Best Used Bookstores in New England | Honorable Mentions

Saving the rural New England bookstore is more than a pastime for Richard F. Wright; it’s a passion that drives him to visit, patronize, and write about local independent bookshops selling used and rare volumes. Here are his ten honorable mentions. To see his five favorite venues, visit Best Used Bookstores in New England.Big 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. 860-684-4920 Vintage Books — CLOSED A turn-of-the-century barn is home to Vintage Books, which has been operating at this location for 24 years. Well-lighted and well-organized aisles make browsing among the 30,000 volumes a pleasure, and fair pricing makes the selection of rare and unusual volumes a delight. 181 Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton, MA. Book 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. 802-537-2190; 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 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 Find out more about Richard Wright at his Web site: richard-wright.blogspot.com/