In this Library Wire:
Prices and services to meet your needs
If you want to (or must) use a credit or procurement card for your library’s book purchases, you’re invited to toggle on over to our retail Web site anytime, where you’ll find the same search engine and database of books, often at reduced prices but with fewer library services. Maybe best for those single and inexpensive titles you’d otherwise find everywhere else online, the Alibris retail site can also offer the low shipping prices you’ll find elsewhere. It’s just a matter of choice between the full-service and value-added Alibris for Libraries or the low-cost retail services of Alibris.
Let us know anytime you’d like assistance determining the more efficient and cost-effective ordering process for your library.
Shipping options
Keep in mind that libraries ordering on our library site (with U.S. ship-to addresses) qualify for free shipping with any order consisting of ten or more items. In addition, our new “direct-from-seller” shipping options can get your materials to your door quickly, but still fairly inexpensively. So whether you need it there “in due time” or “by yesterday,” Alibris for Libraries can accommodate your library’s routine or emergency needs.
Single ISBN vs. multi-ISBN
No surprise, but our internal site usage statistics reveal that ISBN is the most commonly searched field in our system. How else could libraries more efficiently hone in on specific editions of books from among literally tens of millions of similarly indexed books?
Don’t forget that we have a nice feature called “multi-ISBN search.” Scroll down to the bottom of our Advanced Search page, and cut and paste a whole column or page of ISBNs into the search box to conduct several searches simultaneously.
Want List Matching System
And speaking of saving time, our Want List Matching System is a terrific tool, especially if you’re looking for more than a couple dozen titles. Plenty of libraries rely on Alibris for Libraries to determine availability and cost for long (or short) lists of hard (or easy) to find titles.
Let us know anytime you’d like our staff to load and match your lists of Wants on your behalf.
Alibris Tip: Return books sooner than later
In the rare event you should need to return a book to us, please return the book within 30 days of receipt so we can return the book to the seller. Please see our returns policy for more information on Alibris for Libraries returns.
