FUN AND PROFIT FOR LIBRARIES
Bob HolleyRural Libraries ConferenceApril 30, 2009
Introduction and Background
Welcome and introductionDemographics of the audienceInterest in buying, selling, or bothAre you worried about theft?Are there other experts in the audience?This PowerPoint will be posted on the
Rural Libraries Conference Web site
How I Became Interested in this Topic
Valuing donations to librariesHigh availability of obscure materialsPerceived decline in prices since
2000
Research Funded by LCATS in 2003Compared buy and sell adds in AB
Bookman’s Weekly (1982 and 1992) with current OP market
95% availability in all four samplesDecline in prices in inflation-adjusted
dollars (-45%)Mostly books in humanities, history,
and social sciencesSame early results in project on
science books
Broader Implications
Possible decline in publisher salesLibrary users will buy their own
books if cheap enough Less wait Can mark up Can buy from home Don’t need to return
Experiences as an OP Book Dealer
I sold around 2000 titles last yearPrices from $.75 to $160I have found rare books at library,
garage, and rummage salesLibrary books sales have been an
excellent source of stock so that giving this talk is against my self interest
Resources for Buying and Selling
The metasearch engineshttp://used.addall.com/http://bookfinder.com
The individual dealers
Advantages of OP Market for Buying
95% availability = almost no distinction between in-print and out-of-print
Retrospective buying for new collecting areas
Repurchasing missing booksLower prices in general
Many 20th century popular books at $5.00 or less including shipping
Advantages of OP Market for Buying (continued)
Lower prices for libraries that can waitPurchase as substitute for ILL
Past use as indication of future use Item available for long-term use “”Buy not borrow” pilot at Wayne State
University
Possible to outsource these purchases
Disadvantages of the OP Market for Buying
Only Alibris consolidates orders for libraries and accepts purchase orders
Strand, Powell’s Books, and Better World Books sell from stock
Other sources list books from multiple vendors
Each purchase is a separate transaction Each purchase is shipped individually
Disadvantages of the OP Market for Buying (continued)
Most often need a credit card or PayPal account—no purchase orders
Issues with condition, non-delivery, and returns
Selling--Book Sales
Public relations and getting people into the library
Types Continuous Frequent on a regular schedule Once or twice a year
Book Sales--Pricing
Trade paperbacks often equal in value to hard covers
Media depends upon conditionLibrary can check potentially
valuable items
Book Sales-Dealers
Ask yourself why you are bothered by your best customers
If you are, some strategies are: Higher prices at the beginning of the
sale Preview for members of the Friends
group Not allowing mobile scanners
Selling on the Internet for Libraries--Advantages
Book sales undervalue many booksIncreased revenue
Selling on the Internet for Libraries--Disadvantages
Time involved in the process May be practical only for libraries with “free”
volunteers Can be complicated Required constant attention though sellers can go
“on vacation”
Removes the books from the communityLoses the publicity value of book salesLocal policies may prohibit such salesStorage space
Using an Intermediary
Two major firms sell materials and give libraries a percentage of the sales
Some restrictions of what they will accept
“Green” disposal of materialsLibrary can identify “valuable”
materials and sell remainder at the book sale
The Two Major Sellers
Both actively seek library partnersBetter World Books
Pays shipping Lower percentage of sales
B-logistics Does not pay shipping Higher percentage of sales Must have ISBN
Where to Sell on the Internet
Ebay—limited selling period, listing fees, payment complexities
Sites with easy of entry for relatively few sales Half.com—more popular materials,
lower prices Amazon.com—higher fees for casual
sellers
Where to Sell on the Internet (continued)
Sites designed for professional sellers and libraries with larger inventories Abebooks Alibris
How to Sell Successfully on the Internet
Good service in all areas to achieve a high feedback rating
Accurate description of conditionPrompt shipping with excellent
packagingDealing with occasional problemsStatement of non-profit status
probably makes little difference
What to Sell—General Considerations
Search possible candidates on the metasearch sites
Higher priced items however the libraries defines this
You might also put them aside for the local book dealer or to send to the intermediaries
Items with a sales recordLibrary discards can be sold but are less
popular
What to Sell—Subject and Format (My Opinions)
Mass market paperbacks—no except perhaps those in pristine
conditionHard cover fiction—no except if rare
or currently in high demandCoffee table books—beautiful but
impossible to sell if available as remainders
What to Sell—Subject and Format (continued)
Children’s books—no in general with some difficult to identify exceptions
Trade paperbacks—many sell well especially those used in college courses
Textbooks—no in not current; sell extremely well if still in use
Religious books--yes
What to Sell—Subject and Format (continued)
University press books—yes if used in courses; otherwise slow movers
Media—depends on format, condition, popularity, and scarcity
Rare books—Amazon, Alibris, or perhaps Ebay
Final Selling Considerations
How to arrange inventory for easy retrieval By format By title, author, or date of listing
Determining when to remove an item from sale
Theft and the OP Market
Shelf books and media now have enough value to be stolen and sold
Library discards are common in the op market though sell for less
Anonymity of salesThief can buy a “discard” stamp
Theft--Identification
Almost all DVD’sMobile scanning servicesSearch ILS from homeGeneral knowledge of the trade
Thefts from the Collection
Many libraries have valuable books on the open shelves
Steal the books from the libraryFalse check outsInterlibrary loanPay replacement cost
Ownership does not transfer
Thefts from the Collection
Employee theft Less security including after hours and
unsecured exits Weed the book to be bought later
Collections expert examine books
Thefts of Gift Books
More valuable on the marketUsually will not be missedRemoved when received or during
pick upSecurity cameras to inhibit theft or
catch thief
Questions
It’s your turn to ask any questions.