 Book
Selection and Buying
Alphabet Books is a library consulting and book business
in Richmond, California. We work with school librarians and
teachers to help them develop their book collections and to
purchase needed classroom sets of books.
In addition, we can arrange with selected children's authors
and illustrators to visit a school or conference site.
We also offer sales of books for the author or illustrators
to sign at the event.
Satisfied Customers
"I just have to say how
much I appreciate all you do for our library. I love that
you are just a phone call away! You are a great resource.
Thanks for sharing so much with me and our library."
—Mary Jane Beccaria, Librarian, Monte Vista Elementary
School, Rohnert Park, CA
"Our library wouldn't be the wonderful place it is today
had it not been for Lynn Prime and Alphabet Books!"—April
Derby, Librarian, Mary Collins at Cherry Valley Charter School,
Petaluma, CA
"I have only the highest praise for the wonderful services
that Lynn Prime of Alphabet Books offers. Lynn takes a very
personal but highly professional approach to the job of providing
library materials to schools. She makes it her job to know
her clients' book purchasing patterns. Because she also is
a children's librarian, I can consult with her at any time
on curriculum or literature questions knowing I will get expert
and
knowledgeable advice. All this makes it a real pleasure to
do business with Alphabet Books."—Laurie Prothro,
Library Coordinator, Harmony Union School District, Occidental,
CA
To set up an account with Alphabet Books
or discuss our services, please send us an e-mail at alphabet@sonic.net
or telephone us at (510) 232-3156.
School Library
Services
As librarians with master's degrees in library
and information studies and over 20 years of experience serving
children and young adults in school and public libraries,
we are committed to providing the best and most exciting literature
to students.
Alphabet Books works with curriculum needs, individual library
and classroom needs, and the interest of today's students
in all kinds of subjects including fiction. We pride ourselves
on our personal and prompt service. We are always happy to
talk about library and book issues. It's what being a librarian
is all about!
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Discounts
We offer a 20% discount on most titles and always
inform our clients if publisher restrictions do not allow
us to pass the savings on to customers.
Fill Rate
Unlike many large book companies, Alphabet Books
is available to provide, on average, a 98% fill rate for titles
in print. We go to great lengths to find the books you want.
Quote Service
Once you have established an account with Alphabet
Books, you may e-mail, fax, or mail titles, authors, and subject
needs to Alphabet Books at any time, in any form. Catalog
pages and scratch notes are always welcome! We will send a
price quote back to you within five business days.
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Subject Searching
As professional librarians, we are happy to help
you make decisions about what titles to buy. Although our
preference is to visit your library in order to help you evaluate
it, we are able to work with you long distance when needed
to make decisions about your book collection. Contact us for
information about this service.
Cataloging
We provide cataloging on our materials at $1.00
per record (including MARC records, barcodes, and spine label
sets as needed) through a cataloging company. The records
will be shipped directly to you with your order as a packet.
Mylar jackets are also available at $.75 per jacket, folded
onto the book's dust jacket but left untaped for your processing.
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Classroom
Services
We offer a 20% discount for titles ordered for
classroom use and an additional 5% discount on 100 or more
copies of any one title ordered from us. We always inform
our clients ahead of time if publisher restrictions do not
allow us to pass the savings on to them. Shipping and handling
charges are 8%, and mylar jackets can be provided at $.75
per jacket.
Remember that we are also happy to take your curriculum needs
and research titles that will fill those needs and that are
appropriate for the grade level you teach. Contact us for
more information about this service.
Author and
Illustrator Visits
Alphabet Books is available to provide books to
your school community to sell for author and illustrator visits.
We will provide sample copies of the author's books for your
school to use as you prepare for the visit and send order
forms for you to send out to parents and teachers. Please
see Author and Illustrator Visits
for more detailed information.
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Shipping
We ship books anywhere in the continental United States. In
order to maintain our quality personal service, we must charge
our clients an 8% shipping and handling rate.
Books!
Below are some booklists you may use at any time.
They include new books (updated regularly), and other favorites.
Remember that Alphabet Books can track any in-print title
for you and that these lists offer just a few dozen of the
thousands of books available for children and young adults.
Booklists
 New
Books (For Fall)
Picture-Book
Fairy Tales and Folktales
California
in Fact and Fiction
Surefire
Novels for Reluctant Middle-School Readers
Biographies
Too Good to Miss
Curriculum Connections
Mathematics
Stories
Picture-Book
Songs
Cinderella
Tales
How to Order
After establishing an account with Alphabet Books,
you may order by e-mail, fax, or phone at (510) 232-3156.
We accept purchase orders and checks, but not credit cards.
Placing an order is easy: You must be a
school employee or affiliate working from a purchase order
or other school fund (Friends of the Library, Parents Club,
etc.). Alphabet Books does not accept personal orders.
Our minimum order is $200.00, and a discount
of 20% applies in most cases. All prices listed on the website
are retail prices.
To order, use the order form connected with
each booklist or curriculum
connections list. If you would like to submit an order
for titles not included on the website, be sure to contact
us with the information and we will get back to you about
availability. Please try to provide ISBNs for the books you
would like to order. Alphabet Books goes to great lengths
to provide you with any book that is in print
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School Libraries & Classrooms
