Magazine
Best Used Bookshops in New England (2012)
Here are Richard F. Wright’s picks for the best used bookshops in New England. Let us know your favorite in the comments at the bottom of the page. BEST USED BOOKSTORES IN NEW ENGLAND The Montague Bookmill This shop fulfills the true definition of “destination” bookstore. After 25 years, visitors still commit to traveling to […]
By Richard F. Wright|Dec 14 2012|
The Montague Bookmill – One of the best used bookstores in New England
Photo Credit: Aimee SeaveyPhoto Credit : Aimee Seavey
BEST USED BOOKSTORES IN NEW ENGLAND
The Montague Bookmill
This shop fulfills the true definition of “destination” bookstore. After 25 years, visitors still commit to traveling to western Massachusetts to browse among the Bookmill’s 30,000 used and rare volumes. Its cafe and art shops make it a pleasure to bring the family along, too. 440 Greenfield Road, Montague, MA. 413-367-9206; montaguebookmill.comShire Book Shop
After 30 years, the owners still offer to brew you a cup of tea, making your stroll among the 100,000 used and out-of-print books in this former mill building even more of a pleasure. Each purchased book is carefully protected with an archival dust jacket. 305 Union St., Franklin, MA. 508-528-5665; shirebookshop.comPleasant Street Books
In a nicely restored barn, close to the middle of Woodstock, Pleasant Street has been a used- and rare-book collector’s dream for more than 25 years. Volumes are stacked floor to ceiling, but the ladder and stools make your search comfortable and convenient. 48 Pleasant St., Woodstock, VT. 802-457-4050; facebook.com/PleasantStreetBooksThe Book Barn
This southeastern Connecticut shop has grown over the past 23 years and now spreads across three locations, which is understandable, given that the barn alone couldn’t handle the 500,000 volumes on hand. Bring a book to sell and find your next treasure among the fiction, nonfiction, children’s, and rare volumes on offer. 41 West Main St., Niantic, CT. 860-739-5715; bookbarnniantic.comBig Chicken Barn
The 150,000 used books at the Big Chicken Barn aren’t all priced at $3 each, but enough are that you can fill your basket to overflowing without resorting to a credit card. The shop has been operating for 26 years; the indoor plumbing has been operating for three years, so progress continues. 1768 Bucksport Road, Ellsworth, ME. 207-667-7308; facebook.com/pages/Big-Chicken-Barn-Books-AntiquesCarlson Turner Books
A true antiquarian bookshop and bindery, Carlson & Turner houses 40,000 volumes, ranging from the scholarly to more-general categories such as nautical, railroading, history, and travel. 241 Congress St., Portland, ME. 207-773-4200; carlsonturnerbooks.comBar Harbor Book Shop
Actually in Hulls Cove, down the road from Bar Harbor, this store used to be known as Mystery Cove Bookshop. A strong fiction collection is balanced by good history, biography, literature, classics, and local-interest collections. 1 Dewey St., Hulls Cove, ME. 207-288-4665; barharborbookshop.comWhitlock Farm Booksellers
For more than 60 years, Whitlock’s Book Barn has provided rare and out-of-print works for the scholarly buyer. Its second building, however, offers used books for as little as $5, which makes this a destination shop for all book lovers. 20 Sperry Road, Bethany, CT. 203-393-1240; whitlocksbookbarn.comThe Traveler Book Cellar
The basement of a restaurant is an unusual place for a bookshop, but the well-labeled aisles, a helpful wall chart mapping the shelving plan, and the ridiculously low prices for thousands of used volumes all make The Traveler a great source of bargains. Upstairs the folks there give away books with the meals, so that’s an added bonus. 1257 Buckley Highway, Union, CT. 860-684-4920Book Bear
The corny bear statue outside shouldn’t discourage you from browsing the impressive 90,000-volume collection here. For more than three decades, these wide aisles and well-labeled sections have been a book collector’s best friend. 80 West Main St., West Brookfield, MA. 508-867-8705; thebookbear.comThe Book Shed
On the shores of Lake Champlain, this spot is as rural as things get in New England. The Book Shed has thrived in this town of fewer than a thousand residents by attracting used-book buyers to the 15,000 hand-picked volumes of owner Joseph Trenn. 733 Lake Road, Benson, VT. 802-345-3081, 802-537-2010; thebookshed.comHenniker Book Farm
The current owners are keeping a 48-year tradition alive at the Henniker Book Farm, which is just five minutes from New England College. Its 30,000 used and rare volumes range from general to scholarly interest, with strong sections on history, biography, and science. 34 Old West Hopkinton Road, Henniker, NH. 603-428-8888; hennikerbookfarm.comMyopic Books (now Paper Nautilus Books)
This collection of 25,000 used books is clearly influenced by its proximity to many colleges, with emphasis on history, philosophy, science, architecture, and literature. The staff is knowledgeable and can help you find that rare volume you need. 5 South Angell St., Providence, RI. 401-521-5533; myopicbooks.com If you enjoyed our list of the best used bookstores in New England, check out one of our other bookstore experts’ recommendations: Best Independent Bookstores in New England UPDATED: Best Used Bookstores in New England
My favorite used bookstore is RE-BOOKS in Waterville, Maine.
I’m receiveing your magazine from a Christmas present. I haven’t started getting them yet. But I’m very excited. Your website is so inviting. I tell all my friends about you. I have been serching for a book but no one in my area has it. I’ll have to serch your resources to see if I can find it. Thank You for your news. Margie
Re books in Waterville is outstanding as is well as Merrill’s in Hallowell.
I love independent book stores. ther is something special about them. I liked Annies Bookstore in Rutland before it closed, and the Northshire bookstore in Manchester.
Thank you for taking the time to let us know that, Margie!
Seven Stars, Cambridge MA
The suburban Boston area has the Used Books Super Store The one I go to is in Danvers. Their books come from donation bins at churches and other nonprofits
A percentage of the profit goes back to the charity. Their choices are amazing. They are housed in large spaces, books are very well-organized, and I rarely leave not having found what I went to look for. Cozy they are not. Helpful and a great resource they are!
How is New England Mobile Book Fair not on this list??
Used not discount. That’s how…
Titcomb’s Bookshop
Sandwich, MA
Amazing bookshop, wonderful, helpful people. Great gifts for kids….I could go on, but won’t….It’s getting crowded!!
Please do this for record stores, too! 🙂
Great idea, Brooke!
Cellar Stories in Providence, RI deserves to be listed- an extensive selection you could spend hours!
Volumes in Houlton, Me is an extensive used book store, and since Yorks bookstore closed in Houlton several years ago, Volumes is now adding many new books to their store as well. The owner has sections set up to cover everything from health and wellness to college books to new novels and autobiographies as well as wonderful selection of childrens books. He also gives credits towards books if you bring in some of your own to add to his shelves. Most authors are in alphabetic order in the fiction sections, he just got a grant to add another huge space onto the main store that houses thousands more books. You could easily spend hours in there looking for your treasure and most books don’t sell for more the 7 or 8 bucks, many of them are at 3-4 bucks. Located on Bangor St right before you get to the railroad tracks. Happy Hunting.
It’s encouraging to see that the New England rural bookstore continues to thrive. We are still waiting for Maine to let us travel north so that we can visit our favorite bookstores downeast.
Thank you for this list – it’s a great way to start the new year…visit every one!