Environmental consciousness is becoming increasingly vital as the planet continues to experience numerous effects of human negligence. The Earth has been on a steady path of destruction that will only become more dire if we continue to remain ignorant of the harmful impacts of human activity. Her Campus Emerson has decided to dedicate an entire week towards the way people can become educated and participate in sustainability. I am a writing, literature, and publishing major, so I value books in a lot of ways. I absolutely love looking at large bookshelves filled with books that range in color, size, and design. I think your collection of books says something about you as a reader and even as a person. When I purchase books, I like them to be bought brand new from booksellers due to the perfect condition that they are in, but my mind has been recently altered.
I was introduced to authentic used book stores that span across the country, especially in a busy place like Boston. Numerous stores in the city sell books in mint condition for a fraction of a price. If you are interested in used books, I highly recommend checking out some of the used bookshops below. I hope that fellow Bostonians and visitors to the Boston area can enjoy stopping by these great shops for used books.
Brattle Bookshop
This shop was founded in 1825 and has one of the largest antiquarian collections in the country. The building itself is split into three floors: the first two containing books both in and out of print and the third-floor housing numerous early additions, fine leather binding, and collectibles kept in a locked room that requires employee admission. It even features an outdoor space. The Brattle Bookshop doesn’t accept donations, but they do purchase rare, unusual, or signed editions. I visited this bookshop, and I highly recommend it to anyone in the area who wants to see what it’s like inside a used book store.
Brookline Booksmith
The shop, formally named Paperback Booksmith, was opened in 1961. It has achieved many accomplishments, such as being one of the first East Coast bookstores to recognize “serious” paperback books in the 1950s, one of the first to display books by category rather than publisher and alphabetically by author to enhance the customer’s experience. While the upstairs sells new editions, the used book cellar, created in 2004, offers used copies over a wide range of genres. The cellar doesn’t accept donations, but they will purchase gently used, modern paperback works of fiction and nonfiction. This shop offers the best of both worlds whether you are a lover of used or new books, or maybe both like me!
More Than Words
This nonprofit organization does excellent work in the Boston community. They encourage young adults in unfortunate situations (like being within the foster care system, experiencing homelessness, or being out of school) to take control over their lives by gaining business experience. They offer jobs to these young adults that give them valuable lessons in retail, business, customer service, professional skills, and many other opportunities that they can then carry into their adult life. This organization not only accepts used books, but also clothing, shoes, and sometimes even high-quality furniture for their store. They have two locations in Massachusetts: one in Waltham and one in Boston and numerous locations across the state. There is an online shop that can be browsed as well as their extensive collection in store. If you’re looking to contribute towards a good cause, definitely check this shop out.
Commonwealth Books
If you like rare and antiquarian books, you’ll like Commonwealth Books. This shop, in Boston since 1995, has an extensive collection of books mainly focus on the arts, history, religion, and architecture. The works you’ll find here are unique and valuable in their own way, which would serve well in your bookshelf. They cater not only to the typical reader but to scholars and collectors for an affordable price. The shop also houses works of art, antique art, and maps. Their location is within a short distance of other notable historical sites and is housed on the oldest street in Boston, Spring Lane. Any history buff would have the most fabulous time looking through all the shop has to offer.
Harvard Bookstore
This Cambridge bookshop, opened in 1932, maintains a long history of providing a space for book lovers looking for new and inexpensive used works. As well as offering a space to shop, they host numerous author events, where readers and writers can connect. New editions are sold upstairs, and downstairs holds thousands of used options. They purchase gently used books from various genres, such as mystery, science fiction, history, and psychology, with a particular interest in classical and historical studies.