Original Post:
B-Logistics/Better World Books
From: John Rasel <johnrasel_at_gmail.com> <mailto:johnrasel_at_gmail.com>Hello
collective wisdom: I'm exploring a few organizations that ship out and
sell off library discards without the hassle of scanning ISBNs or
prescreening books.For the Northeast Ohio area, I'm only aware of two
options: Better World Books, and B-Logistics. I'm wondering how you
would describe your experiences with either of these two entities.
Thanks, John Rasel
==#1==
From: "Kiel, Diana" <DKiel_at_iona.edu>
We use Better World Books and are quite happy with them. They send the
boxes and pay for the shipping. We just have to physically pack the
boxes. It is my understanding that B-Logistics requires very large
shipments, which does not work for my smaller size academic library.
___________________________
Diana Kiel
Coordinator of Technical Services
Ryan Library
Iona College
New Rochelle, NY
(914) 633-2417
==#2==
From: Katie Aldrich/Northcentral Technical College <Aldrich_at_ntc.edu>
We work with Better World Books. It has been a great program for us.
No wasted books, no hassle, and a bit of monetary return on weeded
books. They are very easy to work with - providing boxes & covering
shipping costs. Part of the financial return is donated to a good
literary cause. We've been very happy with BWB.
Katie Aldrich
Library Services Assistant - Purchasing
Northcentral Technical College | 1000 W. Campus Drive, Wausau, WI 54401
Phone: 715-803-1055 | Mail Stop: WG | Email: aldrich_at_ntc.edu
Fax: 715-301-2055
==#3==
From: Joan Campbell <jcampbe2_at_bowdoin.edu>
Hi John,
Better World Books is really easy and we have shipped many books to them. Once you set up the account, anytime you want to send them books you just go to their website and print out UPS labels, tape them to the boxes, and, in our case, our regular UPS Man-in-Brown takes them away when he comes to the Library to drop off deliveries. I believe there is still a 6 box minimum.
Joan
____________________________________________
Joan Campbell - Collections Librarian - Bowdoin College - 3000 College Station, Brunswick, Maine, 04011. Ph: 207-725-3285. Fax: 207-725-3083.jcampbe2_at_bowdoin.edu <mailto:jcampbe2_at_bowdoin.edu>
==#4==
From: Denise Weldon-Siviy <dsiviy_at_gettysburg.edu>
I did some research about a year ago on Better World Books (which we decided NOT to use after this study). I'm including the responses I got from other academic libraries on their experiences with BWB below. I've X-ed out the school names because most asked me not to identity them. Libraries are very uncomfortable discussing the process of selling unwanted books.
So, for your reference, this is what OTHER academic libraries have experienced with BWB:
==
What other academic libraries have to say about PAYMENTS from Better World Books
[Some-unnamed-school]: "We've sent, I think, roughly 250 boxes of books to BWB since December, and so far we have received three checks, totaling $298.05."
[Some-unnamed-school]: "BWB sends us a check quarterly. The check is never large, but it is something and we feel better knowing that if our books are worthwhile to someone, they are available for purchase. Over a couple of years, BWB has sold over $6,000 worth of our books and we have rec'd just over $700 for our commission. Books for Africa has rec'd about $250."
[Some-unnamed-school]: "We have used Better World Books for at least 7 years. " They are quite happy having the books go away, but do NOT report significant income: "I have got excited over checks of $100!"
[Some-unnamed-school]: "I am not going to be much help in the finance department because the arrangement we set up with BWB was to donate all the proceeds."
[Some-unnamed-school]: Does BWB as well as library sales. "We don't make much money on the books either way."
[Some-unnamed-school]: "Better World doesn't give us an exact breakdown per book, but I've included our current report of what we've sent this year to date. We got a check in April for about $60, and we had sent them 592 books to that date from the time I started working here. That works out to roughly $0.10 per book total, but if you only count books that were actually sold or donated, it's $.27. Our boxes usually have about 20 books, so each box total is roughly $2. "
[Some-unnamed-school] -- "We tried BWB but didn't find it worthwhile for the amount of staff time taken verses the amount of money we received-about $50.00 over 2 years."
[Some-unnamed-school] -- "Yes, after a deselecting a large collection stored off site - because the site was getting demolished - we received about $12K in periodic checks that year." == Follow-up emailed revealed that the "large collection" included around 28,000 books. This puts their return at 43 cents per book-- the highest reported in any responses. However, since they sent an entire storage section, I suspect that it is likely that this contained considerably more valuable books since no pre-screening was done.
===
There is a private book buyer who also purchases books without pre-screening. He pays $2-$3 per box and picks up on request.
His name is John Horan<john4246_at_gmail.com> <mailto:john4246_at_gmail.com>.
===
Denise Weldon-Siviy
Collections Associate
Musselman Library, Gettysburg College
300 N. Washington Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 337-7003
dsiviy_at_gettysburg.edu <mailto:dsiviy_at_gettysburg.edu>
==#5==
From: "Knapp, Maggie" <knappm_at_trinityvalleyschool.org>
Our experience with Better World Books has been fine but not overwhelming.
They email a shipping label, which you can print out and use to send them boxed books at their expense. However, there is a drop box in our zip code, so it is easier on us (and them) to take the books to the drop box and deposit them there.
They have a list of what they will and will not accept, that excludes a lot of what we are weeding (older "well loved" paperbacks, textbooks, literary criticism). They also do not reimburse any percentage (at least not to K-12 schools) of what they make off any saleable books. (The website says they will remit a portion of what they make off your books, but it turns out that doesn't apply to K-12 schools at this point.)
The website is informative, and I've had prompt responses to my emailed questions. Overall, I'd compare them to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or similar charitable donation sites. If there isn't a drop box near you, having them email the postage paid label (you can print off as many as needed) may be an advantage.
Ms. Maggie Knapp
MS/US Library
Trinity Valley School
7500 Dutch Branch Rd.
Fort Worth, TX 7632
817-321-0100
==#6==
From: "Hill, Katherine" <Hillk_at_ecc.edu>
Our experience with Better World Books over four or five years has been
very positive. At the beginning we selected one of four offered
charities to receive a portion of our profits. Later we amended the
arrangement so that all our profits go to the charity, Room to Read. BWB
is making money on us, but also providing a needed service. They provide
shipping boxes and Avery mailing labels at no charge, and shipping is at
their expense. We purchase clear tape for sealing the boxes. We have a
customer service rep, but rarely need one.
Originally we did have to separate non-ISBN books and scan or enter
ISBNs, but that has changed. Now we simply sort out discarded items in
poor condition (which we put out for library users to take). The rest
are boxed up and shipped out. Ordering supplies and printing labels
couldn't be simpler. UPS comes to the campus every day so we don't have
to schedule a pickup. I would certainly recommend BWB. We have no
experience with B-Logistics.
Katherine H. Hill
Professor, North Campus Library
Erie Community College
6205 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
Received on Thu May 08 2014 - 03:02:53 EDT