THE RARE BOOK SOCIETY : CATALOGUING FOR THE INTERNET

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THE BRITISH RARE BOOK SOCIETY 8 CECIL COURT • LONDON WC2N 4HE info@rarebooksociety.org
SELLING ON THE INTERNET
Millions of books are sold on the internet every year. But for those booksellers who have never tried it, the prospect of getting an internet business going can be a bit daunting. Should you have your own website - or do you sell on Ebay, or on one of the many secondhand bookselling sites already available? Can you sell on more than one and, if you do, can you use the same database? How do you get paid? How do you send the books that are ordered? And perhaps the most daunting of all – how do you use a database?
This course aims to answer all these questions and more. Applicants will need a sound knowledge of how to catalogue a book (such as is provided in the RBS Cataloguing for Booksellers course) and a basic acquaintance with the computer and Microsoft Windows, Outlook Express and Internet Explorer. Although there are ready made databases available,including those supplied by some of the bookselling websites, detailed explanations will be given on how to use Microsoft Access in order to achieve the maximum flexibility.
Topics covered will include: An assessment of the sites available and how they differ from each other. Practicalities in selling on Ebay, on Alibris and on other sites such as ABE, Bibliology and Biblion, including: how much does it cost, rules and regulations, contact with customers. Setting up the database. Ready made databases. Using Microsoft Access. What information to include. The use of jargon and abbreviations. Pricing. The use of datasheets, forms and queries. How to adjust prices for different websites. Different methods of uploading. Keeping the database up to date. The use of photographs and scans. Setting up a merchant account. Stating your terms of business. How much to charge for postage and packing. Insurance. Communication with the customer – the use of standard letters. Whether and when to offer discounts. How to pack books securely. Postage and shipping. Keeping records. A note on VAT for UK booksellers. The value of having one’s own website.
The anticipated cost of the course is in the region of £200 - £250 and it is expected to be available from early in 2005.
The course will be broken up into several separate units, each of which will include some kind of assignment, piece of coursework, or element of active participation - and each of which must be successfully completed before moving on to the next unit. There will be a final test at the end to ensure that the lessons have been satisfactorily assimilated. Any help you may need will be available either from a Rare Book Society administrator or direct from the writer of the course by e-mail correspondence. The course will be delivered by means of password access to hidden areas of the website. To see how this works, simply use the password - interested - to access the details of how to register page. You will be kept informed and notified as soon as formal applications begin to be processed.
	The Rare Book Society was founded by members of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association (International) - and the Association enthusiastically endorses the programme.
This course is being compiled by Ruth Kidson, who has been dealing in old books for twelve years and has been selling on the internet since 1997. She has served on the National Executive Committee of the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association and is currently an elected Member of the Council and a member of the Education Sub-Committee of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association (International). She has a postgraduate Diploma in Antiquarian Bookselling from London University and, as well as being a bookseller, she is a writer on various subjects and has written a number of articles for Bookdealer, the trade journal.
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