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THE STANDARD

The IOBA Standard is the journal of the Independent Online Booksellers Association and covers the book world, with a special focus on the online used, out-of-print, and collectible bookselling markets.

THE STANDARD | TOPIC:

General tools and information for bookselling, clip worthy

Book Selling at Genre Conventions

The first SF convention was held in 1936 in the United States (New York City), or in 1937 in England (Leeds) – a matter of debate that...

icc568

Jun 19, 2013

So You Want to Be a Bookseller: Ten Questions…Some Answers

1. Are you sure? We’re living the dream. Three-hour working days surrounded by our beloved books, more money than we can shake a stick at...

Justin Woolley

Aug 11, 2012

So You Want to Be a Bookseller: Ten Questions…Some Answers

How to Buy Books Online

The aim of this article is to offer you, the buyer, some insights from a bookdealer on how to avoid these unpleasant experiences and to...

icc568

Aug 10, 2012

Turnover: An Introduction for Booksellers

When I began my bookselling career, I worked not in used bookshops but in new (ie. independent bookstores selling new books only). And in...

Brian Cassidy

Sep 17, 2011

How to Get a Trade Discount, in Six Easy Lessons

[Editor’s note: For more on trade discounts, see our related article Trade Discounts: Good For One and All.] NOTE: These are pitched to...

Howard Prouty

Sep 10, 2011

BEST OF: Overlooked and Undervalued, The Bookseller’s Inventory Database

Most booksellers when evaluating their business assets will consider the cost and potential market value of their inventory, the cost of...

Chris Volk

Jun 8, 2011

BEST OF: “What’s this Book Worth?”

“Is it a first?” “What are the points of…?” “I can’t find a price guide for…?” “No copy on the net, and need to know the value of…?” Such...

Vic Zoschak

Jun 7, 2011

BEST OF: Appraising for Booksellers

All of you have gotten the phone call. The person on the other end has inherited or been given or found at a garage sale a book/books...

Shirley Dyess

Jun 6, 2011

BEST OF: How, when and why to write a press release and what to expect if you do

How A press release has a standard format and should be as brief and to the point as possible. Think of how long it takes you to decide...

Sally Spooner

Jun 5, 2011

Books About Bookselling: The Bookseller’s Apprentice

As the publisher’s foreword points out, “Anyone who has gone to Boston to look for rare books in this century will have memories of...

Shawn Purcell

Jul 23, 2008

Adventures with a Binder

I recently journeyed to the Charles Matthews Bindery in Los Angeles to participate in a basic book repair class followed by some tips on...

Sharon Heimann

Jul 21, 2008

The Hard Way

There is a package on my desk, unopened. I know what’s in it. It weighs slightly more than a pound, and its cold, metallic heart holds my...

Alice Voith

Apr 26, 2008

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