Turning your book passion into an occupation

KristoCat said:

SFG, if you are seriously considering being a law librarian, I can tell you they make big bucks. They have to get a library science degree AND a law degree (so basically, they could be practicing) so if they work at a major university, the university pays them what regular lawyers would make... six figures, probably. Top dollar

As for me, I seriously considered going into publishing for a long time (even went so far as to work at a small publishing company for a year as an intern) but the publishing thing didn't work out very well (I'm not THAT good at proofreading). So I applied to a Master's program for library science at my local university and got in. I'll be graduating in May and I'm really excited, because all my experience in this field is telling me that THIS is what I want to do!

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Wow...though the prospect of ignoring my family in order to get a law degree doesn't sound too appealing. I'm currently checking the ALA website for accredited schools. I'm looking at Oklahoma, North Texas, Emporia State(KS) and a few others. Nothing concrete yet, just weighing options.

SFG75 said:

High stakes testing and requiring a rigorous test to be passed would help many kids to give a Hoover dam.

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You might be surprised if you lived in a state with one of these testing programs. A few years back Massachusetts instituted the MCAS exam. I won't get too into the details, but it's caused a lot of disruption and unrest here. The problem according to many teachers is that they are now required to spend a significant portion of their teaching time teaching students how to pass this test, particularly in English, History and other "liberal arts" type classes. At the same time, it hasn't done a thing to curb disrespect and disinterest. Students are given so many chances to pass this test that they generally don't care until the bitter end.

If you do a search on running a (used)bookstore or an online business, you get some interesting responses. Hmmmmmmmm

SFG75 said:

If you do a search on running a (used)bookstore or an online business, you get some interesting responses. Hmmmmmmmm

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Interesting interesting, or creepy interesting............ i.e. Humbert?
Details man, details!

pontalba said:

Interesting interesting, or creepy interesting............ i.e. Humbert?
Details man, details!

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No, not a bookstore that Humbert would be interested in...not THAT kind. Not the kind that elicits protests from community members and churches. I'm talking about normal bookstores. The ones that don't require "jackets" on the covers and dark-tinted windows.

SFG75 said:

No, not a bookstore that Humbert would be interested in...not THAT kind. Not the kind that elicits protests from community members and churches. I'm talking about normal bookstores. The ones that don't require "jackets" on the covers and dark-tinted windows.

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Links please.

pontalba said:

Links please.

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What!!?, you don't believe me? OK-click here. Since its a used bookstore that I want to operate, I'll have to wait until I win the lottery or the wife becomes a millionaire counseling rich people. In the mean time, actually working will have to be a way of life for me.

Funny story-when I was a senior in high school, it was our job to leave for a period out of the day and sell space in the yearbook for ads. I went downtown with a classmate and entered a shoe-shine shop. Keep in mind that our town was of 25,000 at the time. We could see newspapers and magazines in the window, but could not see into the store entirely. My friend and I walked in and discovered that after the first five feet, you encountered rows and rows of pornographic magazines and videos. There were a few people reading the magazines and having spied the material, we realized that we made a big mistake. The owner rushed towards us and asked what it was that we wanted. I nervously told him that we were selling ads and asked if he wanted one in our yearbook. Thank goodness he turned us down. By the way, I attended a catholic high school. Could you imagine the fire-storm that would've erupted if I took his money?

Thanks SFG,. But have you investigated something like a franchise type operation? There is one in the town near us that I frequent and it is quite nice, as well as one on the South Shore, maybe 40ish miles of that first one I mentioned. I guess its ok for me to post the name of it. The Book Rack. I have no idea what the prices or rules are, but could be worth investigating.

pontalba said:

Thanks SFG,. But have you investigated something like a franchise type operation? There is one in the town near us that I frequent and it is quite nice, as well as one on the South Shore, maybe 40ish miles of that first one I mentioned. I guess its ok for me to post the name of it. The Book Rack. I have no idea what the prices or rules are, but could be worth investigating.

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That relates to a thread that I created about giant mega-chains swallowing up independent sellers. It's also an underlying theme of that weird Tom Hanks movie where he e-mails Meg Ryan a lot. Not that I wouldn't have e-mailed her a lot if I were in his shoes, but I digress. I've thought of a Barnes & Noble type of thing as I love their lay out and the coffee store. Both of those things would rock. The problem is that higher management doesn't always have their heads screwed on straight. They have too much coffee in the morning and jack up franchise fees or institute some hokey staff "moral training" program where you're supposed to say: "What time is it!?" and they are to answer: "Pride time!." It's no joke, my brother in law had the pride time thing put upon him from above, lol. Not only that, but employees are lazy, shiftless, and practically worthless. I'd fire everyone and do the work myself like some modern day Ayn Rand character. I don't suffer fools gladly. Big drawback best ameliorated if it's just me and one or two underlings, not a dozen or so.

Just fyi, The Book Rack is not a 'mega' anything, its basically a hole in the wall operation with thousands of books stuffed into a small space. Wonderful in other words. The one I go to on this shore has two bookcases with hard back books for $ 1.75 each. Nice, in good condition new books.

The owner has two ladies that work parttime for her. both knowledgeable and blessedly quiet.

pontalba said:

Just fyi, The Book Rack is not a 'mega' anything, its basically a hole in the wall operation with thousands of books stuffed into a small space. Wonderful in other words. The one I go to on this shore has two bookcases with hard back books for $ 1.75 each. Nice, in good condition new books.

The owner has two ladies that work parttime for her. both knowledgeable and blessedly quiet.

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Ahhh, I'll have to check that out. Interestingly enough, a small town nearby where I live received a ton of books and money to start a giant bookstore. "Booktown" is a program by a very well off English man who wants to encourage reading and rural development. A great write-up about it can be found here. That kind of program would be awesome to run, though right now, risking everything on a business isn't my idea of security. I have a couple of mouths to think of besides my own. On the other hand, I went to a used bookstore today and spent a heck of a lot of money. I wondered how I would make a profit as people in that business aren't busy a lot of the time, but if you consider that one or two stragglers an hour spend double-digits for books, that would come out pretty even.

I have actually graduated from a Library Technician's program (we are like librarians, except we don't have a masters degree, but we do have the training to work in a variety of areas that constitute a library) in my hometown and have volunteered for the past 5 school years in a school in my local school district. I wanted to become a teacher, but I soon realized that that wasn't going to be a possiblity for me.

So what to do with a BA in History? Well, I found that there was a library techinican's program at the university I was attending (it's a combination of a undergrad university and a community college) and applied and I got in. I could have finished the two year program in a year and a half, but I was completing my degree at the same time that I started the Library Tech program. I am currently looking for work and have an interview Wednesday (tomorrow when most of you see this). I hope to find something soon.

The reason that I went into the program because I enjoy books and I hope to pass along that enjoyment to others, no matter what my role may end up being.

I worked at a small, independent bookstore for 2 years during college and LOVED it. My bosses were so great at prepping me to become a store owner myself. Someday I WILL own my own store.
Also thought about going into teaching, though i'm taking a break from school right now to decide what I want to do. I would love to teach at writer's conferences full time (I do a couple a year right now).

My most frequent day dreams have me as the CEO of Barnes and Noble. I love books, but I don't know if I'll ever realistically look into making them part of my career.

Ryouko said:

My most frequent day dreams have me as the CEO of Barnes and Noble. I love books, but I don't know if I'll ever realistically look into making them part of my career.

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I wonder about that too. Would there be enough demand for me to not live like a pauper? How many book fools are there? How could it possibly work? Then I realize the amount that I blew at the used bookstore and that there four other people roaming around like myself and I realize......there is a market!.

Gulp - I am actually doing that! I am moving to the mainland and opening a used book shop! It's actually an extension of a friend's business. He has big sales 4 times a year, is involved in a radio station fund raising drive and has a swiftly moving Ebay arm. I will be in another state, however, he'll be providing stock and about 25% of start-up investment. I am going to be the investor with 75%.

First, I'll be working doing the Ebay stuff, the slaes, etc to get a feel of what it's like. Then when he feels he's taught me all I know, he's going to help me open the shop, maybe at the end of the year.

Interesting note - my friend worked for years as upper management at AC Neilson. He threw in the towel one day and started his book business which is booming after only 4 years!

Wish me luck.

Geenh said:

Gulp - I am actually doing that! I am moving to the mainland and opening a used book shop! It's actually an extension of a friend's business. He has big sales 4 times a year, is involved in a radio station fund raising drive and has a swiftly moving Ebay arm. I will be in another state, however, he'll be providing stock and about 25% of start-up investment. I am going to be the investor with 75%.

First, I'll be working doing the Ebay stuff, the slaes, etc to get a feel of what it's like. Then when he feels he's taught me all I know, he's going to help me open the shop, maybe at the end of the year.

Interesting note - my friend worked for years as upper management at AC Neilson. He threw in the towel one day and started his book business which is booming after only 4 years!

Wish me luck.

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Wow!. Can't wait to hear how this progresses for you. Are you a tadbit nervous?

Geenh said:

Gulp - I am actually doing that!

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Ooooh, awesome! I hope it goes well. Can you please keep us posted with how it goes?

angerball said:

Ooooh, awesome! I hope it goes well. Can you please keep us posted with how it goes?

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I agree with angerball. Not only that, but TBF members get discounts on all orders right?

I'm nervous as all getout! It freaks me out when I think about it but when I say that I'm doing it people nod their heads knowingly and say things like "As it should be", etc.

Of course TBF members get a discount! You will all have to come over to Brisbane and spend a week hanging out at the shop.

I plan on having a shop cat named Raffles. ANyone get either of the connections to books in naming the cat that?