What are characteristics of your favorite bookstores?

[foco]

What do you look for when you first walk into a book store, and what are the factors that help you judge whether or not it is educationally worthwhile?

Thanks!

[Denver]

I like a bookstore that separates it's horror out from it's science fiction and fantasy.

And that's not 50% Stephen King.

[Arthur Denton]

Bookstores are not educational. They are commercial. Libraries are educational.

[jasonpatterson]

It depends.

If it's a used book store, then I like the place to smell good (not overpoweringly mildewy) and have the books arranged logically. I don't really care how, just as long as they are easily searchable. Selection is important as well, of course. This is also true in a new book store, but it's not usually a problem for them. The owner/operator of a used book store also has to be very knowledgeable about his/her titles and stock, since they are often patchy and sometimes haven't been catalogued in any way by the owner.

If it's a new book store, I prefer that they keep the subject areas broad (no Southeast Asian Women's Lit section, for instance.) That lets me find things that I might not have seen previously while browsing for a particular title. As far as comfy chairs and coffee go, I could care less. I don't go to a bookstore to hang out, I go there to buy books. I like the staff to have SOME clue about what they are doing too.

[alfaniner]

I haven't been to many except the chains in quite a few years, but I will say one thing I don't like.

It's when they rearrange the racks and the sections for no apparent reason. Going to what used to be the SF section and finding it replaced by Women's Studies is a little jarring. Especially when they move the section you want clear across the store.

[terry_leopard]

There's a great used book shop near me. It is just piled from floor to ceiling with books on absolutely every subject you could possibly think of, half of the books aren't on shelves, and the isles are almost impossible to walk down.

You could never find any book by looking yourself, but the guy that owns the shop has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of his stock, and can quote the years that different editions were first published, and the differences between the editions.

I went in there a while back looking for a rather obscure, out of print book on Italian folklore (I can't remember the name at the moment) as soon as I mentioned the title he rattled off a mental list of all the editions and how much they are worth, after a few minutes rummaging around came back with the exact book I wanted.

It's a rather eccentric place, but the guy seriously knows his subject, and seems to genuinely love books, talking to him actually makes you feel more excited about the book that you are about to purchase.

[arthwollipot]

Originally Posted by foco

What do you look for when you first walk into a book store, and what are the factors that help you judge whether or not it is educationally worthwhile?

Thanks!

Whether or not it has the book that I'm looking for.

[alfaniner]

Originally Posted by terry_leopard

There's a great used book shop near me. It is just piled from floor to ceiling with books on absolutely every subject you could possibly think of, half of the books aren't on shelves, and the isles are almost impossible to walk down.

You could never find any book by looking yourself, but the guy that owns the shop has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of his stock, and can quote the years that different editions were first published, and the differences between the editions.

I went in there a while back looking for a rather obscure, out of print book on Italian folklore (I can't remember the name at the moment) as soon as I mentioned the title he rattled off a mental list of all the editions and how much they are worth, after a few minutes rummaging around came back with the exact book I wanted.

It's a rather eccentric place, but the guy seriously knows his subject, and seems to genuinely love books, talking to him actually makes you feel more excited about the book that you are about to purchase.

That is the stuff of dozens of Twilight Zone type stories.

[Roboramma]

Different things:
- I like it when the books aren't too expensive. I used to go to buy books mainly at used bookstores and sometimes "book warehouse" when I wanted a newer title that I couldn't find elsewhere. While I think $50 might be worth it for a book, if I had to spend that much every time I bought one, I'd go broke pretty fast.

- Good selection. Of course everyone's definition is different. But the first thing I want is that they have what I'm looking for. The next think I want is that they have books that I can browse: I can look through the books and find something that I wouldn't have come in looking for, but which I might also want to get.

- Order. I like to be able to find that section that I'm looking for, and even to find particular authors within that section. Some used book stores are horrible for this, but in the end if they have good books I'm not too bothered, in that it makes the hunt that much more challenging, and rewarding. When you're talking about a new bookstore, however, that's different.

- Atmosphere. This one is complicated. I like a used bookstore with books falling off the walls. But I also love places like Chapters where I can go, easily find a book I like, and have a comfortable place to browse it. Maybe that's because 5 years ago, when I lived in Vancouver, Chapters was my new library, and I'd spend hours every day reading books without buying them. The big ceilings, big windows, etc. made this is a great experience, but its not necessarily a good business idea, as when I found something I wanted to buy I'd almost always head somewhere else for it, and buying from chapters was a last resort. (I think in two years I bought maybe six books from there).

[fuelair]

The first thing I see is NOT religious or self-help books. I know the store is going for the Woosers if it is.

[foco]

I usually notice the ratio of science books to new age nonsense, and of legitimate philosophy to religious nonsense. It's a good indicator of the quality of the store.

[terry_leopard]

Originally Posted by alfaniner

That is the stuff of dozens of Twilight Zone type stories.

Now you come to mention it he does seem to have an almost super natural knowledge of books

[jasonpatterson]

Originally Posted by terry_leopard

Now you come to mention it he does seem to have an almost super natural knowledge of books

He controls the horizontal. He controls the vertical.

[Yalius]

That it be called, "Powell's City of Books"?

[Jeff Corey]

Mine is here. http://www.bookrevue.com/about.html

[terry_leopard]

This is the shop I am referring to, just in case anyone wants to visit. Keith Fawkes Bookshop

[Roboramma]

Originally Posted by terry_leopard

This is the shop I am referring to, just in case anyone wants to visit. Keith Fawkes Bookshop

The picture looks cool. Definitely the kind of place I'd like to go down and spend an afternoon hunting through.

Man, I miss bookstores.

[Kahalachan]

I go to Barnes and Noble and Border's. The big chains. They are adequate for what I want. I tried a smaller local bookstore downtown and they had no science section and a ton of woo and self help garbage. So big commercialized bookstores for me.

[Roboramma]

Originally Posted by Kahalachan

I go to Barnes and Noble and Border's. The big chains. They are adequate for what I want. I tried a smaller local bookstore downtown and they had no science section and a ton of woo and self help garbage. So big commercialized bookstores for me.

The thing I really like about used book stores is that the good ones anyway have science books that you'd never find at one of the big chains, and had probably never heard of or thought to look for before walking in and browsing their shelves.

That's how I happened upon some of Sagan's books that not only I couldn't get at the bigger stores, I couldn't even find at the library.

[Andrew Wiggin]

I like used book stores, ideally ones with enough space that they can have a lot of variety. I collect a lot of old technical books, so if they have a science and technology section, that's a big plus. Reasonable pricing is a plus: not everything is a valuable antique, just by dint of being old.

A.

[Vermonter]

I loved the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Vermont. It's in a classical old building, and the lighting is nice, almost subdued. It's much bigger inside than it seems, and it's very closed in. It's almost like a labyrinth, in a good way. Dark wood for the counters and shelves and small level changes as you progress deeper into the store. The children's section has a small ramp with small white Christmas lights on either side. There's a very nice smell in there, I have a lot of good memories browsing.

[bob_cadaver]

Nonesuch Books in South Portland is lovely; it's a tiny little store that is chock full of books and odds and ends, with big comfy chairs to sit and read in. There's a used book aisle and loads of employee recommendations all over the shelves. It's got a happy, upbeat vibe.
Plus bonus points: they let dogs in, and it's great to see a person with their dog come in and watch the dog get petted by the other patrons. They have delicious chocolates for sale on the counters and they all know me and my dog by name and if I come in without my dog (five lb Maltese) they ask if she's ok. When I see the employees elsewhere, they always smile and wave and call me by name.
I go to the big Borders store to look for books I want and I order the book from Nonesuch instead to help support them, they're a great local business worth supporting.

[softstuff]

We have a delightful new bookstore opened recently just within 5 minutes walk from us. It has high ceilings, dark wood shelves, wonderful art on the walls. The best part is that the owner is a very active skeptic, it's thanks to him that we found this forum and other great things like the Skeptics Guide to the Universe. He invites people regularly to do talks there, I'm looking forward to one about the large Hedron collider. When you go to the alternative medicine section in his store, you'll find a shelf full of books debunking woo!

I buy books there whenever I can afford because I so badly want him to survive.

[Professor Yaffle]

My favourite bookstore used to be a train station:

http://www.barterbooks.co.uk/

For pics:

http://sidsmith.blogspot.com/2007/08/barter-books.html

[boooeee]

Originally Posted by Vermonter

I loved the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Vermont. It's in a classical old building, and the lighting is nice, almost subdued. It's much bigger inside than it seems, and it's very closed in. It's almost like a labyrinth, in a good way. Dark wood for the counters and shelves and small level changes as you progress deeper into the store. The children's section has a small ramp with small white Christmas lights on either side. There's a very nice smell in there, I have a lot of good memories browsing.

LOVE that place. I grew up in Indiana, but growing up we took family vacations to Manchester, Vermont every August. Northshire Bookstore, Mother Myrcik's, Hapgood Pond. I miss it.

More generally, any bookstore with a healthy collection of Dover books in their "Mathematics" section is alright by me.

[arthwollipot]

Why is a bookstore considered more of a social venue than another kind of store?

[Mojo]

Originally Posted by terry_leopard

This is the shop I am referring to, just in case anyone wants to visit. Keith Fawkes Bookshop

And handy for The Flask too!

[Mojo]

Originally Posted by Professor Yaffle

My favourite bookstore used to be a train station:

http://www.barterbooks.co.uk/

I suspect that that is my Dad's favourite bookshop as well.

[Rasmus]

The other customers are important. That being said, the bestest bookstore so far is right outside Washington DC.

[arthwollipot]

I reiterate: the best bookstore is the one that has the book I'm looking for.

[AvalonXQ]

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

Why is a bookstore considered more of a social venue than another kind of store?

Many other kinds of stores are considered social venues for enthusiasts. Department stores cater very well to groups of fashion enthusiasts having a "day out", for instance.
Because of the nature of books (by their very nature a repository of ideas, concepts, information, and other topics worthy of discussion), book enthusiasts are particularly prone to discussion.
Hence the genious of actually putting coffee bars in bookstores.

[Alan]

I tend not to judge bookstores by their entrances. I judge them by their books, which I admit to judging by their covers.

[SezMe]

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

I reiterate: the best bookstore is the one that has the book I'm looking for.

So you never went to a bookstore just to browse? To be inspired? To find something new that you didn't know about?

Really? How sad.

[Mojo]

My favourite [second hand] bookshop has its science section next to its music section.

Very convenient.

[arthwollipot]

Originally Posted by SezMe

So you never went to a bookstore just to browse? To be inspired? To find something new that you didn't know about?

Really? How sad.

Yes, it kind of is. But there are a few reasons that I don't.

First, I don't shop, I buy. I hate going into most kinds of stores at the best of times. When I do, it's usually because I want something specific. I'll go to the store, find what I want, buy it, and leave. Second, I have for most of my life had severe cashflow problems (for various reasons). I'll usually be able to set aside some money for the things I want, but I have a very long-standing and ingrained habit of not impulse-buying. Lastly, I'm pretty darn fussy about books. Let's put it this way - I already have an awfully large number of books. If I want to browse, or be inspired, or find something new, my own shed will probably be the first place I look. Well, after the Internet, of course.

Now, that having been said, I have on occasion gone into a bookstore for exactly the reasons you outlined. There's a Borders here in Canberra which I think is the only bookstore that actually has a coffee shop instore (unfortunately, it's a Gloria Jean's) and I've on occasion wandered in there just to look at stuff. But I've almost always wandered out again, totally uninspired. I have occasionally impulse-bought a book. That's how I ended up with The Blind Watchmaker.

Almost all of the bookstores in Canberra are not exactly social venues. Borders in Civic is an exception. And, BTW, it appears to be a pretty popular one - it's always been pretty crowded when I've been in there.

[Angus McPresley]

Originally Posted by Denver

I like a bookstore that separates it's horror out from it's science fiction and fantasy.

How I wish there was a store that took it a step further, and separated their fantasy from its science fiction.

[eGadfly]

If I see a book I want at the bookstore, 99% of the time, I go home and do a little research on amazon.com - usually their price is low, so I buy there if I want new. eBay is a great place to buy used books that you don't care about the condition of. (beware of shipping charges)

Also, I live in Cincinnati OH, and the library is great about shipping your book from any of their branches to your favorite branch. I am not a huge book re-reader, so the library gets most of my "business".

The reason I like the bookstore of the library is because of all the new shiny books with lots of them showing their front cover.

As far as the big chains Barnes+Noble vs. Borders.... well the last Borders I went to had an open copy of the Suicide Girls big ass tome of hotness... so that store is probably my favorite =)

[arthwollipot]

I use the same tactic at bookstores that I do at other kinds of stores, when I feel like impulse-buying. I walk away.

If I then regret having done so, I go back and buy the object. Because that means that I really did actually want it.

[AvalonXQ]

Originally Posted by Angus McPresley

How I wish there was a store that took it a step further, and separated their fantasy from its science fiction.

That would be extremely difficult to do. There's not an easy bright-line separation of the two. Where would you put Dragonriders of Pern? Her Majesty's Wizard? Apprentice Adept?
More practically, a LOT of the customer base overlaps, so there's not much reason to separate for vending purposes either.

[ranson]

I found my ideal bookstore ten years ago, the first time I moved to NC. Not only would the owner hunt down anything he didn't have, he had hand-made the shelving, and there were bookstore cats.

Bookstore cats are essential.

I still go in almost weekly, and everyone but the newest employee (just a few weeks in) knows my name, my tastes, my kids' names, my kids' tastes, my wife's name...

Here's the place. They just moved into a great location (just across the street from the old one), and they can now get much of the stock that was in storage out on the shelves.