In a bid to promote sustainable reading practices and support independent bookstores, Bookshop.org has unveiled a new initiative that could redefine the way secondhand books are valued and exchanged. Launched in 2020 as an ethical alternative to giants like Amazon, Bookshop.org continues to push boundaries with the introduction of “Bookloop”, a buy-back scheme for used books.
The Bookloop scheme allows customers to trade in books they no longer need for credit on the Bookshop.org website. This new feature comes with a promise of environmental responsibility and ethical stewardship, distancing itself from the traditional secondhand book market’s practices. Unlike competitors, Bookshop.org will not sell these used books directly on their site. Instead, the books are channeled through Zeercle, a partner company that also runs the WH Smith buy-back scheme, to be traded on other online marketplaces.
The process is straightforward. Readers can register their books using an online valuation system and then either drop them off at a local DPD point or schedule a pickup from their home. Although Bookshop.org itself will not sell secondhand books, it ensures that the books are not sold through Amazon-owned platforms, thereby maintaining its commitment to ethical business practices.
One notable feature of Bookloop is its alignment with the “Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS)”. Unlike the WH Smith scheme, which has been critiqued for its sale of used books through Amazon, Bookshop.org’s model directs accumulated royalties from secondhand book trades to a shared fund. This fund, known as the “Drusilla Harvey Access Fund”, is administered in collaboration with the Society of Authors (SoA). It provides financial support to authors for various needs such as travel and childcare, emphasizing the site’s dedication to supporting the literary community beyond just book sales.
Mark Thornton, Bookshop.org’s Senior Partnerships Manager, views Bookloop as an integral part of the site’s mission to foster a positive reading culture. “We’re always saying the best way to support bookshops is in person,” Thornton notes. “But with the rise of online purchases, we need to integrate these activities so that we support a positive reading culture with independent bookshops at its heart.”
The valuation system currently shows varying prices for books. For instance, paperback copies of Paul Lynch’s Booker prize-winning novel, “Prophet Song”, are valued at £1.91, while hardback editions of Prince Harry’s memoir, “Spare”, are worth £3.24. However, some titles are rejected by the system due to low market value or overstock issues. Richard Osman’s “The Thursday Murder Club” and a 2015 Penguin Classics edition of Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” are examples of books deemed unsellable through the scheme.
Despite the enthusiasm from Bookshop.org, there is skepticism from the secondhand book community. Patrick Kelly, owner of Bookmongers in Brixton, expresses doubt about the effectiveness of the scheme. “Of all the secondhand books we are offered, less than 50% are worth purchasing,” Kelly says. He criticizes the scheme as a “well-meaning” but impractical idea.
In response to such concerns, Bookshop.org emphasizes that only 2% of books sold to Zeercle end up unsold, with the majority being donated to local charities or recycled responsibly. Thornton reassures that Zeercle has a “robust system” for handling unsellable books in an environmentally conscious manner.
The launch of Bookloop by Bookshop.org represents a significant step towards integrating ethical business practices into the book industry. By fostering partnerships and supporting authors through innovative schemes, Bookshop.org aims to create a more sustainable and supportive ecosystem for both readers and bookshops.
