There are as many ways and methods as there are booksellers.
I thought I would write about my process.
Select a book to describe. Whether it is something you’ve had for a while or recently acquired.
If you're new at describing start with something you know about or are interested in researching.
You can use existing software that has fields for the basics and add everything else into the notes or description field. Homebase and Booktrakker both use the “Notes” field. Bookhound uses the "Description" field. You will want to describe accurately but persuasively.
The Basics
1. Author and Editor or Illustrator (if present)
2. Title of book. and Subtitle. (if present)
3. Publisher's name and location (city and state, plus country if not USA).
4. Copyright year. Year published, if different from copyright year, or if copyright year is not shown. Library of Congress year, if copyright year is not shown.
5. Edition and printing history.
6. Binding format (hardback with/without dust jacket or paperback).
7. Condition. AB Bookman's Weekly industry standard condition codes and our book condition checklist are available at http://books.descriptionbuilder.com/
8.“Notes” or "Description" This is where you really SELL the book.
Let your creativity and knowledge flesh out the description.
This is why I developed the Book Description Builder at www.bookzing.com as a tool for booksellers to provide help in building descriptions.
Other Things to List:
Number of pages.
Pre-text pages, supplemental pages, or other pages, such as: index, appendix, photos,
illustrations, or bibliography.
Size of book. Table of contents.
Quotes or blurbs from dust jacket.
Description of book's contents, plot, or topic. author's biographical information.
Ask yourself “Why would someone buy this book.?” and use your answer to build your description.
Some things that can increase the value of a book:
Author signature or inscription
Edition of the book:
First, illustrator, limited or special edition.
Provenance or a history of ownership (famous or notable past owners including notes by a known person)
Collectible bookplate.
Bookseller stamps labels
Errata Sheets.
Ephemera. related to the book laid in or for sale stand alone
Media and current events, the ebb and flow of public interest related to the subject matter,
I welcome your comments on this blog let me know what you want to see.
Michael Elmer
Michael's Books
www.michaelsbooks.com
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