How Friends of Pima County found new homes for 4,600 books
Friends of Pima County Public Library supports 20 libraries across Arizona - funding programs, resources, and services that keep each branch thriving.
One of the ways they raise money? Selling books. And here, they’re a well-oiled machine: Amazon, eBay, a store, wholesale partners - around $250,000 a year goes back to their libraries from their book sales alone.
But even the best operations end up with books that don't sell. Some titles sit online for months, or even for a whole year. These then might go back to physical book sales or, often, to salvage - which costs $150 a week.
How it works
In March 2025, Lex heard about Sell Your Books Pro from a peer at Friends of Sierra Vista Library. After a quick chat with his executive director, they decided to give it a go.
The process is simple. Scan a book and get an instant offer. If the price is right, it goes on the pallet. If not, it heads back to the store or recycling.
What surprised Lex? Books that had failed to sell online for a year were now creating a new revenue stream.
"What I'm noticing is books that we cull from online that haven't sold within a year have more value when sending to World of Books."
In four months, Friends of Pima County rehomed over 4,600 books through Sell Your Books Pro. That's 4,600 books that got a chance to find new readers, instead of heading to recycling or landfill.
And, crucially, it’s making themmore money too.
"Right now, it's definitely revenue-driven and that's the goal — to generate as much income as possible for the libraries and to take care of overhead."
Why it works
For organizations already running multi-channel sales, Sell Your Books Pro isn't about replacing what's working. Instead, scanning helps organizations give more books a chance to find a home — and make extra revenue from books destined for recycling.