Turn $20 into $200+ at
Library Book Sales
Library book sales are the best-kept secret in book reselling. Prices start at $0.25, competition is low, and one good haul can fund a month of inventory. Here's exactly how to find them and work them like a pro.
How It Works
Four steps from finding a sale to pocketing the profit.
Find a sale near you
Search AnyBookSale by city or state. Filter for preview nights and member presales — these are where resellers make the most money before the public crowds arrive.
Prioritize preview / member nights
Most Friends of the Library sales have a members-only preview night the evening before opening. $5–$10 membership fee pays back instantly. Filter for "Member Pre-Sale" on AnyBookSale.
Scan before you buy
Use a scanning app (BookScouter, Scan Lister, or similar) to check Amazon sales rank and resale value in seconds. Focus on ranks under 500,000 for fast sellers.
List and ship
List on Amazon FBA, eBay, or AbeBooks. A good library sale haul costs $20–$50 and routinely returns $150–$400+ when sold through. Textbooks and niche non-fiction lead ROI.
Why Resellers Use AnyBookSale
Built specifically to help you find and plan around sales faster.
Filter for Preview Nights
Find member presale and preview night events before the general public arrives. Use the "Member Pre-Sale" tag filter.
Filter for Bag Sale Days
Bag sale days are bulk-buyer heaven. Filter by "Bag Sale" to find fill-a-bag deals across any state.
Map View + Trip Planner
See all upcoming sales on a map. Use the Trip Planner to build a multi-sale route and open it directly in Google Maps.
Email Alerts by State
Subscribe to any state and get an instant email when a new sale is added — before anyone else knows about it.
Daily Updates
New sales are scraped and reviewed every morning. You're always looking at today's inventory, not last week's.
Search by City or Keyword
Find sales by city, zip area, or search "Friends of the Library" to target the best-curated collections.
8 Pro Tips
Straight from experienced library sale resellers.
Always check for member preview nights — filter for "Member Pre-Sale" on AnyBookSale and arrive early.
Bag sale days (fill a bag for $5–$10) are gold for bulk buyers. Filter by "Bag Sale" tag.
Focus on non-fiction, textbooks, and niche topics. Fiction is high volume, low margin.
Bring a portable charger. You'll scan for hours and your phone will drain fast.
Pack reusable bags and a small folding box. Most sales don't provide bags.
Bring cash. Many library sales are cash-only or prefer it. ATMs near sales are often empty by mid-morning.
Set up your Amazon seller account before you go so you can check fee estimates instantly.
Arrive 15–20 minutes before doors open. The best books go in the first 30 minutes.
Reseller Tools We Recommend
Pair AnyBookSale for finding sales with these tools for pricing, listing, and selling.
Scan ISBNs and instantly compare buyback prices from 30+ vendors. Free tier available — essential for quick decisions at the sale.
Bulk scan and auto-list to Amazon FBA. Cuts listing time from minutes to seconds per book. Built for high-volume resellers.
Best marketplace for rare, collectible, and out-of-print books. High-value finds from library sales often sell here for 10–100×.
Strong for sets, series, vintage paperbacks, and anything with collector appeal. Great for books Amazon won't let you sell.
Live-stream your haul and auction books in real time. Growing fast — early sellers are building loyal audiences with zero ad spend.
Ship your books to Amazon's warehouse and let them handle storage, shipping, and customer service. Best for textbooks and popular non-fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are library book sales good for resellers?
Yes — library book sales are one of the best sourcing channels for book resellers. Books typically cost $0.25–$2.00 each, and textbooks, non-fiction, and niche titles regularly sell for $10–$100+ on Amazon, eBay, or AbeBooks. A single well-chosen haul can return 5–10× your investment.
What books should I look for at library sales?
Focus on non-fiction, textbooks, technical manuals, travel guides, cookbooks, self-help, and niche hobby books. These have strong resale value and low competition from casual buyers. Use a scanning app like BookScouter to check Amazon sales rank and resale price before buying.
What is a preview night at a book sale?
A preview night (also called a member presale) is a special early-access session for Friends of the Library members, held the evening before opening day. Membership usually costs $5–$15 and gives you first pick of the entire inventory — a major advantage for resellers.
What app should I use to scan books at a sale?
BookScouter is the most popular free option — scan an ISBN and instantly see buyback prices from 30+ vendors. For Amazon sellers, Scan Lister or the Amazon Seller app show FBA fees and current sales rank. Focus on books with a rank under 500,000 for fast turnover.
How do I find library book sales near me?
AnyBookSale lists 3,188 upcoming book sales across all 50 US states, updated daily. Search by city or state, filter for member presales and bag sale days, and subscribe to get email alerts when new sales are added near you — all free.
Find Your Next Haul
3,188 upcoming sales listed across all 50 states — updated every morning. Subscribe and never miss a sale near you again.