Favorite Connecticut (Used) Book Stores

Few Nutmeggers would argue that the Book Barn (Niantic) is the biggest (and best) used bookstore in Connecticut. I'm curious to hear about other local favorites.

I like The Book Exchange in the Plainville/Southington area.

Thanks, I'm going to check that out. If you're ever in "The Valley" check out Books by the Falls (Derby). Books are jammed in a poorly heated, poorly lit factory building. This old building has some serious character. There's usually a great selection of classics and others, and Ron has been known to run the occasional $1 sale.

Also, here's a useful list of CT booksellers: www.bookdirectory.org

Just moved from CT and miss is dearly. I LOVE The Book Exchange in Southington. Also, I'm not sure if they sell used books or just new, but for some serious atmosphere, check out the John Bale Book Company in downtown Waterbury and don't even think about passing up their cupcakes.

I used to live in Stamford and their friends group has a used book store space in the Ferguson Library. Bonus - it is connected to the Starbucks and you can bring a bervage in to browse. For the most part, softcovers are $1 and hardcovers are $2. I've gotten some great deals there. If only parking in downtown Stamford was easier....

The 30% off sale at Book Barn in Niantic, starts today. Start your engines...

????
I appreciate the heads up... but isn't this bordering on spam?

Yes, a fine line.

My original request was fairly harmless. 'Just a book buyer looking for interesting spots. Maybe if bks4sale logs a couple hundred of their books into their account? ;)

There's another sale about 25 miles to the north:

http://www.booksalefinder.com/CT.html

Sigh...I love that site...

There is the 'other' bookbarn (aka Whitlocks Book Barn ) in Bethany. Hit or miss.. but I always find *something*.

Harbor Books, in Old Saybrook, CT:
some new, some remainders, but mostly used.

I only just found out that Books & Music in Plainville closed back in April. That was my favorite used bookstore. :(

The Book Barn in Niantic...hands down!! Don't forget the Book Barn II in downtown Niantic...about a few miles from the Book Barn itself. Say hi to Jim for me if you stop there! :-)

Books & Co at the corner of Whitney Ave & Putnam in Hamden has a great selection of gently used books. With comfy reading nooks, the only way you can tell it's a used book store is the prices. There's a coffee bar in the back and a cafe next door. It's my favorite bookstore.

I always get Hamden and Haddam mixed up. Both are about an hour's drive for me.

Just found out the Wallingford library has a used book store with "awesome books and good prices" according to my mother. I'll verify if this is accurate when I go see for myself.

I went to the Wallingford library bookstore about a year ago. The books were not shelved alphabetically so it was difficult to find a particular author. Other than separating fiction and nonfiction the books were unsorted. It was like going to an annual library book sale. Other library UBS at least sort by the first letter of the author's last name, e.g., all the A's are together. I don't know if Wallingford is still like that.

I'll have to check it out. Woodbridge and Hamden Libraries have very nice bookstores also.

Watertown also has a good UBS on the first floor of their library.

#19 Re: Wallingford: I stopped in there briefly the other day to drop off CDs. When I get a chance to browse more, I'll come back here and let you know.

Today is the last day of the Whitlock's Book Barn Sale.

http://www.whitlocksbookbarn.com/shop/default.asp

If you're in the Berlin/Kensington area, be sure to check out the Community Center Book Sale (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays - as well as the occasional Saturday - from 12:30 to 2:30pm). Located in the basement of the Memorial Library, 234 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT. Found some great deals - Including a Lord Tennyson 1st edition... for only $5!!

Found another used book store earlier this month in Middletown. The Book Bower is in the Main Street Market on the lower level. I went back a few days later for a leisurely browse without the impatient friend. Very good selection of books and CDs, friendly owners, seating conveniently placed through the store. They accept books for trade and sell both hardcovers and paperbacks.

24 - Oh yes! The Book Bower is really quite wonderful. Not too large (about 30x100 feet, I'd say), but a quality selection with admirable pricing.

I recommend On The Road Bookshop in Canton, on Route 44 across from the town green. A real brick and mortar store with a very knowledgeable and helpful owner, Susan. Stop in today, and don't forget to say hello to Brock, the store's official labrador.
http://www.ontheroadbookshop.com/

Dogs are a real good thing to have in a book store. Much, much, much better than lazy, boring cats...

I OBJECT!!!

(Hee-hee!)

I had to lurk over at your profile page. You've got quite the menagerie! I've one dog...and THREE cats.

Well, I feel like a total doofus. When I saw ads for that book store I assumed it sold religious books. LOL I guess I'll have to check it out now.

...And I thought it only sold Beat Generation books.

I'm pretty much done with retail book stores, used book stores, library tent sales, library sales, Savers, Salvation Army, Goodwill...they are all too expensive for this ol' bibliohoarding bargain hunter.

I've stumbled upon those glorious gazillion cubic-yard bins in the back of the Hamden Goodwill Outlet store. Hardcover $0.50; paperback $0.25. Rapid inventory turns.

Biblioheaven.

Oooooooh...

I completely forgot about New Haven Reads!
New Haven Reads

The mission of New Haven Reads is “to share the joy and power of reading.”

To that end, our goals are to:

•promote literacy and celebrate reading
•connect people with the materials and the training they need to break the cycle of illiteracy
•help children in New Haven increase their literacy skills by providing quality, free after-school tutoring services to those who otherwise would not have access to adequate literacy support
•increase public awareness of these programs
•operate a free community book bank

They're a free book "store." Teachers, librarians, and school personnel can come into the "big" room for free books. Everyone else can select up to five books from the front room. Very good selection if you're an educator!

They're run on donations and funding by Yale. I find it a great place to unload all those "withdrawn" books and doubles I accidentally buy every book-sale season.

Wow! Thanks for posting that! The next time I'm over at that Goodwill Outlet (I recently spent 90 minutes and collected 13 masterpieces for $3.46), I'm NOT going to toss the piles of mint condition children's books, aside. I'm going to grab 'em and donate them, just down the road.

Well, it's almost two years later, and I'm still trying to forage at the Goodwill Outlet on State St., Hamden, at every opportunity. It's just that I cry so much ("I spent THREE DOLLARS on that 2 years ago, and here it is for a quarter!") every time I rummage through the tons, the piles of books. The pages become wet with tears...

The David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village has a used book sale the first Saturday of every month.