Soon a fax comes back, saying if the requested books are on hand. If not, Powell's asks if the titles should be ordered, and quotes prices. One finds histories of literature from the fifties, travel descriptions from the sixties, sociological, political, and historical works from the last fifty to sixty years. Each book Powell's buys is recorded in its computerized inventory. Much comes together here, and buyers can find works that they otherwise would have to borrow from a university library.
Prices are reasonable.
Currently, around 200 people work at Powell's on Burnside. Well-informed employees at information stands help customers with computerized book searches. Forty to fifty percent of the searches are successful, Bill Hayes reports. He's especially proud of the company's Asian business. In addition to Japan, Singapore and Korea, we now also send books to Vietnam.