From Clutter to Cash: Online Book Sales at the University of Maryland’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Library (EPSL)

Abstract

In 2003 the University of Maryland's Engineering and Physical Sciences Library conducted a pilot project selling gift books on the internet resulting in gross sales totaling $9,326, a net profit of $6,917, for only 96 calculated staff hours. This article describes this project from inception through conclusion summarizing the detailed processes needed to get started and make it profitable, while also giving step-by-step advice on running an online book sale. After three years of operation (over $18,000 in sales), the Library Administration Earned Income Committee recommended retail sales such as this not be part of the Libraries Mission.