As a devoted bibliophile, you are likely constantly seeking new and unique books to add to your collection. Out of print books make wonderful collectibles, and they can often surprise and delight with their content. Whether you are a neophyte collector with only a few dozen rare books in your collection or you are a veteran to the OOP book market, here are some tips for buffing up your collection and ensuring quality bartering and trading. While part of the delight of collecting out of print books is discovering unusual finds, it may help to winnow your collection by focusing on a genre or a particular era. That way, you increase the total sale value of your collection. For instance, you can go after books written by French authors in the 1890s, or you can focus on field guides to North American wildlife published in the 18th century. Alternatively, you can zero in on near recent science fiction guides. Some out of print book collectors prefer paperbacks (they're easier to store, so you can acquire more with a smaller investment), while others enjoy the luxury of hardbound volumes. Networking societies for out of print book collection abound, both in cyberspace and in local communities. By making friends with like-minded bibliophiles, you can "force multiply" your quest for items that suit your collection's sensibilities. Another way to collect is to accumulate multiple copies of a single volume. This is a particularly fun challenge if the volume you seek is rare, old, and highly valued. Create a plan for your out of print book hunt, and then use online tools and sellers auctions to augment your library. | 
