2) Where can I find out-of-print books? (Technical Books)
Description
This article is from the Technical Books FAQ, by Sethu R Rathinam rathinam@worf.netins.net with numerous contributions by others.
2) Where can I find out-of-print books? (Technical Books)
If you just want to borrow it, ask your library about inter-library
loans--chances are good they can find it for you in a library they have
reciprocal agreements with even if they don't have it themselves.
For used books, there is BOOKMAN'S, the used book trade magazine. Lots
of books are advertised there that haven't been in print for decades.
You may be able to find the annual bound copy of BOOKMAN'S PRICE INDEX
(the used book dealer's pricing bible) in your local library. There's
no guarantee that the book you want will still be for sale if you go
that way, but it is a good way to plan your budget.
Most used book stores participate in an informal network (not a computer
network) of clearinghouses on information about used books. It is usually
possible within a few days to locate copies of used books with indications
of their condition. The service usually costs between nothing and two
dollars a book.
A few professional book finder services are listed below:
Books by Modem (Service connecting Readers to Dealers)
Boston, MA
617-923-4990 (modem)
617-923-4991 (voice)
C. Dickens
Lenox Square Mall
3393 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30326 USA
1-800-548-0376 (voice)
404-364-0713 (fax)
Search fee: US$3.00 per book (January 1994 status)
Knollwood Books
PO Box 197
Oregon, WI 53575-0197
608-835-8861 (voice)
Lincoln Book Search
PO Box 5
Foster, RI 02825 USA
1-800-292-8969 (voice)
401-647-2825 (fax)
Search fee: US$3.50 per book (January 1994 status)
Powell's Technical Bookstore
33 North West Park
Portland, Oregon, 97209 USA
1-800-225-6911 (voice, Technical Bookstore)
503-228-0505 (fax, Technical Bookstore)
1-800-878-7323 extension 217 (voice, Out of Print Department)
503-228-4631 (fax, Out of Print Department)
Search fee: US$2.00 per book (January 1994 status)
Robert Shaw
150 W 26th St. #810
New York, NY 10001-6813
Send a large SASE
Trans-Orbital Resources
1637 E. Valley Parkway
Box 177
Escondido, CA 92027
Send a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE)
Hoffman Research Services
Ralph Hoffman Owner-Manager
PO Box 342
Rillton, PA 15678
412-446-3374 (voice)
email address - hoffsearch@aol.com
Search fee: None
One way of getting out-of-print titles is to get in touch with
University Microfilms, Inc. (or other such companies). They'll
print a copy of a book from microfilm, generally within 3 weeks
of your order. They take care of the copyright issues & royalty
payments, and you get the book (although the printing quality is
what you'd expect for a photoreprint from microfilm). They're a
standard resource for librarians. A 106-page book was recently
quoted as US$30.00, with a US$6.00 surcharge for cloth binding
(default is paperbound) - another example of the pricing is a
1970 book, currently out of print, about 350 pages, quoted at
$150 - so be sure to check with the company. And of course, not
all books are available for reprinting--they've obviously
specialized in academic books.
University Microfilms, Inc.
300 North Zeeb Road
Ann Arbor, MI
48106
313-761-4700
800-521-0600
800-343-5299 (works in Canada)
As a last resort, out of print US Government literature may be
requested from microfiche copy from the NTIS. Considering the
source media is microfiche, these can be fairly good quality
reproductions. This method can be expensive (NTIS does not publish
a rate table, but a fair starting guess is US$0.10/page). The NTIS
will offer discounts for orders of multiple copies (i.e. 25% for 5
or more).
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
US Department of Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
703-487-4650 (8:30AM - 5:00PM EST)
Credits: Al Whaley, Mark Leeper, gregb@oclflt
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