardcovers because of the convenience and lower cost of ebooks, and those who do are tending to keep them rather than list them.

My first place to go when I want to read a book fairly soon is our local library system. I put things on my PBS wishlist as a backup, or after I've read something when I want a keeper copy. Most of what I buy in print is from used bookstores and/or old and out of print books. I've probably not bought more than 6 brand new, just published print books at full price this year, and a couple of those were gifts, even though I'm a constant reader (online content and ebooks makes a difference, as has the giant TBR pile threatening to overflow my bookcase).

I can't remember the last time I bought a brand new print book.  Maybe 2 years ago?

Like Laura S., most of my wishlist are keepers.  I 'try out' new authors via my public libraries.  I'm fortunate that I have 3 library systems close enough to belong to all three (the county and 2 nearby cities), so I can usually find the book in short order.  When I know I will want to read a book again, then I add it to my PBS wishlist.   Sometimes (just like Morton salt), when it rains, it pours.  I had a wishlist granted, and the day after the PBS member had posted the book, I received the same book from a friend as an early Christmas gift...  OK - I'll soon have one to post!  Thankfully, I wasn't the only one 'wishing'.   :^)

To be honest, I tend not to use PBS for very current fiction (though, I did receive one or two books from this year's NYT Notable Books list, so it's not impossible). I do trade mostly in WL books and receive 2-3 books a month on average (but that's with an overstuffed WL - the odds are obviously better the more lists you are on). After having been here for a while, I think managing one's expectations in terms of what you expect from PBS is helpful - i.e. viewing an offer here for a new fiction book as a happy surprise rather than as something to be expected is probably not a terrible idea.

But this year I added some as soon as I heard they'd be published, meaning I am #1, 2 or 3 on the WL. And still, months and months go by without my moving up the list.

Has anyone else noticed this or is this merely my unique experience?

I do my best to wish list as early a possible. Am often #1, 2, 0r 3 and yes it usually takes a while. For example I was #1 for Eileen Wilk's Unbinding. I can't remember how long it took, but I waited a good long while - at least 6 months; possibly more. I try not to watch the clock so to speak. They will eventually come in and I'll be happy when they get here. 

New or old, my WL doesn't produce much. It's fully stocked.  It probably tends towards the less common at this point, because anything common has been posted.

There's a reason my shelf is so small.  I have plenty of credits. Now I'm working on patience!

Kayote, can we get that with credits?  If so, I'm gonna buy a bunch!!  

It's truly hit or miss.  I do have books I've been waiting for, for quite a long time. However, like most of us avid readers, I have a stash that I need to go through to post.  My bookshelf posted has a great variety, and my WL is quite long from others' recommendations.  I received the newest Patterson novel for Christmas, which in turn is on my WL as a backup (didn't know someone got it for me for xmas). Don't give up hope, I still get excited when I get to mail a book out or have one coming :)

I mostly use my wishlist as a resource to remind me of what I'm missing. I go through it every so often to weed out what I caved in and bought or purchased in those library sales. Sometimes! A book from my WL gets posted and I just get so excited. Another thing is to look at the books posted daily and stalk your favorite genre. There could be a book posted with 0 wishers that catches your eye and you've forgotten about it.

I'd agree with the original sentiment. I've joined not too long ago, so I can't quote much experience, but I have a distinct impression that the people who are members of of PBS generally lean towards certain genres, so there will be genres where the reader pool is large and consequently you have lots of books available for circulation. And then there will be certain genres (esp. non-fiction genres) where the reader pool is probably very very small (and the books are of keeper's type) and you hardly ever see books that typically appeal to those readers. Like others have said, you'll have to go to the local library for those, or buy them online if they're not in the library.

(Now, Lynne, I know you said you've been buying those rarely seen books but the act of constantly buying tires you out. That's commendable, and I hope you get good karma for that).

That's funny that you said that, Catheline. I figured some members must be doing that, because I recently posted several books that had 0 wishers, but no copies in the system. Most were snapped up within a few hours of posting.

I really don't have much trouble with getting books off of my WL- even new releases. (Perhaps I like some quicker moving genres.) Some genres do tend to move a lot slower than others. 

Some things that will help get your WL moving:

- Gold Key. Yes, you pay for the privilege, but for me, it works.

- Get more active in the forums.

- Friend people with similar book interests to your own.

- Head over to the games forum and try out a few. There are games for several different genres (even had one for cookbooks recently). There are also virtual boxes that include most genres, even your non-fiction, Thang. The rules for the games are not at all as complicated as they may seem, and they're very fun. Lots of new releases flying around over there. 

- Watch the WL multiples threads in the Book Bazaar and/or in your chosen genre. Some members prefer to post WL books in multiples to save on postage.

Happy reading!

Yes I have noticed this and also if a book is too old it seems to have the same issue. So early 90's it also seems to not be on here.

But yes I have noticed. I get tired of looking. It is disconcerting. 

I recently realized that there is a work-around that entirely bypasses the first-in-first-out system.  Many recently published books seem to only be available via the Wishlist Multiples threads.  I understand wanting to save on postage, but this seems unfair to those of us who have been patiently waiting our turn.