Book Buying

Today, I went down to the CNE to a Library Book Fair. The Queen Elizabeth Building was filled with a variety of book sellers. Some are stores that have been lucky enough to get the contract with the TDSB to sell books to the schools. Some are book wholesalers who also have this contract. The building was filled with tables and displays from all of these vendors. It is a bibliophile's dream.

Over the years, I have developed a strategy for these days. My first stop is The Beguiling. I like to stop here first because they sell out quickly. This is the store that first re-introduced me to the wonderful world of graphic novels and manga. As these books are among the items most heavily circulated in the library, I end up spending a fair bit of my budget here.

This year, I was buying more graphic novels and new manga. I will do an inventory of the current manga series that are in the library and then send in an order to update, replace missing volumes, and extend the series. Some of the new manga series I bought are: St. Dragon Girl and Bakuman

After The Beguiling, I headed to Permabound. I have recently begun to buy more from this distributor because they make a nearly indestructible product. For the books that are borrowed a lot, this is a great option. This year I bought the entire Babymouse series, the enitre Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and some assorted other titles.

After these two stops I try to visit the smaller book sellers. I find they offer a level of service that is more personal. There are some really awesome book stores in Toronto. I am happy to see that the TDSB recognizes them and that they can come to these book fairs. Today, I bought books from:
Ella Minnow Children's Bookstore
A Different Booklist
Mabel's Fables
and
Another Story Bookshop

While these are not the only vendors I visited, I want to highlight them for being outstanding places to buy books. In this day of big box stores for books, they offer a book buying experience that takes the time to get to know you as a reader and find the right books for you. Which is pretty much what I try to do in the Library.

In any case, new books will begin there journey onto our shelves. Stay tuned for some sneak peeks at what will be coming. Seems like a good time for the SAM Early Readers to begin again. Listen for the announcement.