A jobber is best described as which of the following?

A jobber is best described as which of the following?

• A. A librarian who catalogs holdings
• B. A publisher's sales representative
• C. Wholesale booksellers who stock books and supply libraries
• D. A bookseller specializing in rare books

Answer: (C)

A jobber is the wholesale bookseller who stocks a broad range of titles and supplies libraries. They keep large inventories from many publishers and act as middlemen, making it easier for libraries to place one order and receive many titles quickly, often with favorable terms and simple returns. This distinguishes the role from a librarian who catalogs holdings, which is about organizing materials rather than selling or stocking them. It also differs from a publisher's sales representative, who sells on behalf of a specific publisher and may not maintain a broad, library-ready stock. And it’s not a rare bookseller, who focuses on rare or collectible titles rather than standard library stock.

A jobber is the wholesale bookseller who stocks a broad range of titles and supplies libraries. They keep large inventories from many publishers and act as middlemen, making it easier for libraries to place one order and receive many titles quickly, often with favorable terms and simple returns. This distinguishes the role from a librarian who catalogs holdings, which is about organizing materials rather than selling or stocking them. It also differs from a publisher's sales representative, who sells on behalf of a specific publisher and may not maintain a broad, library-ready stock. And it’s not a rare bookseller, who focuses on rare or collectible titles rather than standard library stock.