How Much Are These Free Books? True Tales from the Book Nook

Every page in How Much are These Free Books? reflects Judy Hoff's delight in her store's books and customers.

With only a $4000 loan and no retailing experience, Judy opens her tiny, used bookstore in Schenectady, New York.

Odds seem against her.

- General Electric Co., the area's major employer moves thousands of jobs south.

- Mega bookstores move into the area, and along with amazon.com they offer drastic price deductions.

- A children's bookstore opens just three blocks away, cutting into the most profitable part of the Book Nook's business.

Yet the Book quadruples its space and evolves into a full-service store, switching to new books exclusively, remaining in business for nineteen years (1983-2992).