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Friends of the Meriden Public Library News

Web Site: http://www.meridenlibrary.org/about/friends-of-the-library
c/o Meriden Public Library 105 Miller Street, Meriden, CT 06450
Tel: (203) 630-4763

Used book store, internet book sales, supports Meriden Public Library

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Less than a year ago, Frank W. Ridley was busily s ...

January 18, 2005

Ten months, 2,500 books and $12,000 later, Ridley's ready to say selling over the Internet has become a huge part of the organization's business. A large number of the online sales didn't take place until April, and the business done since over the World Wide Web is nearly surpassing that done from the bookstore's physical location at 1 Colony St.

Since the beginning of 2005, Ridley estimates the Internet store has done about $2,000 in business, a sign online book sales have been picking up as of late.

The Friends of the Meriden Public Library's two conflicting missions make online sales a logical way to raise money. While the store attempts to promote literacy and offer books at low prices, the money it could make for the library is hampered, since books are sold at an affordable price. The real way to make the big bucks is Internet sales, where people may be willing to pay more for a book they cannot find elsewhere, according to Ridley.

The Internet store, which has shipped books to all 50 states, is set up through Amazon.com, the popular online bookstore and retailer. The organization has listed nearly 1,500 books, and when someone wishes to purchase a book, they can use Amazon.com's interface to do so. The online superstore receives a monthly fee and 15 percent of each sale the Friends make.

The online sales are a "tremendous boost" to the organization's fund raising, according to Library Director Marcia Trotta. The increased audience means more money for the library, something Trotta definitely supports.

"What happens is not only do we capture the business locally, but they send books all over the U.S.," she said. "The combination of the in-person store and the Internet sales has been absolutely fantastic for us. It widens your customer base."

Trotta is not the only one giving positive reviews to the online service. Customers have rated the Friends of the Library Internet store a 4.9 out of 5, with all of the 341 reviews classified as positive, according to the service.

The Friends will continue to add additional titles, and the organization's president added he hopes to find a way to sell books printed before the 1970s on another type of Web site in the near future. The organization also hopes to add some of its gift shop items to an Internet store, as well, he said.

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