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Help Center - What can be posted for swapping here?

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PBS is for the exchange of used books across all topics of interest. paperback, hardcover and audio books in good condition are acceptable here. 


Allowed:

  • Paperback books
  • Hardcover books (dust jackets not required)
  • Audio books (must be originals, not burned copies) - audio CDs, audio cassettes and Playaways are allowed
    • There is a special set of rules for MP3 audios. Some MP3 Audio books at PaperBackSwap are often listed with "Audio CD" booktype (this is information from the publisher) -- thus it may not be clear from those listings that the book is MP3 format. So: if you want to Post an MP3 Audio, please FIRST edit the lsting title to include "(MP3 Audio)" after the title:
      • You can submit this edit by going to the Book Details page for the book (an ISBN search will take you there), and choose the Edit Book Data option from the More Options menu. Submit the edit and wait for approval (this can take a few days).
      • Once the title change has been approved, you can use the listing to post your MP3 Audio book.
    • We also ask Members who can't play MP3 audios to use Requestor Conditions to stipulate that they do not want MP3 format books--  but most members don't use Requestor Conditions, so it's important for the posting member to use a listing that clearly states the MP3 Audio Format in the title, so that the member who is considering requesting the item will not miss the information.
  • Ex-library books (check that these are withdrawn/decirculated before posting)
  • "Little Free Library" books -these are designed to "set books free" into the community (the books don't have to be returned), and PaperBackSwap is just a larger-size community. :) It's ok to swap them here, as long as they meet site criteria for book condition.
  • Book Club Editions (note: since most of these do not have ISBNs, they will need to be Posted using the "Post a Book Without an ISBN" option linked from the Post Books page, to create a matching listing. See How do I post a book without an ISBN?).
  • Books containing multiple stories - these earn 1 Book Credit per book (no matter how many stories are between the covers of the book).
  • Books that do not have ISBNs printed in them - since most of these do not have ISBNs, they will need to be posted using the "Post a Book Without an ISBN" option linked from the Post Books page, to create a matching listing. See How do I post a book without an ISBN?
  • Books with accompanying media (the accompanying media must be included with the book)
  • Books that originally came with non-media items, if the non-media materials are NOT REQUIRED for the book to be useful.  The non-media items do not have to be included to be postable here.
  • Textbooks/Workbooks - see Book Condition Criteria for 'Swappability' at PaperBackSwap for more about this
  • Travel Guides - see Book Condition Criteria for 'Swappability' at PaperBackSwap for more about this
  • Cookbooks - see Book Condition Criteria for 'Swappability' at PaperBackSwap for more about this
  • Foreign-language books. Note: if a book is printed in a language other than English, the language should be specified in the book description and title, for example "The Kite Runner (Spanish-Language Edition)" . If the book description/title does not already include the language, you can submit this information using the Edit Book Data link on the More Options menu on the Book Details page.
  • Playaways (these are considered audiobooks)
  • Audio language courses or other courses of instruction (ie, self-help) with accompanying bound book.  (Note: These are considered a bound book with accompanying media, and swap for 1 Book Credit. They are not "audio books," which are books read aloud by a narrator.)
  • Boxed Sets - see How do I post my 'boxed set' of books?

Not allowed:

  • Anything that is not a book (this includes calendars, decks of cards, coloring books, blank journals, unbound maps, etc)
  • Anything that contains advertising (such as single-issue comic books or comic book digests or magazines)
  • Advance Reader Copies (also known as ARC s, Review Copies or Uncorrected Proofs--these are not the final versions of books, AND these items were given free to reviewers; the author was not paid for them)
  • CD-ROM books/e-books (books that must be read on a computer or handheld device)
  • Digital or Burned copies of audio books, such as Audible books  (even if you paid for the downloaded audio book, we can't know if this is the only copy made, so they are not permitted here).
  • Xerox or otherwise unoriginal copies of books
  • Electronic media  
  • Unbound pages
  • "Print on Demand" items  - these are created by scanning an original copy of a book and printing the text, typically onto 8.5 x 11 inch printer paper. The covers are typically photocopied images, also onto printer paper. These are of dubious legality, and another main reason that they are not permitted here is that no PaperBackSwap member will expect such an item when requesting a book. It is absolutely prohibited to post such an item using an ISBN listing that exists to represent the original book.
  • Music recordings, spoken-word recordings (these can be swapped as accompaniments to a bound book *for 1 credit for the set*, or at SwapaCD if they are in the database there. These are not "audio books," which are books read aloud by a narrator).
  • DVDs or Blu Rays (unless they accompany a book, *as supplementary materials*). Films are not allowed here -- you can swap them at SwapaDVD by creating an account there.
  • Items of fewer than 50 pages (leaflets or pamphlets or booklets**) posted with non-ISBN listings. (other members complain at spending a credit for these).So, if your item has fewer than 50 pages and it does not have an ISBN *or* its ISBN is not included in our database, you must NOT create a non-ISBN listing for it - you may not post it here.
  • Puzzle books  (including but not limited to crossword puzzle, Sudoku, word search) ("Crossword puzzles, pattern books, poster books, iron-on transfer books, and cut-out books which do not consist of reading matter as well as publications containing advertising are not acceptable in the mails at the Media mail rate of postage." -- USPS regulations, 2017)
  • Brochures/Promotional "first chapters" of books - these are not complete books, even if they have an ISBN
  • Books that originally had accompanying media material, if the accompanying media are not included.
  • Books that require supplementary non-media materials to be useful (non-media materials cannot be sent by MediaMail, and original non-media materials cannot be expected to be included with a used book)
  • Pornography (sex manuals and erotica are allowed, hardcore pornography is not allowed)
  • Supplementary media alone (without the book they originally accompanied)
  • Audio language courses without accompanying bound book.  (if audio tapes/CDs ARE accompanied by a book they are considered a bound book with accompanying media, and swap for 1 credit. They are not "audio books," which are books read aloud by a narrator.)
  • Books with water damage, or damage from any liquid
  • Books with writing or highlighting (see the exception for textbooks/cookbooks/travel guides described in Book Condition Criteria for 'Swappability' at PaperBackSwap)

**A leaflet/pamphlet is an item with fewer than 20 pages; a booklet is an item with between 20 and 50 pages that is not a children's book or a poetry chapbook. Children's books and poetry chapbooks often have less than 50 pages and are not considered booklets just because of their short pagelength.

Please note: if you post an inappropriate item for swapping, it may be removed from the database as an automatic action without notice; if it has been requested from you before that happens, you will not get credit for sending it.  Also, If you request a disallowed item, you do so at your own risk.

 


Related Links:

Book Condition Criteria for 'Swappability' at PaperBackSwap
What materials can be sent by Media Mail postal rate?
How to find books to request
How to post a book
Can I specify books I don't want? (for example, books from a smoking household)