In 2023, ThriftBooks launched its new BuyBack program for libraries. While the company offers other revenue-generating programs, PW wanted to get the details on this new program and how it can benefit libraries. We spoke with Martin Sandoval, director of supply chain management, and Hugo Munday, director of supply services, to find out.

What prompted the creation of this new program?

Hugo: BuyBack has broad appeal by design. One of the most frequent questions customers ask is: "Can I sell you my books?" In response we created several ways for libraries and their supporters to generate income by doing so.

These programs range from processes where we accept ALL books for one price to another program that takes some books for a higher value per book. Our BuyBack program has a more focused range of acceptable books, which most libraries will carry. This allows us to offer an even higher price per book. As budgets tighten everywhere, it’s about offering more options for libraries.

Additionally, BuyBack is a very easy, self-service model. You can find out the worth of the book, decide if you want to part with it, get a FREE label, and get paid in full a day or two after we receive your books. All the library needs is a box to ship them in. Given some libraries don’t have a truck’s worth of books or they work in much smaller batches, a free label and a trip to the post office suits them well.

How many library partners do you work with? Who is the program open to?

Hugo: We work with hundreds of regional branches covering thousands of individual branches. BuyBack is a scalable program. We’ve accepted shipments ranging from less than a dozen books to thousands of books. For these large shipments, our process abandons the free shipping label—dropping off two thousand books at your local post office would be hard—and leverages our relationships with carriers to arrange a pickup. Again, at no cost to the customer.

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BuyBack is an exciting new option ThriftBooks is offering libraries facing tightening budgets to generate even more revenue. By selling excess inventory that fits within the set range of books the program accepts, libraries earn an even higher price per book. As a widely recognized and robust resale platform, ThriftBooks allows libraries to earn one of the highest payouts in the industry.

ThriftBooks BuyBack accepts smaller shipments of books as well as larger quantities so libraries of all sizes along with independent bookstores and book resellers can participate. The self-service program is incredibly easy and convenient to use and buys back their own books as well as books bought elsewhere. Librarians can check the value of the book, decide if they want to part with it, print out a free label, and get paid in full a day or two after ThriftBooks receives the shipment of books. All the library needs is a box for shipping. There is no contract, and opening an account is free.

This additional revenue stream enables libraries to continue to support their needs, from upgrading technology to hosting community events, while sustainably parting with their surplus inventory.

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Take a look at this short video explaining how simple it is to take advantage of the ThriftBooks BuyBack program.

Jake, a bookseller and avid user of the program, breaks it all down and provides all the details you need to know.

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With public libraries, schools, and nonprofits often facing shrinking budgets, staff are increasingly seeking new ways to fund services.

ThriftBooks offers a budget-conscious, sustainability-driven, profit-sharing solution that partners with libraries, Friends of Library groups, and nonprofits to help them manage excess inventory while generating much-needed revenue. Through the ThriftBooks Library Program, they can donate decommissioned or surplus books and receive a share of the proceeds from every title sold.

It’s a low-effort, high-impact way to transform excess inventory into support for your library’s programs, collections, and community services while giving books a second life!

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Once I have a return boxed up and labeled, I request a pickup from the local post office and away they go! After the books are scanned in to the warehouse and examined, payment is made via PayPal within a day or two.

We have been very pleased with the number of titles that we have been able to sell to ThriftBooks, and love that they will find another home in a book lover's library!

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ThriftBooks helped us solve a difficult problem: the disposal of books and other materials no longer suitable for our public library collection.

Before our partnership with ThriftBooks, we worked with our Friends of the Library groups to sell books at annual book sales. While these books sales were a lot of fun, they were a lot of work and didn't bring in a lot of money. Most books were sold for an average of 10 to 25 cents each. We were not able to capture the full value for items such as first editions.

Through ThriftBooks, we are clearly receiving much closer to the full price for our rare and valuable discarded items. It is very important to us that ThriftBooks is able to recycle much of what they are unable to sell. I have found ThriftBooks to be conscientious, trustworthy, and responsive. I heartily recommend their services to all libraries.

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We've used ThriftBooks for a few years already and are very satisfied with the services we've received and the income generated from the sales of those materials. Our loading dock was overflowing with weeded materials after our month-long closure of the physical locations. Staff from ThriftBooks worked tirelessly to schedule pickups from limited trucking companies so that materials can be shipped out ASAP for us to regain the control of much-needed space.

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Becoming a ThriftBooks partner was hands down one of the best business decisions we made in 2021.

The top-notch client care and logistical services they offer are solid. What struck us instantly was the speed at which they not only receive/ready our product for sale but how quickly they actually sell it! A clear testament to their stellar name recognition in the bookselling marketplace. We couldn't be happier calling ourselves a member of the ThriftBooks family and look forward to many more years of mutual success to come.

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My experience working with ThriftBooks over the last 10 years has been nothing short of amazing. They go out of their way to make sure I am taken care of. Communication is always clear and timely. Trucks usually show up as scheduled. If there's going to be a delay, they let me know right away. Payment is always made promptly.

Not having to worry about many of the logistical details provides great peace of mind for someone like myself running a small business with many different components to juggle. ThriftBooks' consistency over the years has been a major stress reducer for me. Everybody at ThriftBooks is always professional and friendly.

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Since 2003, ThriftBooks has been offering quality used and new books, accurately graded, at everyday low prices. Today, they are the world's largest online independent used and new book seller, operating with state-of-the-art automation and advanced analytics in a safety-first environment.

Their partnerships extend across the country, and their profit-sharing relationship with libraries large and small enables them to support these valuable institutions by finding homes for ex-library books.

The company also donates books to those in need—including to schools, nonprofit organizations, and communities rebuilding after natural disasters—on the U.S. and abroad through ThriftBooks Cares.

ThriftBooks believes in the power of books to impact lives and societies across the globe, and it cherishes its role in saving books to live another day to educate, entertain, inspire, and transform lives.

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