This bookstore is tied for second best in the area for me. The inventory is varied and well-priced, with enough turnover that there is usually something new for me whenever I return. There are no new books, just an excellent selection of hardcovers and paperbacks. The book smell is a 2/10, which on my scale is the pleasant smell of nostalgia and antiquity without the borderline aroma of musty questionability. The only two people I have seen there seem to be quiet but friendly and knowledgeable about the inventory. A nice throwback is the manual credit card slider if you've never seen one. I appreciate the variety of the children's section, a well-stocked science fiction section, and a small cabinet of collectible titles. The adult corner of the store seemed seedy and out of place. If you're a fan of used bookstores, you'll place this in the category of quaint and interesting; worth your time to check out. Note that this is a used bookstore, not a place selling unwanted library books! Parking is tight, but there are a few spots behind the store reserved for customer use. read more

My first time make a review about a book store now I'm no book expert by any means but I'm a book reader I love a good book the store is ok they have decent book nothing special that caught my attention the only thing I had a real issue with is the customer service the guy i spoke to really did not have customer service skills sounded angry or maybe he was having a bad ask him about a book I wanted to sell I feel the offer he gave me was a low ball offer I did my own research found out my book was worth way more than what he told me yet they are supposed to be trained book experts or was it because he just wanted to make money by paying less to me however that's something they need to work on other than that clean bookstore read more

Fantastic small book store in Ferndale, Michigan. They even have an old magazine collection which was incredibly interesting. Lots of old National Geographics and Life Magazines I had to flip through because my Grandpa helped illustrate the covers half a century ago. MAN. Old postcards, photos that somehow end up getting donated. You won't find an awful lot of modern books here but a great selection of the classics and a pretty decent Sci-fi section. Amazing history section. This is a shiny hidden gem if I didn't ever see one. Very reasonably priced as well. *Nearly forgot to mention the highlight of my discoveries in this shop: children lit books based off of the 1980's/90's series AVONLEA. Nearly had a brain hemorrhage. For all those that don't know, Avonlea was a phenomenal CBC run Disney Channel show, that reeked of both Dr. Quinn and Anne of Green Gables. It's horrible and amazing. You know you are close to Canada when you find Avonlea books scattered everywhere. My niece had no particular interest in it at all (totally understood) and picked up Hunger Games. Sigh. Generational gap. read more

Library Bookstore - Used Bookstore Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Library is quintessential to the Ferndale experience. Small bookshop, old school practices and two parking spots out back. They buy and sell, though I've never sold here so I can't attest to an experience with that. I have bought several books here, some for babies, some for me, some for friends. One of my favorite places to plop on the ground and ingest wordery if I'm too early to meet a friend for dinner or not quite ready to head back home after a Ferndale trip. Check them out! read more

I love used bookstores and I like Ferndale a lot. Strangely, I don't ever recall poking into this place before today. Well, poke I did today and I will be doing so again. The Library Bookstore is a cut above most used bookstores in the area. The books are well presented and most are in very good condition. The titles are of high quality; I didn't see also-ran or junk works in any department (the philosophy shelves here put those in local competitors to shame). The prices are fair. The proprietor is very helpful (I heard her offer to call a customer if a certain desired book came in). The Library has an appropriate used bookstore vibe. I felt as though I were browsing the collection of a caring bibliophile. However, there is a seriousness (not stuffiness) and attention to detail that sets this store apart from some others. It is a nice place to slow down, browse and buy. read more

It may be small, but it is big on appeal. Its size is utilized in an efficient and logical way. What's that? You say you want to read and lounge about while sipping lattes and nibbling on biscotti? Sorry, there is no room for that sort of nonsense here. Instead, you will be forced to find the reading article of your choice, purchase it from the friendly and knowledgeable owner, Martha, or manager, Denny, and walk in the outside air a few steps to the nearest coffee shop, bistro, café or diner that pervade Ferndale. I recently brought in a bin full of no longer needed books from home to them. Denny handled the transaction professionally. When I inquired why he didn't take particular books, he explained why in a reasonable way. He offered an amount in store credit or a cash amount that was about 20% less. I opted for the cash. After a quotation in one of the books I brought in caught his attention, he shared the humor of it with me. This turned to a pleasant conversation relating to it. I detected no creepiness, and, in fact, found him to be a person who was intelligent, articulate, funny and easygoing. When I spoke to the owner, Martha, upon my initial visit and later on the phone, she was polite, helpful and professional. When they didn't have an out-of-print copy of Peter Mathiessen's, "The Snow Leopard", she took down my contact info and promised to call whenever they got it in again. In the mean time she showed me another book by him, "The Tree Where Man Was Born". She said that she wasn't trying to sell me another book but, I somehow wound up with it anyway. read more

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The Library Bookstore has that old book smell to it- which I really like. It's pretty well organized if not terribly pretty. They also have magazines and comic books in the original wrappers for sale and stapled up above the shelves as decorations. This is one of those places I could browse for hours if I didn't have to go out and feed more quarters into the parking meter. read more

Library Bookstore - Used Bookstore Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Very cool bookstore with a great selection of genres and price. By far the best used book store I've frequented in the metro Detroit area thus far. Customer service is meh and the place is a little cramped. I saw a sign on the register that read, if you don't know how to put the book back, don't take it out so you can get the gist of the service you receive. If you know what you are doing and what you are looking for, this place is great for that. If you are just looking to browse, this really isn't the place. I got Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and it was a dollar less than the price listed on Amazon.prime. I didn't get a new book but I didn't break the bank either so win win for me :) read more

Awesome place! Really great selection, the employee (I didn't catch her name) was extremely kind and helpful.

This is a great bookstore, really fun to browse around when you're looking for a hobby or something new to spark your interest. I would recommend coming to this bookstore. I do most often because it's not only a great shop, but I like to support business owners that are socially responsible and I love the stand she takes. I love it. What inspired me to write this and leave this tip, though: call ahead and check the hours. Today is the third time I've come during business hours to find the shop closed. I drove around, found parking, paid for it and then found a sign on the door saying they were closing at 7 (instead of 9) but it was 6:40 and the shop was locked up and lights off. It's totally her prerogative to keep her own hours, but if you're thinking of a trip call and make sure someone will be there. I know I will from now on. read more

They didn't take any of the books I wanted to sell but that's okay! She was really nice about it. I went shopping here abour a year ago and they have a great selection. read more

I guess there are certain things you start to accredit to fate when you pass out of the good graces of adolescence and into whatever harshness your 20s (and falling in love) are willing to give you. I wish I were still dumb and young and could think of everything as an accident - magnetism doesn't work that way. I don't know about divine will but something in the earth knows better and I want to stay under the blankets in the morning. That's the way I was pulled here too. That's why there was a beagle on the walk home from here too. That's why this is the only store, library, shelf in the whole earth where I saw "Rabbit, Run" by John Updike. I haven't seen it since and I'll never see it again in order to hold it in my hands. I would have bought it but the woman at the register said she only accepted cash. She would have taken a credit card but I needed to spend $15. The value was not in the product but in the transaction. I wasn't willing to spend $15 to continue holding the book. For Christmas you gave me coffee beans and they're gone now. For Christmas I bought you socks and a Bedhead record and they're at the bottom of my closet still. read more

I've been a customer here my entire life and I mean it. Martha (the owner) is a fierce Ferndalian and supporter of her home town and Denny (the sole employee) is such a great guy to chat with, very friendly and accommodating. One of the reasons I love this place is because it's neat, clean and well organized. Most of the other used book stores I've frequented smell like a basement and look like a tornado hit them. They're very selective about the type of books and the quality of books they buy and it shows. Over the years I have scored some gems here, from Bukowski to Burroughs this place has it all. READ A BOOK READ A BOOK READ.....(you know the rest) read more

Ahh... the smell of old books! There are not too many musty smells I actually enjoy, but the smell of old books and newspapers is really comforting to me. Blame it on my English major mom and the giant story-and-a-half bookshelves we had next to the stairs when I was little. Put me in a big room (or rooms!) full of books and magazines, and I can happily while away an afternoon. The Library Bookstore is my kind of place. I never spend enough time here, because I usually stop in on my way someplace else, but quick (for me, 20 min. in a bookstore is quick!) jaunts in have yielded worthy purchases, as well as finds that I'll return for one day. On my most recent stop, I spied a book of Faye Kicknosway poems (I'll come back for you!), as well as a somewhat hidden pile of old Mojo magazines. Pay a few bucks for someone's old magazines? My inner-record geek said yes. My decision was reinforced when the fellow at the counter gave me a deal as we chatted about him seeing Bowie in the early 70s at the Masonic. One of these days, I'll just devote an entire day to book shopping, and hit here, the John King Annex, Book Beat, and John King downtown. I should probably assemble my new bookshelves first! read more

I like used bookstores a lot. Between the beau and I, we read libraries of books and always keep our eyes open for interesting volumes, kitschy books, and interesting curiosities to add to the collection. In return, we have made a better point of dropping off our standbys at used bookstores so there's always room for more. More shelf space equals more purchases, right? The Library is a nice bookshop in the heart of downtown Ferndale, adjacent to the bike shop and the Java Hutt. Nothing like a bit of caffeine to induce some exploring, right? The shop is not terribly large, longer than it is wide, and a bit disorganized through the bookshelves. You can find newer novels next to musty magazines, old textbooks, and manuals for how to do just about everything short of fly yourself to the moon. The staff know where to find different subjects and, believe me, you might need to rely on their expertise if you have either a short timeframe to shop in or something specific in mind. I can strike out here, but the search is always worth its while. Some people enjoy vintage shopping, others combing through specialty markets for a certain something, and I get joy in finding good books I meant to read or have never seen before, a gift on a shelf waiting for me. At the very least, it's entertaining to see what sort of offerings are available thanks to the cultured Ferndale audience. That said, Melissa and Dil are spot on. Used prices here do not fall within the realms shared by John K. King around the corner, Amazon, Powells, and other major vendors. I like supporting the local shops over online conglomerates, but with the advent of PaperbackSwap and other sources for cheap used books, the Library Bookstore doesn't compete very well. I don't care to pay near cover price for paperbacks unless they are next to mint, and that rather defeats the purpose of a used bookstore. Especially when there's not a whole lot of difference between what Ferndale Public Library, B&N, and Library Bookstore carry, I'm likely to look to the first two as viable options. I wish they'd tune their prices down a bit back into a reasonable level. I get that the rent on 9 Mile near Woodward may be high, but I've had one too many purchases I was borderline on go through because the price was a bit too high. read more

This place is my secret weapon. Gifts. Photographs Journals. Tarot cards. And the smell when you walk in is heavenly, intoxicating. That beautiful old book smell. Mmmmm. I spend so much money here. read more

Not cheap, smallish, ok selection, great staff. And great staff counts for something, so I give them credit there. Helpful and friendly. Their collection of classic and contemporary fiction is pretty strong, everything else I've found to be a bit weak and scattered, which isn't always a bad thing, but it DOES mean one is uninclined to return when you know the stock isn't turning over quick enough. The fiction though, you'll almost definitely find what you're after. I also agree with Melissa D below... For a used bookstore, the prices here are generally high. Esp., again, with the fiction. Too often I've found the same books I was looking for just down the street at John K King for half what Library Bookstore is asking, or less. This meant that I turned Library Bookstore into my "last resort" stop. That's NOT the model a business owner should be gunning for. They need to lower prices. I will say, in their other genres (not fiction), once in a blue moon the owner was holding something quite valuable and didn't know it, which suggests to me that he/she doesn't check their stock with online prices... which is quite rare these days, and is certainly to the customer's advantage. read more

Wanted to do a little book shopping a few days ago, and I was so glad I stumbled across Library Bookstore. It's small, don't get me wrong, but they have books in piles... no joke. I had a rough time getting through the classic lit section, being that it spans both sides of the long and narrow entrance way; hundreds and hundreds of recognizable volumes in new and old editions! I like that they have such specific sections of books. History is in a ton of sections. It's like Ferndale has a miniature John King Books! I had to leave because of my daughter screaming her head off, but I'm going back the first day off I have this week! There's just too many good deals to be had at Library Bookstore. Don't miss this place! read more

After several visits as both a shopper and a seller, I have to tell you how much I like the Library Bookstore! It's a very small place, but every single square inch is covered with books so you can't help but find something you'll want. Plus, it's different every time you come in! When I told the owner, Denny, that I was trying to sell books so I could save up to buy my husband a camera, he helpfully told me what kinds of books they usually can sell so that I could look for them around the house. Whenever I came back with more to sell, he asked me how the saving was coming along and when our anniversary was, etc. Just a really nice, helpful guy - he makes it very pleasant to come in and visit. The ever-changing selection, great prices, and awesome owner makes this place ALWAYS worth a look when you're in downtown Ferndale! read more

Great selection, great prices, they buy books, and one of the owners often listens to the Harry Potter soundtrack. Perfect browsing music! $15 minimum if paying with a card. read more

Very nice selection of fiction. A little annoying how they are segregated into fiction, classics, and mass market fiction/classics. But the point is to enjoy browsing, and draw out the experience of looking at titles and books that became obscure, that you never thought about, that have lots to be discovered. I found for example an unusual Schopenhauer volume and a Katherine Mansfield Norton edition. Very nice place. read more

Location, location, location! Right on 9 Mile next to Naka, a great restaurant selection and coffee houses/bakeries, and that American Pop store, which I also love. Placed perfectly to attract foot traffic and general browsing, and a perfect spot to duck into when doing same. I have to say, I really enjoy this place. And it's not just that I keep finding books I want for under $10, but I get the impression that the owners know the value of their stock. Let me be clear: I am a bargain hunter. However, I get so tired of people talking about books as if they're outmoded pieces of trash (yes, e-Reader evangelists, I'm looking at you). It's really refreshing when I go into a used bookstore that hasn't given up. Books are valuable. Certain books are very valuable, and the Library Bookstore knows it. The stock is good and extensive. I've been happier with poetry selections elsewhere, but the kiddie lit has some very interesting editions, as does the cookbook section. Fiction looks pretty normal, but for those Tradition House Book Club slip-covered edition fans, plenty there for you (in a separate spot). They also have a delightful selection of old postcards priced very reasonably, and a glass case with the more expensive selection for you to ogle to your heart's content. read more

Great variety of books, well curated by the owners. Run by book lovers who appreciate book lovers. Respect their store and rules (no drinks) and you'll be amazed by the atmosphere and warmth. Happy to be a regular customer. read more

Maybe this bookstore is under new management or something, but I did not have a pleasant experience. Walked in and the man working there was on the phone, then when he finally got off the phone, he acted like he didn't want to be bothered. I asked him about some prices of books and he just had a stand off-ish attitude. I was going to go ahead and browse, but he was just watching me like I'd walk out of the store with a book lol. The whole thing was just awkward, unpleasant and uncomfortable. I just walked out. I probably won't ever come back. read more

Great deals, I have found a lot of hard to find books in this location. The store is quaint and the staff is extremely knowledgeable and pleasant. I have spent many hours browsing and I always walk out with a book that is in great condition. Bring cash if you're in a hurry. They have to call in the credit / debit cards fyi. read more

Best used bookstore I have been inside. The selection is great, the prices are good, and the owner is extremely helpful. I will be going back often. read more

I went here 2 days ago with about 75 pounds (it was really heavy) & the lady that works there bought some of the books I had (all the 500 page books) I'm so happy I found this place it's like Rainbow in Newark DE & easy to get to on Detroit Transit/SMART read more

What a fabulous bookstore! I could spend days upon days going through the treasures held on the shelves of this tiny used bookstore! I found an amazing book this afternoon: a North Korean stamp catalog compete with full color photos of all of the country's stamps from 1946 through 1998. How on earth did this book end up in a used bookstore in Ferndale, Michigan? Whatever your interest, you just might be surprised at what you may find in this absolutely fantastic shop staffed by a polite, friendly, and intelligent gentleman! read more

Vintage Life Magazines. Good selection of novels. Very quaint. There isn't any room to read but there is a coffee shop next door. They buy books as well, no textbooks though. read more

The only complaint I have about this used bookstore is the price. The selection is nice and the staff is friendly but it's hard for me not to compare to the used bookstore across the street. If you are looking for something smaller though then this one works. Doesn't hurt that it's near a cafe. read more

Independent record stores have the stigma of having stuck-up people running the place that judge you as soon as you walk in the door. I've found that book stores are not this way at all and Library Bookstore is a great example of this. I've been to this place many times and always dealt with the same lady. She's very nice, helpful, and friendly. She's not one of those storekeepers who will try to avoid human contact, but also doesn't hover over your shoulder like the corporate bookstore employees. The store is small, but loaded with books! Almost any category you can think of! While there may be a bit too much romance/sci-fi for my taste, there's some good stuff in here. The books are in pretty good condition. Of course, the prices are a tad higher than you see at other places, but this is to be expected. Suck it up and support a great local business owner. read more

The owner grumbled when I needed to use the bathroom. The male employee said they would discount books if the date the book was received was three years or so. When I brought 22 dollars worth of books to the counter he got very defensive and said that they may have just been brought up from the basement...most of the books they have can be bought new at a major retailer for a couple of dollars more unless you are a picky collector and like first prints and pulp genre paperbacks-hardcovers etc. philosophy and logic and history books can be checked out at the library or purchased at yard sales and flea markets and books sales for much less. read more

This bookstore has none of the charm Ferndale has to offer. This is a cramped bookstore that is poorly organized and has at least one very rude employee. The bookstore itself is long and narrow, with the book categories being noted on handwritten worn paper taped to the shelves. Several categories were wrong and some were split up in different areas. This isn't quaint, it's sloppy. The woman running the register didn't greet any of her customers and never offered to help anyone find anything. I had three books out at one point. The employee (owner?) snapped at me to put the books back that I wasn't buying. At that point I put all ťhe books back. I was with a friend who did purchase some books. The employee tried to overcharge her on five books, ringing them up for five times more than the written price. When we pointed out the price she argued and said she didn't mark the books for that price. The books themselves were overpriced. I didn't see any that were in obviously poor condition. This isn't worth a stop amongst all the great shops in Ferndale. read more

The store seemed to have a nice selection, but I didn't get much chance to look as, after about two minutes of browsing, a woman came and announced that she had decided to close because she wanted to go to a wedding. I had driven a half an hour to try the store out and was looking for a new used bookstore to frequent--luckily, there are a couple of really good ones on Woodward! I had a lot of luck at Classic Books closer to downtown Royal Oak, so the trip wasn't a total loss. I'm not sure that I'd be able to justify going back to Library Bookstore though--who knows if they'd be open! read more

Quirky and packed to the gills, with knowledgeable staff and that great used bookstore smell. Old school in a really good way. Sometimes the prices do seem a bit high, but I'm not an expert. Overall, a favorite stop. read more

Even though times are tough, The Library Bookstore donated a gift certificate to the library's Summer Reading Program. Buy used books! (Or borrow them from the library). read more

Creepy staff, tired stock, cramped space. They've got a great location right on 9 Mile, but that's about all I can say for them.