Friends of the Public Library- Sterling Heights

My intentions for this blog post were to review a used book store called K’s Book Exchange. But upon reaching my destination, I found that K’s had closed recently. So, I decided to visit another public library and check out its Friends Bookstore, as I did last week with Rochester Hills and Shelby Township. This time, I visited the Sterling Heights Public Library’s Friends Bookstore.

I have been to the Sterling Heights library many times. The library itself is huge. The Friends bookstore is large, as well. In fact, it is much bigger than both the Rochester Hills and Shelby Township stores.

    

To start, the store has a cart out front with sale books. Most of them were Christmas books, on sale for twenty-five cents. Inside, there were also tables full of sale books. These books were considered “red dot” items. Anything with a red dot is fifty percent off the sale price. Shoppers can also fill a plastic grocery bag with as many books as the bag can hold and only pay three dollars. The same goes for paper grocery bags, only costing five dollars. This is a great bargain- someone could easily fill a bag with ten or so books.

The rest of the Friends store was reasonably priced as well. All books, magazines, DVDs, VHSs, and audio books were under two dollars. Stock wise, there was an impressive collection of classics, many of which sported evidently older binding. Other types of books featured were romance, humor, large print, and a rather large section of cookbooks. There were a few audio books- both on cassette and CD- which was impressive. I rarely see audio books at other used book stores. Also, there was an extensive stock of Disney movies on VHS.

A big section of the store was dedicated to young adult books. Half of them were books withdrawn from the library’s collection- older books that don’t get checked out anymore. The other half was donations- newer books with more titles that I recognized. The young adult section was spread throughout the store, so I had to hunt a little to browse through everything. But, I was impressed by what I ended up finding.

Merchandise at the store seems to move in and out quickly. While I was there, there were about ten other people in the store at the same time. The Friends volunteers run an efficient store.

I was a bit disappointed to only find a single copy of Nancy Drew at Friends. This copy, though, was one of my favorites. The Secret of Shadow Ranch was an older copy, in good condition. It sat amongst other mystery series of that era- including The Hardy Boys and The Dana Girls Mysteries (also written by Carolyn Keene).

In all, the Friends of the Sterling Heights Library had a good store. I would recommend this store to anyone looking for new titles as well as looking to help out the local library. I know that I will return in the future.

Friends of the Public Library- Shelby Township and Rochester Hills

For many years, public libraries have developed a program called “Friends of the Library”. This is a non-profit program that takes donations given to the library and sells them in the library’s “Friends Bookstore”.  Used books, movies, and music can all be donated. Those of which cannot be used for the library’s collection then ends up in the store. Withdrawn books from the library's collection are sold as well. The money made from the sales from the bookstore goes to improving the library and buying new items.

Many libraries in the area have these bookstores. Recently, I visited the Rochester Hills Library store as well as the Shelby Township library.

I like to visit the Friends bookstores because, no matter the price, the money I spend goes to helping the library. As someone who visits libraries a lot, I like to know that I can be a part of something that helps make the libraries a better place.

The fact that the stores are community based and stocked by donations, the prices of the books and other medias remain low- mostly under two dollars for hardcovers and under one dollar for paperbacks. The variety of books is always good, even if there are not a large quantity of books.

Rochester Hills Friends Bookstore:

The Rochester Hills Public Library is huge, but the Friends Bookstore is not. In fact, it is two small carts parked in the library’s lobby. When I visited, I found out that a few weeks before the library had held their annual Fall book sale. Because of that, the stock at the Friends store was little to nothing. In all, my visit to Rochester was not exciting, but I will keep my eyes open for their next seasonal sale and hope for better luck then.

Shelby Township Friends Bookstore:

The Shelby Township Public Library’s Friends Bookstore is bigger than Rochester’s. At this library, the Friends store has its own room within the library. It is only a few shelves, but the stock is fairly decent.

The store has a few tables outside the actual store that holds sale items. These items are usually CDs and books bundled together by series or author. The store also has a Free Item table, where books are placed if they don’t sell after being on the shelves for a while.

Mystery and Romance genres are popular at the store, but there is also a large section of classic books as well. The children’s section was also large, mainly supplied with picture books.

Among the children’s section was the Nancy Drew series. There were 5 books total, more than I expected to find at the Friends store. Three of them were Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Mysteries. I have been pleased to find the dual mysteries again at a used store. These along with the other two- Nancy Drew Case Files- are series that I usually only see among selections available to check out at libraries. I hardly ever see them for purchase, until now.

So, while the Rochester Hills store had little to offer, the Shelby Township made up for that disappointment. I was able to walk away with a few new books without spending much money, which is always a plus.

Downtown Booksellers

Downtown Bookseller's, located on University Road in downtown Rochester, is a store that I stumbled upon by chance. While walking around downtown Rochester, I spotted the Used Books sign from a distance away and practically ran towards the store.

Downtown's was, of course, filled with books, as most used book stores are. The store features old, new, and rare books. To me, what set the store apart from others was its vast collection of old books. And these books weren't just old, they were late 1800s/early 1900s old. Most of them were history collections, like war volumes and encyclopedia sets, but the amount of old books was astounding. There were also old editions of classics- like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens novels. Downtown's also featured a big section of just poetry books- both old and new books.

While the classic and rare book shelves were filled to the brim, the general fiction sections- divided into hardcover and paperback categories- were full as well. There was a decent variety- even the entire series of James Bond books as well as the entire Alex Cross series. Other featured genres that I rarely see at used book stores included religion, sports, and celebrity memoirs. The store also had a combined children's and teen's section, which was small.

The atmosphere of Downtown’s was pleasant. Quiet, classical music- which seems to be the popular background music of used book stores- allowed for peaceful browsing. The service was kind and helpful. Prices were not listed on all the books, so most had to be inquired upon. The prices that were listed varied on the condition and rarity of the book, though many were on the expensive side for used books. The store did offer sale prices on some series that had all or most of the books.

On to Nancy Drew, the books featured at Downtown's were the classics. There were about 20 books from the original series. Many of them were from early in the series; two of them had unique covers that I have not seen before. These covers- which were plain blue with an orange silhouette of Nancy- were from the books published between 1932 and 1937. The insides of these editions also feature four pages of glossy hand drawn illustrations that depict certain scenes from the story. The editions available at Downtown's were missing their dust jackets. So while they were not as valuable as those with dust jackets, they were still an interesting find.

Nancy Drew is well known for going hand-in-hand with the Hardy Boys- the boy detectives to Nancy's girl detective. Downtown's held a large stock of Franklin W. Dixon's The Hardy Boys series. This included copies from the original publishing date-1927.

Downtown Bookseller’s was a pleasant surprise to find. It is conveniently located close by and easy to visit while on the run to other places. While the selection at Downtown’s was unique, I did not find any books that were worth adding to my collection. There is, though, a chance that I will return to Downtown Booksellers sometime in the future.

Charlin's Book Nook

Charlin's Book Nook, a small shop in Frankenmuth, was among one of the most exciting used book store trips I've had. I visited in the summer, but the store is worth an honorable mention now. On my first trip there, I found a British edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. So, when I returned to Frankenmuth in the summer, I made a special trip to Charlin’s. The store is located in downtown Frankenmuth's River Place, a great stop on a bigger shopping trip.

Charlin's is relatively small, but the selection is good. The shelves are many- stacked high and full of countless books. The majority of the books were no older fifteen years, but there were a few old ones if you looked hard enough. Genre wise, there was a good variety, appealing to most reading interests. There were the usual genres, along with a rather large children’s and young adult’s section. In fact, these two sections were in a small room of their own- separate from the rest of the store. Prices depend on the condition of the book, how new or old it is, and if it’s rare or not. For the most part, the books ranged between a reasonable two to ten dollars.

I liked that the store featured a small area for browsers to sit and read. There were a few comfortable chairs, an electric fireplace, and a babbling fountain. Charlin's was peaceful- perfect for a used book store. Not only could I get lost in the stacks, but I could take a seat and read a little, something that I find helps me decide which books to buy.

Nancy's Mysterious Letter copyright 1932

When I came across the Nancy Drew selection, I was shocked. The number of Nancy Drew books was enormous. There had to at least have been twenty-five books, if not more. There were a few recently published copies, but the majority of them were older books- from the original Girl Detective Series. There was a mix of the old and new yellow books; both the early published editions and the re-published editions from the 2000s. My excitement came upon my finding of a Nancy Drew book that had been published in the 1930s. I found Nancy's Mysterious Letter which was published in 1932 for the first time. One of these copies is not necessarily rare, as some old books are, but I was excited to be able to add an early edition onto my list of found books. The second book that I found was The Secret in the Old Attic which was published in 1944, also the original publishing date, though book came later in the series. Both of these books are now members of my own personal collection.

It’s a sure fact that when I go back to Frankenmuth, I will visit Charlin’s again. I had a great and exciting experience there, finding the two Nancy Drew books. I am very excited to see what I will find on the shelves next.

Barnes & Noble Sale Annex

I have visited the used book section of Rochester's Barnes and Noble many times, but it is such a great place that I couldn't resist writing about it. Not many Barnes and Noble stores have a used book section- in fact, the Rochester location is the only one in my area that I know of. The Sale Annex is a large area in the even larger store. Whenever I get the chance to visit, I am always astounded by the vast selection and the fact that my arms always end up filled with more books than I can afford.

The used section of the store is set up the same as the rest of the store. Organized by category, alphabetical order, etc. The only difference is that all the books are used rather than new, obviously. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the store give customers the opportunity to sell their used books back to the store. A unique aspect of used books as opposed to the usual "trade in" that smaller stores offer. With this practice, the store has the chance to swap out books more often. When I visit, I always notice that the stock is different from the last time.

Each of the sections are large and well stocked. I was pleased to see a good variety of books during this visit, including graphic novels. The store even features special edition and collectible used books. Some of these are even signed by the author. Many of the paperback books are priced at five dollars, with the exception of shorter children's chapter books, which are either one or three dollars. Hardcover books are between seven and ten dollars. Though prices are on the expensive side for used books, there are tables in the middle of the used book section that sell books at fifty percent off.


Twenty six was the magic number of Nancy Drew books at the Sale Annex. The store has the first eight books of the Nancy Drew Girl Detective books. This series is the newest and is currently still published. There were also three copies of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Mysteries- which I love. The team ups between the savvy sleuth and the detective brothers are always good for a humorous, yet fantastic mystery.

Though I didn't buy anything on this trip to the Barnes and Noble Sale Annex, you can guarantee that I will return to browse again.

BYOB - Bring Your Old Books

BYOB- it's not what you think. In this case, it stands for Bring Your Old Books. This store offers buying, trading, and selling of used books. BYOB, located in Shelby Township, is more than one would expect from a typical used book store.

At first glance, BYOB is a typical book store. Neat rows of shelves lined with books, a quiet atmosphere for browsing, signs promoting book trades. But then you look to the right. Comic book galore. That's right, BYOB also sells comic books and related paraphernalia. That part of the store alone was enough to release my inner geek, but along with the great selection of books, going to BYOB was a stellar experience.

Selection wise, BYOB has books that I don't see in every store. The books were in great condition- even the ones with older publishing dates. The children and young adult books were together, neatly alphabetized. From a large collection of Harry Potter to old Judy Blume novels, I could have spent hours in just that section. BYOB also had the entire Series of Unfortunate Events novels, tied together with a ribbon- part of their package sales.

The other books were categorized by genre- horror, romance, self-help, etc. I was impressed by their religious section, a fairly large mix of bibles, which something you don't see in many used book stores. The selection was not dominated by popular romance novels, nor was it overflowing with used James Patterson books, the norm of other stores. I got to see unusual titles, like a series of James Bond books and a section devoted to dream interpretation. The graphic novel section held many Marvel and DC comics, as well as Manga and The Walking Dead series.

Prices at the store were affordable. Books ranged anywhere from one dollar to five. If you bring a book to trade, it is one dollar off the price of another book. The store also allows patron to keep trade-in credits.

BYOB had a few Nancy Drew novels, including a few eighty page Nancy Drew Notebooks. Among the usual yellow-spined reprints, I found a reprint of The Bungalow Mystery. This copy was part of a short lived arc of special books reprinted in 1991 with the original covers. The Bungalow Mystery reprint featured a few pages of special artwork from the original artist, as well as a brief history of Nancy Drew withing the first few pages. In my opinion, this book was a great find.

The entire back of the store held messy stacks of yet-to-be shelved books. I'm certain that when I return to BYOB I'll see many new books upon the shelves.

Books Connection

My first stop was Books Connection, located in Shelby Township. Books Connection is a humble little store with a unique take on used books. This store offers patrons the opportunity to bring in their own used books in exchange for a reduced price on a book that they purchase. Prices are 40% off the list price and 60% off if you bring in a trade book.

     
Upon entering the store I was greeted with warmth and welcome. Classical music played softly through the speakers, easing me into comfort- which I always seem to find among books- as I began to browse the stacks. The shelves of Books Connection are close together and filled with books. When browsing, I like to always start with the children’s books and work my way around the store. In this case, the children’s section was located on the bottommost shelves throughout the store. The selection was decent. I spotted many familiar titles and authors.

     
From there I found the young adult books- a section smaller than the children’s- with a fair selection. Bigger selections were home to genres such as mysteries, sci-fi, and classics. There were even many, many copies of Cliff Notes, along with books by local authors.

     
The biggest section, by far, was romance, taking up multiple isles from floor to ceiling. Anyone who is a big romance novel reader should check out Books Connection.

     
Fiction was not the sole classification, though. Non-fiction books and magazines were available as well.

     
Books Connection carried both old and new books. Popular best sellers are available at a reduced price. They also offer the ability to order books that aren’t on the shelves.

     
The store had a great atmosphere. It was friendly and cozy. The hour I spent in the store flew by without my notice.

     
In terms of my sleuthing progress, Books Connections was home to five copies of Nancy Drew. Three were from the classic series, but printed in 2000. One was from the 1986 The Nancy Drew Files and the other from 2003’s Girl Detective series. They were each titles that I was familiar with, but I was not inclined to purchase any of the five.

     
Books Connection holds great potential and I look forward to visiting again to see if the selection grows.