Libraries as Entrepreneurial Booksellers:

Counterintuitive Cha-Ching

Roselle AgnerBetter World Books

ragner@betterworldbooks.com

Agenda

IntroductionsLet’s get to know each other

Online Book SalesListing & Shipping & Questions, oh my!

OutsourcingMove over IT, here comes Acquisitions

Q & AYou’ve got questions, I’ve got answers

Introductions: Audience

Online Marketplaces

Auction MarketplaceList any item, based on a listing name created by its seller for an open auction.

Ebay.com, Overstock.com, Yahoo!Auctions

Catalog MarketplaceList catalog items for sale (i.e. books, cds, dvds, etc.) based on their unique catalog numbers (i.e. isbn or upc) at a set price.

BetterWorldBooks.com, Alibris.com

Marketplaces Considerations

SizeNumber of CategoriesListing Options

PopularityAre you familiar with this site?

CostsWhat are the costs associated with selling/buying on this site?

CompetitionMultiple SellersMultiple Listings

Marketplaces Considerations

Search FeaturesIt is easy to find items?

ReputationIs this site known for certain types of items?Seller Rating-Buyers feedback from previous transactionsCondition Rating-Overall condition of the item

PaymentCheck, Credit Card, Money Order, etc

ShippingAre there any shipping requirements for the buyer/seller?Standard, Expedited, Consolidated

Online Book Sales

SortingResearchingListingPickingShippingReturningCustomer Service

Outsource!

Let someone do the work for you!

What’s involved?

Your jobSortPackShip

Their job:SortingResearchingListingPickingShippingReturningCustomer Service

Show me the $$$!

A percentage of net proceeds are payable to the library.Net proceeds are defined as the sale price of the book minus any market place commissions and reimbursements.

Sign me up I have tons to send!!

Acceptance GuidelinesSome are more specific than others (type, volume, condition, etc)Basic Guideline: Send what you would buy

Sorting and Prescreening ToolsHelp determine which books to sendContinue to have multiple revenue generating projects

Discarded and Donated Material…

ACCEPTABLE Books that are in saleable condition

• no water damage, mildew/mold, missing pages, spine damage, etc.

hardcover fiction/non-fiction Textbooks (1998 or newer) travel books (2003 or newer) dictionaries trade paperbacks DVDs & Books on CD Mass Market Paperbacks rare/collectible books

ACCEPTABLEEx-Library Books

Markings on the SpineStickersLabelsDue Date CardsStampsPlatesEtc.

Discarded and Donated Material…

NOT ACCEPTABLE Complete or Incomplete Encyclopedia Sets Magazines/Periodicals/Academic Journals Catalogs/Directories/Desk Reference Books Tax Documents/ Government Documents Volume Serials Reader’s Digest Books LP Records, VHS, Cassettes, or CDs The Following Series:

Book Club Editions Harlequin Romance Novels The Modern Library Series Reader’s Digest Condensed Marquis Who’s Who

Discarded and Donated Material…

Additional Services

Online Sidewalk SalesAffiliate ProgramsAntiquarian, Rare & Collectable ProcessingBook Drive FundraisersMarketing and PR Support

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

What’s important to your library?Costs?Flexible Options?Social and Environmental Impact?

Find a service that best meets your needs and those of your library