My mother is in the very early stages of ALZ but still enjoys reading very much. She loves nothing more than to shop at our local used bookstore, normally purchasing 6 or so books per week. I would like to sell the books back to the bookstore after she reads them to fund future purchases, but she reads so many books that she worries that she will invariably repurchase some of the books she has already read.
I am looking for a way to mark the books before I resell them. My dad can then check the books for the mark prior to purchase. I’m just not quite sure how to mark them as to not devalue the books (too much). My dad will also occasionally take books back for resell and I would like us to use a consistent system.
Looking for your ideas as you all always have lots of really good ones! Thanks in advance to all.
Librarian here. A lot of people who use our small town library have this same issue. We tell them to make a mark inside the front cover where the cover joins the book. You can use a colored dot (use marker), your mother’s initials, a star or other symbol. It doesn’t have to be large, just enough that you can see it when you look for it. And to be honest, unless you are dealing in rare books, a small mark inside the front cover is not going to effect the value. If your are worried about losing the front cover of the book, make the mark on the verso, that is the reverse side of the title page where the publication information is. Again, unless you are dealing in rare books, this shouldn’t effect the value.
Can you mark in pencil on the inside of a cover? Like an X in the corner of the cover page?
Thanks lolou ~ my concern was whether having marks in the books would cause the store not to accept the books, but it doesn’t sound like they will really care which is awesome news. Having a star would be a great idea ~ more distinct than say, a checkmark. Appreciate your advice.
romani ~ I was concerned if the mark was in pencil they might go to the trouble to erase it. Thanks for the advice! I have in excess of 75 books to resell and I’m excited to get them out of my house 
My mother reads a lot of books, mostly purchased at a thrift store. I’m sure she rebuys the same book all the time. Doesn’t really matter, she just re-reads it and donates again.
Could you start now to record books for her-- or start to buy books on tape? That way she’ll be able to enjoy them over and over, even if reading eventually becomes more difficult.
Could you resell the books at a different place than where you buy them? Take the cash for selling…and give to your mom for future purchases at her favorite place.
I know she reads a lot of books…but really, you need a list. Fact is…she could buy someone ELSE’s used book that she has already read. Most used bookstores have duplicates of especially more popular titles.
ETA…does it bother your mom that she is reading a book she has already read? If not…I wouldn’t worry about this.
I would mark them with pencil in an inconspicous spot. Maybe a small X or a check on the inside of the back cover or something like that. It would probably never be noticed or erased unless one know where to look.
My mom circles the same page number in each book - 31 which is her birthday. If there is no 31 for some reason she circles next higher number. Works well for her and my dad
Ooh I really like your mom’s method, scualum.
Would like to resell them at a different place, but we only have one used bookstore in our city or anywhere within a couple hundred miles. At this point, she has no desire to reread a book, save for a few favorites. As a thought though, as her ALZ gets worse in the future she may not remember books as well, so maybe I will tuck a dozen or so back of the ones she really likes.