[Previous entry: "3 Easy Ways to Find More Great Reads"] [Main Index]

07/31/2005: "Bookstore Glossary"

7/31/05:
A glossary of bookstore terms to help you deal with booksellers when browsing or searching for books.

by Alan Eggleston, president and Bookseller, BizBooksPlus.net


I thought it would be helpful to have a glossary of terms you might run into when shopping for books. To build this list, I rely on my three years of experience as a bookseller in an independent bookstore and several book-related websites. If you run into terms not covered here, or if you think this list isn't as robust as you would like, e-mail me. I'll do my best to build on what is already here. Terms are listed alphabetically.

Come back often for updates.

Books in Print
A resource for booksellers that shows what books are still available from printers. Not to be confused with what is still available on bookshelves or in used book stores.
Example: "I can't find it in our system, let me see if it's listed in Books in Print."
Submitted 07.31.05

ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
A string of numbers that all booksellers and distributors use to identify an individual book. Whatever bookstore you go to, online or on the street, using this number simplifies a book search.
Example: "It's not showing up by title or by author, let's see if it shows up using its ISBN."
Submitted 07.31.05

Sidelines
Items in the store that aren't books, periodicals, music CDs, or DVDs. Can be candles, stationery, book lights, bookends, and so on.
Example: "Picture frames or over in the sidelines area."
Submitted 07.31.05

Spinner Rack
In a bookstore on the street, a metal rack that spins to make reading titles easier. Usually contains thin children's paperback books (e.g., Mercer Meyer's Little Critter series), stickers, and other non-standard size books and sidelines.
Example: "You'll find it with Richard Scary's other books in the spinner rack at the back."
Submitted 07.31.05

Title or Titles
Often another term for "books", also a term for the name of a book.
Example: "We can look up the title by author, subject, or title."
Submitted 07.31.05


Note to Commenters:
Unsolicited promotions to other websites or links to objectionable material will be deleted. If you'd like me to link to your site, please e-mail me for permission beforehand. I will reply either with permission or denial. Thank you.