How to find difficult-to-find/out-of-print Endicott books

[Odette]

Several readers mentioned that they were having a hard time locating this month's selection - Bed of Sphinxes by Philip Lamantia. I thought this would be a good time to post a few suggestions for tracking books that aren't in print and/or aren't in your local library.

If a book isn't in print, you can often find used copies online through www.abebooks.com (they include dealers outside the US as well - I'm in the US but have ordered books from the UK through them, sometimes for more reasonable prices than the dealers in the US offered.)
www.bookfinder.com
www.amazon.com
Additionally, if you have a local used bookstore in your neighborhood, they may be willing to hunt you down a copy.

If the book isn't available used, or is too expensive, you may be able to get it through your local library even if it isn't in their system.
My old library had an interlibrary loan service that included searches in academic libraries all across the country. You might want to ask your local library if they have a service like that (& specify that it's an external library search, not just one for local libraries). If they find you a copy that way, you won't get the books for that long - just a few weeks - and the overdue fees are exorbitant, but it's a good way to get out of print books that aren't in the local public library system.

If you have any friends who are students or staff at a local university, you might ask if they can help you get a copy of the book - university libraries often have or can get more obscure books - especially if they fall into the "literature" category (most of the Endicott poetry books could probably be found this way).

Does anyone else have any additional suggestions for finding books that aren't in print or in the local library?

[Nancy]

I would also suggest looking at ABE Books. I use them quite a bit and have never had a problem with them. They aren't as well known as Amazon but I find their prices are similar or slightly cheaper.

[Odette]

Thanks, Nancy! I like abebooks, too. (There's actually a lot of overlap between them & Amazon, to the point where I thought they might be owned by the same company, but abebooks has a lot more international sellers, which sometimes means better prices or more selection.)

[Bill]

Amazon did buy ABE awhile ago Odette, as indeed they seem to snapping up everything, the wonderful bookdepository being the latest, but the 'overlap' is just sellers listing wherever they can.

[Odette]

Ah, that's a shame. Amazon ought to have more competition, just on principle. I never ordered from bookdepository, & now I guess there's not much point.

I read this article today:

What Shoppers Don’t Realize About Amazon’s Reviews
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-wh...

[Michelle]

Odette, that's *exactly* why i stopped using amazon as my go-to site for reviews a few years ago. well, that, and with the rise of digital self-publishing, PLENTY of people writing reviews on there are the authors or the authors' friends.

my go-to book finding sites, both of which search multiple databases simultaneously:
http://www.bookfinder.com/
http://www.bestwebbuys.com/books/

for ebooks (though it is occasionally inaccurate on pricing, it does at least tell you accurately if a digital version *exists*):
http://inkmesh.com/

[Odette]

Thanks, Michelle. I've used bookfinder in the past but never heard of best web buys for books. Good to have another option for hard-to-find books.

[Melissa (ladybug)]

I have found many books at www.thriftbooks.com

:D

[Odette]

Thanks Melissa!

[Leah]

Believe it or not, I've found some real treasures at Goodwill stores. I regularly visit three different locations in my area and rarely come out empty-handed. For $1 per paperback and $2 per hardcover, it's pretty cost efficient too.

Half Price Books is another physical store where I've found hidden gems.

I also recently discovered paperbackswap.com. Both the Goodwill and PaperbackSwap options require patience, though.

So if you're looking to buy a book instantly I second using bookfinder.com.

[Melanti]

By the way, www.paperbackswap.com is only available to people in the US.

www.half.com - which is a sister-site of e-bay is another decent source for used books.

Also, check your favorite e-book stores and the author's websites, if they exist. A lot of authors are releasing their out-of-print backlists as self-published or indie published e-books.

[Leah]

I was going to suggest Half.com but then changed my mind. I've been a member since before it was sold/bought out by eBay, and over the past two years the sellers have really started to drop the ball. My advice for any Half.com newbies: stick with the small sellers - those people who have under 500 sales on their profile - as they usually give the best service. Except betterworldbooks. They have a huge selection and help libraries. I've ordered from them through Half.com at least a dozen times and never been disappointed. Their website is http://www.betterworldbooks.com/

[Melanti]

That may be why I've never had an issue... Nine times out of ten, when I order from Half.com, I am ordering from Better World Books. (Half.com will reduce shipping on multiple books from the same seller, so if you're ordering several, Half.com might be the better deal.)