Quote:
Originally Posted by barb2cats
In the U.S., libraries do not pay a per use fee for the paper books.
I do not know if libraries can purchase at a "library discount".
I do know that some hardback books are purchased from publishers at 'regular' retail; some are purchased with 'library binding' which I believe costs more than the regular retail cost.
Paperbacks, I believe, are purchased at retail cost.
It has been a long time since I was involved with purchasing books for a library.
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I don't think things have changed much. Most books are discounted via third party book sellers like Baker & Taylor but only for trade versions. 'Library binding' versions, which are supposed to be sturdier, are perhaps sold at a 5% to 15% discount off retail price. And many other books are not discounted at all from publishers and if they are library bindings, cost more than trade retail. Paperbacks are usually heavily discounted except that many libraries buy library binding hardback versions that are more expensive. And of course you need to add the cost of processing and cataloging. Most libraries buy this extra service from book sellers. In all, the total cost of an individual book to a library is usually more than the retail price.