The effect of the Internet on the out-of-print book market: Implications for libraries

This study presents the results of an analysis of the offers by out-of-print dealers to buy and to sell items in AB Bookman's Weekly during two periods (1982 and 1992) compared with availability and prices in 2004 in Used.addall.com, a metasearch site for out-of-print materials. After searching 786 items with 690 valid cases, the authors discovered a high availability of items in all four samples (95%) and a significant decline in prices in inflation-adjusted dollars (−48.7% for 1982 sell ads and −43.4% for 1992 sell adds). The items in the sample were most heavily concentrated in history, arts, and literature but would be of interest to many libraries. The more important implications for libraries include the following: (1) the distinction between in-print and out-of-print in regards to availability has disappeared; (2) materials in the out-of-print market are often less expensive than when published; (3) retrospective buying projects are feasible; and (4) for monographs, purchase may be a reasonable substitute for interlibrary loan. The authors attribute these changes to the increased efficiency of the Internet and sophisticated databases in allowing out-of-print dealers to market their stock to potential customers.