William's booksale jump bag
1. Electronic lookup tools: There are many variations (scanner + DB, phone browser, laptop, etc). I use a Palm Treo with Scoutpal that lets me input 10 ISBNs per query and I can check pre-ISBN title on ABE. Not state of the art certainly (and it's dependent on cell phone reception) but I haven't felt the need to upgrade.2. Scouting Book: A collection of title lists and identification points compiled through research and experience. Two lists I find very useful are a) $$$ Titles That Book Clerks Don't Know About and b) Out of Print DVD and VHS. I keep these lists on my Treo which I sync before heading out.
9. Folding Wheely Cart: I'm fond of these models. Good wheels, folds small and carries a ton.
15. Handi-wipes and moisturizer: Few things are more disgusting than the gray and dried out hands you get after a few hours of digging through old books. If you plan to bring your hands anywhere near your face (or other people) handi-wipes are essential. I like the individually wrapped ones you find at Chinese restaurants.
16. A Weapon?: There's been some talk on the Biblio list lately about self-defense for the bookdealer. While I haven't yet felt physically threatened at a sale, I've certainly found myself in bizarre and uncomfortable environments. I firmly believe you shouldn't pack a weapon that you don't want turned on you, but maybe learning a little book-fu is a good idea. An OED would make a fine bludgeon, pocket books fly like throwing stars.
the latest
latest episodes
Wow, that's pro book-lookin'..
I used to be an avid record digger, sounds pretty similar.
Whenever I'm in Santa Fe I always count on an afternoon at Nicholas Potter's used books. When folks die in Santa Fe they leave behind good libraries. The attorney wanna-bes buy anything in a leather binding but leave the rest for us.
I've gone through the shelves and boxes on the floor and turned up two long out of print books you can't find in a library. Not first editions or any of that baloney. I just wanted to read them.
While there, go down the street and have lunch at "The Shed".
What???
When did reading become a branch of the military? Did I miss that meeting?
I just wanna read, not go to book wars.
Hey, Will! You're famous now!
(You're buying books? As in, you go to places that have lots of books, and take them away with you? Get in touch with me.)
---I just wanna read, not go to book wars.
We fight so you don't have to.
CueCat USB bar code scanners make book data capture easier. At an affordable price. Sadly the older collectible books lack bar codes. But for basic management of books having bar codes using that USB cat and an EEE style netbook might be a winner. There are Bluetooth bar code scanners but the rules for them are a pick any 2 variant. "Cheap-stable-portable" applies. With few exceptions you can only choose 2...
No! Bad! this is not a "Wonderful thing" Book hos ruin the thrift and rummage experience for all of us. Resist this consumer driven, cheap, fast buck crap. Books are great, reading is great. Finding a cool book that you might like to read at the bins (Portland) for a nickle is super great. Fighting uptight book thieves for that book sucks. Sometimes even come to blows (or nearly)
Please do not "monetize" everything I love!
I agree with #7. I hate the pros that show up at local book sales.
Do you guys have any idea what kind of per-hour income they make? Nobody gets into that business who doesn't love books.