34. We are pleased to learn that the libraries believe—-
1. The approval feature can be dropped.
2. That no library should ask for competitive bids on itemized lists.
3. The bibliographical work is entirely unnecessary by the bookseller and can be dispensed with.
4. That the relations between libraries and the book trade should be placed upon a business basis.
5. That there is no question as to the desirability and the necessity of improving the condition of the book trade, and that they are in sympathy with the apparently successful efforts now being made toward that end.
BOOKSELLERS SELLING TO LIBRARIES AND THE RESULT, IN PROFIT AND LOSS TO THE BOOKSELLER.
The following tabulation is compiled, from actual purchases made from four prominent publishers, by a large bookseller, during a period of one year. These purchases included books in all classes of literature, fiction, biography, science, travel, etc., etc., which would fairly represent the book purchases of a number of libraries for the period of one year. These books were bought at varying discounts, viz.:—2/5, 2/5-5, 2/5-10, ¼, ¼-5, ¼-10, 3/10, 3/10-5, 3/10-10, 1/3, 1/3-5, 1/3-10. Every advantage was taken where possible, to obtain by quantity buying, the extra 5 and 10 per cent, given by the publishers. The amount bought of these four publishers at published price was about $37,035.87, which cost the bookseller about $24,000.00, and included both regular, net and special books.
Let us assume that this bookseller sold these books from his stock to the libraries, at a discount from the published prices, on regular books, of 1/3 and a discount of 10% from the published prices of net books.
It is here shown, what the result of the operation would be to the bookseller, as to profit or loss. The cost point of doing business by booksellers the country over, has been fairly well determined to be on the same average, 28% per dollar of sale. This may fluctuate according to circumstances and location, between 30% and 25%. In order, however, to clearly and fully cover all possibilities in the matter, the expense per dollar of sale has been calculated at 28%, 20%, 15%, 10% and 5% per dollar of sale.