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Alibris Affiliate Program: FAQ

If the following answers to the most frequently asked questions don't address your issue, please send us an e-mail. And if you're not yet an Alibris Library Affiliate—sign up now!

What is the Alibris Affiliates Program?

The Alibris Affiliates Program makes it easy for patrons to locate and purchase hard-to-find books. By placing an Alibris banner with a special link on your Web site, you provide visitors with a valuable resource by helping them locate hard-to-find books. Additionally, when a visitor who has clicked an Alibris link on your Web site and completes a purchase at Alibris, your organization earns a 5% commission.

The Alibris Affiliates Program is administered by LinkShare, the first and only Internet-based company to offer a reliable, convenient third-party service that facilitates affiliate marketing on the Internet.

Who can join?

The program is free and is open to libraries of all sizes.

Why should I join the Alibris Affiliates Program?

The Alibris Affiliates Program enhances your Web site by pointing your visitors to resources that interest them, and you gain the financial benefits of earning sales commissions without the cost of maintaining an e-commerce site. And because Alibris is dedicated to offering world-class customer service, you can be confident that you're providing value to your visitors.

Who can I contact with more questions?

If you have any questions about the Alibris Affiliates Program, please send an e-mail.

What does Alibris do?

Alibris makes it easy for libraries and their patrons to locate books you thought you'd never find, including out-of-print, out-of-stock, and rare titles. We offer millions of books from thousands of booksellers around the world and guarantee your satisfaction with a no-questions-asked return policy. Plus, we accept credit cards and purchase orders online, offer discounted shipping, and provide personalized customer service via our toll-free number (1-877-ALIBRIS). Whether you're trying to build your collection, satisfy faculty requests, fill back orders, or replace lost or damaged holdings, Alibris is your one-stop source for hard-to-find books.

How do I get paid?

Commissions are tabulated every month. Affiliates who have sales will be mailed a check each month. If you have a payment threshold, you can adjust that within LinkShare. Just go to the Your Account tab, then click on the Update Profile link. Then select the appropriate account within the Channel Manager window, and after the page loads, adjust the amount in the Payment Threshold field of the Payment window.

When do I get paid?

Alibris pays LinkShare within 10 days after the close of the month.  LinkShare then mails a check to each affiliate. Thus, it may take 45-60 days after a specific month to receive payment. LinkShare will post the date checks are sent in the Payment Report. You may sign up for direct deposit with LinkShare to quicken the process.

How do I sign up for the Alibris Library Affiliate Program?

Becoming an Alibris Library Affiliate is easy! To begin, go to the sign-up area to register.

I've registered and received the confirmation e-mail that I'm an Alibris Library Affiliate. Now what do I do?

  1. Go to LinkShare and login to the member area.
  2. Select the Create Links tab.
  3. Select Alibris in the pull down menu.
  4. Find Alibris for Libraries from the alphabetical list of merchants and select Get Links.
  5. Choose what type of banner or text link you would like on your Web site and select Get HTML.
  6. Copy the HTML script from the window and paste it into the appropriate location on your Web site.

How do I set up links to specific books and author names on my Web site?

Web links to specific books and author names can be set up on your Web site through LinkShare. Use the following steps to retrieve the HTML script for your Web site. If you need help with this process, please let us know by sending an e-mail.

  1. Go to LinkShare and login to the member area.
  2. Select the Get Links tab.
  3. Select the Merchant Partners button in the gray box.
  4. Find Alibris for Libraries in the alphabetical list of merchants and select Get Links from the right.
  5. Scroll down the page to reach the textlinks. Select Get HTML to view and copy the type of textlink you would like to use: Search by Title, Search by Author, or Search by Title and Author.
  6. After you paste the HTML code on your Web site, make sure you replace the default title, 'Dune' and/or the author 'Herbert', with the names you would like to be linked. Notice that each name is separated by "%20."

More information

Get more information about how our program can benefit you.