The AP’s Kevin Sampsell talks with book scout Wayne Pernu, a 40-something musician and journalist who spends the bulk of his time in dirty thrift stores and at estate and library sales where he’s on the hunt for bargain books that he can turn around and sell to Powell’s or other used bookstores. “The best place to scout for books is where the good books are,” Pernu said in a recent interview with Sampsell. “In general, I divide my time between estate sales, thrift stores and library sales. I prefer going to smaller yard and garage sales on weekends, since its more low-key and there’s still a chance of finding something of value somebody wants to get rid of. I know others who go to antique stores, looking on the shelves for rare items that fall through the cracks.”
While Pernu acknowledges that scouts are competitive with each other (“it comes with the territory”) he also sees much cooperation. “No matter how low or high on the food chain they are, book scouts seem to take great pride in their book knowledge, and they are frequently good about sharing it. Also, book scouts cultivate friendships with one another since it’s in their interest to do so. These are people you sometimes have to see every day of the week, so it would be as foolish to foster ill will with them as it would a co-worker at the office.”