Last May, when readers of this site were few, I wrote about the unfortunate disappearance of used bookstores. The Internet, it seems, is a leading cause of their deaths. The Internet provides the benefit of allowing readers to find exactly what they're looking for. Used bookstores allow readers to find what they aren't looking for. It's because of this that I prefer used bookstores to Internet shopping, and lament the advent of the latter because of the deleterious effects on the former.

While dying, used bookstores are thankfully not extinct. Just off the circle in downtown Gettysburg is the Book Cellar; just off Dupont Circle in Washington, DC is Second Story Books. Near the Burren, Sligo Pub, and the Joshua Tree in Davis Square, Somerville, Massachusetts is McIntyre and Moore Booksellers. In the middle of nowhere in Frederick, Maryland is Wonder Book, named one of the ten best used bookstores in USA Today. Legendary shops I've yet to visit include Powell's in Portland, Oregon, Strand in Manhattan, and Shakespeare and Company in Paris, where aspiring writers and prolific readers are allowed to stay the night.

Though recently out-of-business shops probably outnumber active shops, used bookstores are out there--if you can find them. I want to find them, as do, I'd guess, a good number of FlynnFiles readers. In the longterm, I'd also like to map them. This would be a good service to travellers and bibliophiles. Will you help me in mapping out good used bookstores in America (and beyond?)? Do you frequent any used bookstores? Where are they? What are their names? Are they any good? Let the readership know, and aid my project, by providing intelligence on used bookstores in the comments section below.

There is a great place in downtown Milwaukee, Wiscconsin called "Downtown Books." It is located on Wisconsin Avenue and Jefferson Street. It is a 3 story, very old used bookstore that has a great staff and an amazing selection. They have every national geographic since 1920 and a great selection of comics and other books in every genre. Check it out if you are ever in Milwaukee.

Daedalus Books in Charlottesville. Lots of books well arrayed in a labyrinthine setting that oozes the atmosphere of a medieval monastery library.

There used to be great ones in Berkeley like Moe's, but I haven't been there in many years.

I'm blanking on the name, but there is a good used bookstore in Front Royal. I waited out a thunderstorm in it while camping up there a couple of years ago. It's on the main drag in downtown Front Royal.

Hyde Bros. bookstore is by far the best used bookstore in existence. Check it out.

http://www.hydebros.com/about.htm

*shrug* I find most used bookstores rarely have the type of book im looking for. That and the musty smell makes me sneeze.

I will compile a list of most of the South western part of Vermont and into New York State. Here are a few, starting with Bennington, VT: Newenglandiana, and Now and Then Books. Nearby town, Hoosick, NY, a place called Dog ears. I now of many, but I have forgotten the names. Of the three, the first one listed is by far the best for price (very low prices) and unpredictable values to be found. I picked up a 18th century set for $25 that is valued in the $1000s. Imagine what he paid originally to person who owned them. The bookstore owner is older and has more of a thrill with the chase than profit—he is financially stable.

Now, the other dealers would have paid about the same price for the set and charged appropriately. To the point and why the internet is taking over. I have a friend who owns one of these businesses. He buys books between .65 and 1.00 regardless of the potential of mark up. To me buying books that have high values and offering so little is a rip off. From my experience, most dealers do the same thing.

It is almost like the early 80s when old baseball cards were starting to climb in price, my cousin, a 13 old at the time, lost a box of good condition card from the 40s and 50s, for $25. The dealer knew what he was doing.

Now, we the advent of people are becoming to understand that books are worth more than $.65 or a $1.00. So, they take them to the internet or to who ever pays more or they just keep them. I know a lot of people who go to library sales and resell them on auction internet sites. I know people sell their collections there too. If you can get more for the for your books, then people will sell them for the higher price.

Simply, I have had great finds over the years, but I would never consider selling many if any books to a dealer. They don’t offer anything. I would try to sell a $20 book for and be happy with $5.00 before selling it to any dealer for a $1.00 or less. The internet is taking over the used book trade. Alas, we live in a free market society. Adapt to current conditions or go out of business.

You can get a better price for your books if you sell online, but you lose out on the experience of getting to know people who have been in the used book business for years, guys that pretty much have the knowledge that any library science major would have. You cannot beat the service, and you miss out on the frienships. Let us see...four extra dollars selling to someone online, or having a half our conversation about a great book with a local used book dealer, and having the satisfaction of knowing that maybe someone else in the community will get to experience the same joy that I did reading that book? I'll take the latter, please.

The Strand is very overrated, I never end up buying anything there as it is just ridiculous. It is very poorly organized, everything is just piled up on top of each other and so even if you just want to browse in a particular genre it is frustrating. The staff is generally unhelpful as well, it is a used bookstore with the attitude of a Barnes and Noble w/o the organization.

Labyrinth books near Columbia University is technically an academic bookstore rather than a used bookstore but they buy and sell a large selection of remaindered and used books as well. I was just there on Friday and purchased 13 used books, 10 of them cloth, for 50 dollars. You won't find any great rare books there so it isn't the place for the collector but it is my fave bookstore in NYC.

In Atlanta there are a few used bookstores called the Book Nook, and they are well run and good although mostly for fiction of all forms. There is also a small and eclectic one in Little Five Points in Atlanta called A Cappella. Since it is small they are selective about what they buy so you can find some good ones there.

Eat 'Em and Smile http://www.prisonplanet.com/011904wtc7.html

There is one right in my neighborhood. The Book Rack, 301 N. Mulberry St. Elizabethtown, KY 42701. A cozy little store, yet I am afraid that it too will die for lack of patronage.

Be well,

Sponge

Here in central New Jersey we have Pyramid Books. They used to be in downtown New Brunswick (and elsewhere). Now they're located in Highland Park. I used to live within walking distance and have enjoyed my time browsing, buying, and sneaking treats to their cat.

Click "About Us" in the link above. Sadly, Dan, they prove your point - now they do a lot of their business through the website; three of their four retail stores have closed.

There was also "Chapter One," a combo used-bookstore and coffeehouse, right down the block. I got several Shakespeare plays from that shop, one buck apiece. Long gone now.

Nini's corner in Harvard Square has a excellent array of previously used magazines. "How do You use a magazine?"

All The King's Books. Shippensburg Pennsylvania. Just remodeled and expanded

We are fortunate in Seattle WA to have about 70 used book stores. A couple of them are part of a chain-Half Priced Books being the biggest, but we have 3 or 4 Twice Sold Tales shops. Horizon Books has two shops and they've been in business for years. Several of the stores have given up their storefronts becuse the rental space is so expensive here. Some work out of their home on an appointment only basis. Two old and local stores still in business are SEATTLE MYSTERY BOOKS as well as ELIOTT BAY BOOKS. They sell both new and used books. To find a list of various used bookstores in the Pacific Northwest, you can go to recollectionbooks.com and find several places to haunt when you're in the area

Bookman in Nashville's Hillsboro Village! it's GREAT!

At the risk of being totally self-serving, I would recommend our two excellent used book stores, Riverby Books in Historic Fredericksburg, Virginia and Riverby Books on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, two blocks from the Library of Congress and the Folger Shakespeare Library. And by the way, we pay on the order of 25% of our anticipated retail...more for higher end books. Most reputable used book dealers do the same and I sure wouldn't deal with someone offering 65 cents for a $10 book!