Significant savings can be had by sometimes purchasing used books instead of new for your library. Think about it – a standard used book is in the same condition as one already on your shelf that has been checked out once or twice. Purchasing used books also usually gets the books to you faster. Hear some practical tips on how to do it, and what to look out for, from a librarian who spends thousands of dollars every year on used books.

1. How to Stretch a Small Budget
Consider Buying Used Books
Big Talk From Small Libraries Conference
February 28, 2014 - Eric Palo, Renton Technical College
Harvard Book Store
© 2014 www.harvard.com

2. Eric Palo
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Lynnwood Public Library
Seattle Public Library
Pittsburg State University
University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
• University of Washington
• Shoreline Community
College
• Renton Technical College
– Renton Washington

3. Why buy used books?
• Save money
• The quality is better
than you think
• Get them fast
• Respond to hard to
fill & unexpected
demand
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Reproduction Number: LC-USZC4-4267

4. Saving Money
• Our library saves between 25% and 40%
when buying used books.
• We spend thousands of dollars a year for
used books at Powells Books. (www.powells.com)
• For instance, I can get the new John
Grisham novel for almost 1/3 off.

5. Amazon for 3rd party vendors

6. Quality is better than you think
Used book we
got last week
Copy we already
had on the shelf

7. Condition Notes

8. You can Look at The
Guidelines for Sellers
From the Powells website
From the Amazon website

9. Amazon Condition & Vendors

10. And Many Others

11. Get Books Fast
• Shipping is quite fast
because used books
should be in stock, or
they would not be listed
• At Powells they process
orders in 1 to 3 days
(Partner and International
Warehouses take longer)
Workers unloading crates of books at the
Chicago Public Library.
DN-0068145, Chicago Daily News negatives
collection, Chicago History Museum

12. Get Books Fast
Most vendors offer a variety of
shipping options. At Powells:
• ECONOMY MAIL is free on
most orders over $50 and take
4-9 business days (after
processing) to arrive
• STANDARD GROUND is 2-7
business for $5.99 + $1.99 per
item
• They also offer 3 DAY
EXPRESS, 2ND DAY AIR,
NEXT DAY AIR at higher rates.
U.S. Mail Wagon, Wausa, Nebraska, about 1900
Nebraska State Historical Society - No. 103323

13. Respond to hard to fill demand
Need extra copies of a
suddenly popular book?
Used books, if available,
fill a need quickly and
you don’t feel guilty if
you toss them next year.

14. Get Books for Unexpected Demand

15. Questions?
• Staley, L., & Palo, E. (2010).
Extend one's budget: Buy used
books. The Bottom Line: Managing
Library Finances, 23(3), 116-121.
• epalo@RTC.edu
• How to Make Money …
– 2:00pm today
Book of Pictures
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

16. Thanks for listening!
Eric Palo – Self Portrait!