[Genealib] How to sell duplicate library books?

[research at elmerslibrary.com]

Our little library has sold more than $5.000 on ebay in the past year.
These were all duplicates that we had received.  First we tried to trade
with nearby libraries and the rest were listed on ebay.  We also had some
listed on Abebooks until they changed their settlement plans.  My wife
says that to list on ebay is not that difficult. This is one of the jobs
that she performs for our library.
Elmer Spear, founder
Elmer's Genealogy Library
Madison, Florida






> Dear List,
>
> My genealogical society library is looking for ideas for selling duplicate
> or de-accessioned library books.  The Library Committee thinks we should
> give away the low-value or most common books for the cost of postage, by
> using this list, but what about works we think have some monetary
> value?  We'd really like to get paid for those.  We also sometimes get
> donated books we can't use, so it is an ongoing issue.
>
> Here's the thing.  I'm not sure we have anyone on the volunteer staff who
> is "E-Bay literate," and I'm also not sure that's the right venue for used
> books anyway.  Our library doesn't get a lot of foot traffic, and most
> people who come in don't bother to look at the books for sale.  Volunteers
> are tired of boxing up the books to take to sell at general membership
> meetings.  We also have space limitations, so we can't keep them around
> indefinitely.
>
> In the past, we tried an exchange arrangement with another society, but
> they unfortunately did not have anything to offer us that we didn't
> already
> own.
>
> One suggestion has been to post a list of books for sale on the website;
> however, more than one volunteer might be needed, one to handle the sales
> and mailing, another to keep the listings up-to-date.  The Library
> Committee thinks it would be a LOT of work and would be difficult to
> coordinate and keep current.
>
> What other ways can we make our unwanted books available to the right
> market?  Any solutions out there?
>
> Thanks, everyone - this list is the greatest!
>
> Barbara Hill
> <bhill at calmail.berkeley.edu>
>
>
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