Best places for books?

[Ragnarok]

Hi, I am new here and just recently discovered thrift stores. They're great for all things, but I most treasure them for my passion - books. I have found some books I've always wanted for 25¢ and picked up others that I wouldn't normally read but that turned out to be fantastic.

I only like good literature or educational stuff (I'm not into romance novels, for example, of which there are always plenty), so I have to do some digging, but I'm addicted to it. It's really a godsend because I'm a college student and can pick up books for $1 apiece instead of $10 or $20.

I have found, at least so far, that Habitat for Humanity seems to always have a lot of fairly intellectual books, and they're well-organized and inexpensive, too. I'm not sure how often they get new stuff in, however. Other than that, I've noticed that independent shops, especially those in out-of-the-way places, seem to have a lot better selection. I really don't like Goodwill because it's more expensive and picked-over, but I can usually find at least two or three good books there if I look hard. A lot of them are really terribly organized, though.

Those are my observations, but I'm pretty new to it. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Are some areas better than others? I live in the South, so I've always dreamed that up north there are a lot more "intellectual" books, but I have no idea if that's actually true.

[ByLightOfMoon]

I love the book sections also. I buy books since cheaper and only a couple of dollars to get books I never would have known about.  I love Biographies, Home decor, novels, classics, and I am now into maps and travel also.

I find all kinds of books, and wonder if I can ever read them all.

I am now reading the classic, "To Kill A Mockingbird" Steinbeck novels, and more classics! I love them!

Just keep looking at your stores in the south, they are there!
Smiles, Cyndi

[mccoysnina]

I too love thrifts for their book selections.  I read and collect lots of different kinds of books and usually for $1 or less.  I found a hardback copy of The DaVinci Code fro $1 long before it came out in paperback for instance.  My favorite thrift is part of a regional chain, like you I find the national chains (Goodwill, Sal Army) to  be more exepensive but can find things there too if I look hard enough.  My sister love A Christmas Story (the movie) and last week I found a copy of teh book it was based on in great condition at the local Goodwill for $.50.  A great stocking stuffer for Christmas if I can wait that long to give it to her. 
I also find my favorite crafts books (crochet for me, knitting for my daughter) for a buck or two, cookbooks, both modern and vintage, mysteries, bestsellers and childrens books (I collect for the artwork) and whatever eles appeals to me for cheap.  A side note, yard sales are also great for books too.  I see lots ot textbooks there too so as a college student you might pick up what you need for school there cheap.  Good luck and keep on thirftin'.
Jeannie

[Searching4stars2009]

Try the Friends of the Library.   I volunteer for the one in Gettysburg Pa.  Ours has a vast selection and the prices arent too bad.  Under $5 for a hardback.  we also get in a lot of non fiction which i dont usually see in the thrifts.

[akbjr]

Wow, people after my own heart! I love thrifting for books also. I live about 5 blocks from my favorite thriftstore in Anchorage for books, Bishop's Attic, the normal prices there are 3 for $1.00 paperback & .80 for hardbaack, then the 3rd week of every month they have a booksale where the paperbacks are 10 for $1.00 & hardbacks are .40! Believe it or not they actually sometimes have really good books, especially if you get there right after the volunteer "book lady" has just put out a fresh supply of bookis. I asked her for her schedule so if I'm really ambitious I can go during certain times each week & the books will likely be "fresher". Each thrift store is different in how they put out books but it's worth finding out when they put them out at your favorite store, some do it right along as the come in, some are more like Bishop's Attic, whenever a volunteer is scheduled to do it. Worth asking!
       I literally tote home dozens of books some days during the book sales if I get there during a good time of "fresh" books...I read a lot of course, but also like to trade the books for credit at my local used book stores, to have credit to get what I really want, so if I find a really good "trade" paperback, or a recent bestseller or good literary fiction or non-fiction, I pick them up for possible trade...I also like just collectiong books too of course, recent travel books, classics, good current fiction, mysteries...Oh, this is fun!

[Ragnarok]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I've been to a Friends of the Library sale, but unfortunately it was a little disappointing. I got there a few hours after it opened and either all the good books had already been taken, or there weren't that many to begin with. They were also considerably more expensive than in thrift shops. I plan on trying some others, though.

Akbjr, your store sounds amazing. The closest I've come to that is a Habitat for Humanity in an out-of-the-way place, which sells "bags of books" - however many books you can fit in a paper grocery bag - for $3 each. They had some really cool books, too - the only sad thing is they don't seem to get new ones in very often.

One of my favorite finds so far is a book of El Greco's art with a monograph in German, in perfect condition, for $1.50 at Goodwill. I study German and love El Greco, so that was awesome. In this one broken-down consignment shop I found, in a cobwebbed, almost inaccessible corner, five great hardback texts on abstract algebra for $1 each. (I'm really into math as well.)

Garage sales can be really good, I agree. Unfortunately I am rarely able to go as I tend to be out of town weekends - also I like sleeping in. But recently I got a big bookcase and a lot of hardback science books - including pretty much everything Carl Sagan ever wrote - in great condition for $20. The only trouble is it's hard to tell which sales will have books I'm interested in, since there are not many other things I want to buy at garage sales.

I also trade books like Akbjr. One of my favorite sites is Paperbackswap.com, which you should check out if you're looking for books your local store doesn't have. I have gotten a ton of awesome books there. Even though some have long waiting lists or are very rarely posted, it's worth it if you're patient.

[akbjr]

Wow, I'm impressed with your esoteric tastes, not sure I even spelled that right...I've seen a few books like you refer to at "my" store, but to be honest math & science are over my head, I like the social sciences. (OK, the "soft" sciences) And of course more popular fiction & non-fiction. I have made some good speciality finds for friends who have eclectic interests, it's always fun to find the perfect book for a friend who also appreciates used books. My admittedly limited experience with library book sales is that you pretty much have to get there prior to the start, as some serious collectors  hovor over those sales.....They line up before the sale begins! Our local senior center has good sales twice a year, I have volunteered to help with selling & am also a good customer, last time I didn't get there to shop until the last day, "bag day", books were $1.00 per plastic grocery bag, & I still found some amazing stuff.They just had so many books to get rid of!
      I've heard quite a lot about paperbackswap but haven't ever utilized it. Some day I'll learn how it works, guess it's not that complicated, you just have to use the mail & I'm sort of lazy that way. But for particular books, you're right, it sounds like a good option to local used bookstores.
      Oh, one book I just found last week is a 2008 edition of a book called "How to have Style" by Isaac Mizrahi, I'm sort of interested in "style" books lately, but they are very expensive & this one is just like new, it was .35 & on amazon it was almost $20.00....I'm thinking it would trade well but it actaully is pretty interesting. I'm a total jeans & t shirt person but have a weird liking for books about "style" lately. I was shocked to find it.  Guess we obviously have very different interests in books, but hey, it's all books, the thrill is always there no matter the subject. I can be thrilled  with almost any subject matter (except math!) Enjoyed your post, I think I will spend some time on paperbackswap....

[akbjr]

Oh, Jeannie, you mentioned finding a hardcover edition of "The DaVinci Code" way back, I just found a "coffee table" type edition of that book only illustrated with photos of the artwork referred to in the story. It's in new condition & was .80! I had never seen that edition before but grabbed it.... Having the photos of the artwork really adds to the story! Plus it's just a gorgoues edition.

[mccoysnina]

That would be interesting to see.  When I was at the Louvre we had to go see the Mona Lisa.  After walking what seemed like miles, we ended up in a room where people were lined up 5-6 deep to see this drab little painting.  People were pushing and shoving and the thing is behind 6' bulletproof glass so bit really any way to get a close look at it. 
Funny this is, on the way to the Mona Lisa, you passed hallways where other DaVinci works were on display, seperated from you by only a velvet rope.  And the works were far more intersting than the Mona Lisa.  Works depicting Italian life during DaVinci's like.  And no one was paying the least bit of attention.
Funny that.
Jeannie