No Due Date: Keep a Piece of the Library Forever with Ex-Library Books

How does the Library make sure it has enough copies of the books New Yorkers want to read?

Ex Library Books

When a highly-anticipated book is released, the Library gets a lot of copies. Sometimes hundreds! As time goes by and more people read the book, its popularity and circulation go down and we don't need to have as many copies on our shelves to meet demand. 

​Ex Library Books​

Other times, a book may be taken out of circulation if it becomes a little too fragile for borrowing.

​Ex Library Books​

This is why the NYPL Shop has started the ex-Library book program!

​Ex Library Books​

It all starts at BookOps, the book-sorting facility that NYPL shares with the Brooklyn Public Library. When a book isn't needed for our current collection, it's eligible to become an ex-Library book. The NYPL Shop selects titles that are in good condition, and that Library lovers are likely to be interested in, like classics, and bestselling fiction and nonfiction, for both adults and children.

​Ex Library Books​

These well-loved books have traveled throughout the nation’s largest public library system (92 branches!), have been borrowed many times, and are ready for a forever home.

​Ex Library Books​

Ex-Library books range in price from $3 to $10, and are hardcovers and paperbacks, chapter books and picture books, fiction and nonfiction. An Ex-Library book is the ultimate NYPL souvenir: a way to take a piece of the Library home with you for the price of a used book. Best of all, many of the books still have protective covers and NYPL markings.

​Ex Library Books​

As always, all proceeds go right back to The New York Public Library to help us purchase more books for you to borrow and enjoy.

Visit the Shop at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, or check out the curated sets in the online shop to get yours! 

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Comments

Patron-generated content represents the views and interpretations of the patron, not necessarily those of The New York Public Library. For more information see NYPL's Website Terms and Conditions.

Ex-Library Books Concept

Toni - This is SO brilliant. Is the Ex-Library Book concept something NYPL would be willing to share? We'd love to implement this with our own library Friends' groups. Please let me know if that might be a possibility. Feel free to reach out directly, if that's easier. Thank you!