Library book sale guides & data
Reference material for shoppers, librarians, Friends of the Library volunteers, and journalists covering used book sales. Everything here is free to read, quote, and link to — attribution to Book Sale Near Me is all we ask.
How to Find Library Book Sales Near You
Nine reliable ways to find library book sales before they happen — ZIP search, Friends newsletters, library calendars, local groups, and alerts.
Read the guide →How to Find Books to Flip (Sourcing Guide)
Where to source cheap used books, how to triage and scan at a sale, and how to tell whether a sourcing trip pays for itself.
Read the guide →How Much Do Books Cost at Library Sales?
A price table for paperbacks, hardcovers, children's books, and media — plus how prices drop from preview night to bag day.
Read the guide →States With the Most Library Book Sales (2026 Report)
A full state-by-state ranking of tracked library book sales — upcoming events, year-round Friends bookstores, and cities covered. Free to cite with a link.
Read the guide →Free Library Book Sale Widget for Your Website
Libraries, Friends groups, and book bloggers can embed a live list of upcoming sales in one line of code. Free, no account required.
Read the guide →Book Sourcing Trip Calculator
Free calculator for resellers and collectors. Estimate fuel cost, IRS mileage write-off, and net profit before driving out to a library book sale.
Read the guide →Library Book Sale Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the 15 terms you will hear at a sale — bag days, preview night, ex-library, remainder marks, ARCs, BSR, FBA, and more.
Read the guide →Library Book Sale Statistics (Live Data)
How many library book sales are happening right now, which states host the most, and how sales are spread across the calendar — from our own listings database. Free to cite with attribution.
Read the guide →How to Shop a Library Book Sale: A Complete Guide
What to bring, when to arrive, how preview nights and bag days work, and how to spot the good boxes before everyone else does.
Read the guide →How to Run a Library Book Sale (Friends of the Library Playbook)
A step-by-step playbook for Friends groups and library staff: timeline, volunteer roles, pricing tables, layout, and promotion — plus how to get your sale listed for free.
Read the guide →Pricing Library Sale Books for Resale
How used-book resellers grade condition, confirm editions, and price books bought at library sales — plus common pricing mistakes to avoid.
Read the guide →The Library Book Sale Calendar: Seasonal Patterns
General seasonal patterns for library book sales — spring and fall peaks, summer outdoor sales, holiday sales, and end-of-sale bag days.
Read the guide →How Friends of the Library Sales Fund Libraries
How Friends groups run book sales, where donated books come from, how proceeds typically support library programs, and how to volunteer or donate.
Read the guide →
Looking for a sale instead? Search library book sales by ZIP code or browse library book sales by state.