posted on July 21, 2001 12:32:08 PM
sorry to ask this question again...i see it here frequently on this board but have never read it as i thought it didn't pertain to me; anyway, i live in the middle of nowhere with a library that trashes books...usually they are from the 50's and up....i only buy books normally for decorative purposes or if they are way old...
yesterday, while standing in line to get into a sale, i overheard 2 bookies talking about library books saying that one could find some good finds at the library....
by that time, we were let into the sale and i lost the bookies....
what do i need to look for in these trashed books....i love books but have cagillions of them because of my dumptster diving...i need to start being more... picky i think...
posted on July 21, 2001 12:38:33 PM
I am not clear from what you wrote whether the people you overheard meant discarded books [ie in the dumpster]. They may just have meant good books at the sale.
I am a librarian; at the branch where I work someone dumpster-dived and wrote a letter to the newspaper complaining about discarded books. As a result, all books thrown away are torn up first. It's a source of heartache here that our Friends group destroys so many books because they don't put them in booksales.
So I don't see much value in even checking the library's trash. Better would be to find out if the library maintains an "ongoing" booksale in the building where you can shop at your leisure, though those would probably be mostly Danielle Steel.
posted on July 21, 2001 12:51:59 PM
keziak
thanks for your reply...sorry i wasn't clear...
my library throws books in the dumpster without tearing them up....
i was under the assumption that only old books were very valuable so i don't every go thru my libraries trash to rescue them. (this is a wrong assumption i am learning)
most of the books my library trashes are from the 50's and up....
what i am trying to find out is...what do i need to look for in order to rescue the good ones...(then again, that may be your trade secret...but any tips would be appreciated)
posted on July 21, 2001 01:11:34 PM
The ones in the dumpster probably aren't the good ones. The good ones are usually gone on the first day of the library's sale, but you never know, so...
Look for hardcovers on specialized subjects, (e.g. Carving Decoys, Tying flies for brown trout, etc.). Nothing common. Non fiction sells better than fiction. Books in good condition with dust jackets are worth more.
Age doesn't necessarily mean value, unless it's a highly desirable subject, First Edition, etc.
My experience only, it may be different for others. If I were getting books for free, I would grab everything in good condition and sell them in lots. You don't have much to lose.
posted on July 21, 2001 01:19:24 PM
no books sold before they are trashed...they are just trashed....good idea about the nothing to lose concept....(a big dur light bulb moment for me grin)...i guess its my pride that prohibits me from getting alot as there are people who are the snoops of the town....they know what i do for a living...and i don't want to give ANYONE here more ammunition for anything...thanks for the feedback
posted on July 21, 2001 07:24:53 PM
I've probably made close to $700 total in the last couple of years with finds from my local
library dumpster. A lot of what goes in there
are "donations" that they just don't want or have the room for - not knowing the value of what they are - I've made some really good money from their "trash"! They do toss out their "discards" - books that don't get checked out much or seem too "worn" - and I've sold quite a few of those also - just made sure to note that in my item description!
-
I found Jesus! - He was behind the sofa the whole time!
posted on July 22, 2001 01:45:49 PM
I made 1,448.00 on a 25 cent book I bought at a local library sale. Also $270.00 on another one. I could go on and on.....
