This is a used bookstore with proceeds going towards the library. It has an amazing selection of books. The books are in sections like a traditional bookstore. The prices are very inexpensive. The sales person was very nice. They greeted at me as soon as I walked in. They were also knowledgeable about the books. The store looks small from the outside, but it is a labyrinth inside that goes to the back of the building. read more

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I am so obsessed with the Book Corner. When I lived in the neighborhood I would pop over to see the cats and grab a $4 book, so a visit here after the Barnes Foundation on a rainy Saturday was just what the Dr ordered. The staff here is fabulous and it gives off the best vibes. You could spend an hour looking through all of the different categories and getting lost in the pages. I appreciate the strange variety and the fact that books range from old to ancient to almost brand new. Always something to discover. The cats are an added bonus and the kind staff the cherry on top. I grabbed a book that had been on my "to read" list for the longest time and am so grateful this gem of an institution exists. Add it to your museum district itinerary with visitors or just go when you need a friend in cat or book form. read more

The Book Corner - Bookstores Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The Book Corner looks small from the outside, but seems to go on and on with a large selection of used books once you step inside. They also have sections for DVDs and CDs. The books are in good condition and well-organized with clearly labeled shelves and sections. The CD section oddly didn't seem to be organized in any way though - not by genre or even in alphabetical order by artist. I found it impossible to find anything I was specifically looking for, and I gave up. If you're looking to just browse though and not find a specific artist, give it a look. I found fewer newer titles here than I typically do in other used bookstores in the city, but that' s likely due to the fact that they get most of their books as cast-offs from the city library system and outright donations. I was initially confused about where to locate the prices on the books, until I came across the sign on the sales floor explaining the system. I wish it was posted more prominently right when you enter to save people the confusion. You can't beat the more than reasonable prices though. The employees are friendly and helpful, and they have a couple bookstores cats, which I love. Definitely worth a visit when you're in the neighborhood! read more

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Favorite used bookshop in the city! The shelves are extremely organized and their books are well priced. They also have shop cats which I love. If you buy their tote bag and bring it with you when you go you get a discount on your total as well. read more

The Book Corner - Shop cat - Bookstores Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I'm so obsessed with this little used book store right around the street from us. They have such a large selection of really decently priced books. You have to hunt for the best ones, but that's definitely a key piece of the experience. The greatest part though, is the two cats who roam the store. They are people (not dog) friendly and are so cute. It adds the perfect cozy vibe to the store. It's otherwise a little bit "run down" in terms of shelves and flooring and dust, but with the amount of books there and the cute cats, who really cares!? read more

Lots of books that are sold at an affordable price. There's also a cat roaming around that was super cute! Will be my go to spot for book when I run out of things to read in my TBR pile read more

Really happy to walk into this store while passing by. The collection is diverse and has a great collection of sci-fi, classics, travel and political books. I would go there again. Books are reasonably priced and well organised. Very friendly vibes with lovely staff. Would highly recommend anybody thinking of calling in to do so, you won't be disappointed. read more

Who can refuse cute chubby cats walking around with you while you're perusing through good conditioned used books all for less than $4?! I cannot believe such a place exists, right besides the main free library of Philadelphia! They are neatly organized, easy to find sections with lots of aisles to go through. Very friendly staff that will point you out if you need to look for a certain book. There are also DVDs and CDs as well for real cheap. Sometimes there is a box of free books outside the shop, feel free to dig through it read more

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I always find something good here and the prices are fair, however when i asked the name of the new grey kitty that was friendly, the employee said we aren't a cat cafe and tried to give me the address of one. Huh? I understand asking people to not pick up the cats, since the cat jumped on the table to say hello to me so its a totally reasonable request. But i come there for books so trying to get me to leave and go to a cat cafe is going too far read more

I love the relaxed atmosphere here. The prices are reasonable and the staff is kind! I almost always find something worth taking home. I noticed some books were out of alphabetical order, but it's otherwise well-organized and easy to find books based on a genre/interest. Not an overwhelming shop compared to other used book stores I've been to, and the cute cat is a plus! read more

This is a really cute thrift book store right behind The Free Library. It is entirely made of donated books that are sold at cheap prices (think 2-3 dollars per book) and all proceeds go to The Free Library. As a bonus there is a resident cat who will accompany you as you peruse the shelves. read more

The Book Corner - Bookstores Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This was thee most pleasant surprise to stumble upon a few weeks back. It's affiliated with The Free Library. It's very unassuming and has an old school schoolhouse vibe. The guy who greeted me (I can't recall his name which pisses me off because I believe in giving credit where credit is due ) but he was super friendly and helpful. He told me that all of the books are donated and the print posters are created and sold at a cost. The books cost $3. It's a pretty neat concept. I enjoyed perusing through the aisles to look at various books by different authors, wasn't looking for anything in particular. I did find a great book on philosophy so I had to buy it. My favorite part was seeing the wall in the back lined with vintage books. I love the smell of older books even when the pages are yellow because they're just so timeless. A page can yellow but the ink won't fade and the words that authors left behind leaves a legacy that's everlasting. Pretty neat idea if you ask me so I would be lying if I said I didn't run my finger across the fabric bound cloth covers and open one of them up to take a whiff of one of them. I'm weird I know, but I just the love the fact that you can read someone's else's thoughts put down on paper. It's magical to me hence why books are so important to me. They also sell DVD's and CD's if I'm not mistaken. I even think they may have Vinyl records. Not 100% sure. I know the Free Library does. I'll be sure to donate some of my books there when I'm done with them:) Highly recommend this place if you just wish to browse or if you actually wish to shop for a book or two. The books available all seemed to be in great condition. Yes they may be used but most of them are like new. Plus the sustainer service was great! At least when I went there. I do wish to mention because after reading the review before mine, the girl mentioned a ramp for those that are handicap. She said they removed the ramp which upset her though I'm happy to say it's back! They didn't "chuck" it as she mentioned. It's very much there and it made fir one if my favorite parts of the store, besides the cutely decorated chalkboard wall. read more

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Decent selection of books and good prices. Really nice staff and cute cats. Convenient location.

If you come here, maybe don't approach the cat. The signs said we could pet it, but when I did, the cat's owner(?) told me to back off and to stop crowding it. She then was asking the cat if it was ok and carried it off away from me, like I had traumatized it. For the record, I stooped down and let the cat approach me. It was purring and rubbing me the whole time. I didn't realize this was a sign of a nervous cat, but after that, I got the feeling I was causing an inconvenience, so I left without buying anything. If you're that nervous about the public being around your cat, then maybe leave it at home. read more

This used to be one of my favorite places in the city. I donated books here to support the Friends of the Library and I loved the massive selection of one,two, and three dollar books. They had a handbuilt ramp to make it accessible to disabled people. I went for near a decade because it was one is only a few used bookstores in Philly that were accessible. They are not anymore. Apparently the Friends felt like the ramp they had was a liability, so they chucked it. But did they replace it? Nope. It's been gone more than a year and there is no plan to resolve the issue. Guess my money doesn't spend as good. Must be why they don't want it.. Shame on them for regressing. Friends of the Library ought to be fully inclusive. read more

This might be one of my favorite places to shop in the city and such a gem. I prefer to buy used books, if possible, and this place is large with a ton of variety. My now-teenage daughter and I love to browse their books and she consistently has found items over the years. We went recently, and I found myself being so happy to just wander and look through their books. Sections are well organized and labeled. There are books, records, prints, CDs, DVDs, cookbooks, etc. Recently I spent $13 on 4-5 books. A few times a year, they have a large sale where they mark down their books even more. Trouble for a book nerd like myself! Love this place! read more

Rude staff. Arbitrary and capricious donation policy with no signage to support it. I've never heard of a nonprofit that refuses to give receipts for donations. read more

I'm a friend of the Library and have been going to the Book Corner every few months for years. I used to really appreciate the place, but the last couple of visits have been abysmal. Do not trust the official closing time of 6pm, as the staff does not respect it! I have found closed doors when arriving at 5:30pm several times, and during my latest visit when I arrived at 5:15 and it was still open, one staff member announced at 5:25 that they would close 20 minutes later (hence, at 5:45) and 5 minutes later another staff member said they were closing immediately (hence, at 5:30). When I politely inquired about the discrepancy, the second staff member had to change her tune, but she proceeded to act unpleasantly -- peremptorily moved my pile of books several times, rudely addressed me, passed between me and the bookcase repeatedly. Behavior that is unacceptable in customer service, and totally unworthy of the Library. Still one star in memory of former visits, and for the quirky collection of books, but that staff member alone warrants a negative note. read more

Every time I visit a new city, I try to make it to at least one bookstore. I can't help it. Some may say it's an addiction. Others merely shake their heads. I say they don't understand. I have lived and breathed books since the dawn of time! Don't judge me! Bookstores have personalities and often present unique perspectives in addition to carrying interesting selections. This one is no different. Not only do they have cats roaming free (how awesome is that?), but also they have different radio shows playing depending on where you are browsing to add an intellectual accent to your book search. Their fiction section is excellent. And their prices are great! $2 for most paperbacks. How can I not fall in love? Cats + cheap, great quality books = match made in heaven. I only wish a store like this were closer to me. Guess I'll just have to visit the city again soon! read more

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I visit the Parkway Central library almost every week and cannot believe it took me so long to check out Book Corner. They had so many books, many of which were in very good condition. I even picked up some books that looked like they had never been opened. I definitely was not expecting to find new titles. I found two Book of the Month books, one of which is only a few months old! For the most part, books are under $3, but some books are a bit higher ($6-$7). I got a practically brand new Book of the Month edition of The Proposal (which was released in October of 2018 and is Reese Witherspoon's current book of the month) for $6 bucks. What a steal! Overall, I'm so glad I finally checked this place out and will definitely be back often! read more

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I visited Philadelphia and usually I like to visit one boon store at every city I go to, and so far this one is my favorite. Their selection isn't too bad and it's pretty cheap with the books ranging from 1-3 dollars depending on what you get. There's also cats in the bookstore which gives it a lot of cool points! read more

The Book Corner is great and well organized. It is open during the day, so if you have a 9-5 job it is hard to go during the week; however, they are open on Saturdays. I just donated books to them, so they requested that you donate early in the day and not an hour before they close. If you have a lot to donate(4 boxes) call ahead for an appointment. I like donating them to because it benefits the free library, which is a great asset to the city of Philadelphia. read more

The Book Corner - For all you visual learners out there. - Bookstores Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Very cool place. I found 3 very old books (circa 1950s-60s, but they had some from the late 1800s - $3), which is exactly what I was looking for! I came within 10 minutes of their closing time and was still warmly greeted (you know how sometimes businesses look at you crazy if you at all show up close to closing, as if you're a huge inconvenience). Found what I was looking for and was able to check-out fairly quickly (save for the slow card reader-- they were really sweet and apologetic about it). I will definitely be back! read more

I've walked by this bookstore several times and can't believe I am just now discovering how wonderful it is. They have a wide selection of books to choose from with excellent prices. I appreciate how organized it is, which makes for easy searching. I didn't have a book in mind when I went in, but found one I'll be gifting a family member for Christmas. The employees take COVID precautions very seriously, which is always a plus when I go anywhere these days. On top of it all, they have cute and friendly kitties roaming around that love to be pet! read more

For used books in Philadelphia, do not overlook this store operated by the Friends of the Free Library (the Free Library's fundraising arm). They have a great pricing system - $3 for hardcover then $1-$2 for paperbacks. That's for ALL the books in the store. In other words, probably one of the least expensive used bookstores in the region, if not the country. This bookstore is of a substantial size, yet the books are well organized. On my most recent visit, I found them stocking a good selection of hardcover books in "almost new" condition. Years ago, the rumor was that Philadelphia Inquirer book reviewers would donate their review copies to this store, so they always seem to have very good condition copies of newly published books. Don't know if that's true, but it's consistent with what I often see on their shelves. Also, I've always found the volunteers who staff the bookstore to be pleasant and helpful. Some of their rarer, more collectible books are offered for sale online, via Amazon.com. I don't believe they have those books readily available in the store for perusal, but if I recall correctly, I was told during a recent visit that they will fetch any title for examination prior to purchase. Oh, and yes, they also have the obligatory book store cat(s). Buy a book, support the Free Library! read more

The Book Corner is a used bookstore tucked behind the main branch of The Free Library of Philadelphia. it is ran by a bunch of volunteers, and is part of The Friends Of The Free Library Philadelphia organization. all of the money that it makes goes towards maintaining the library. so buying books here really does go towards a good call. Because it's so involved with the library it generally brings in a selection that is more diverse than what other used stores normally provide. It also has all kinds of CDs and Movies available for sale. The only problem is that it can be on the small side. But the dedication of the staff and the selection more than makes up for it. read more

What a great, surprisingly huge used bookstore! Plus the sales are crazy awesome. Found books I didn't expect and then ones I wasn't sure they would have, and happy to support the library. The two friendly cats are also awesome (the orange one is so outgoing). read more

The Book Corner - Bookstores Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This place is beautiful with a good selection as well. Friendly, quiet, and accessible. I will be for sure coming back during my next trip to Philadelphia. I am very pleased with The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. Ps I did not see a cat there, but it was a wonderful trip to the bookstore. read more

The store is way bigger than I thought and the books are all very cheap because they only accept donation instead of book trading. The gigantic super friendly orange cat and the small quieter tuxedo cat help add stars to this place lol. This will be my regular bookstore now. read more

I love this bookstore -- the selection is great, the ambience is just the way a bookstore should be (imho) and I feel just as good donating books as buying them. Like so many other kids, the library was my "safe and happy place" growing up, so it feels extra special to patronize this book store. Thanks for being there and for all you do for the Library, and for the city. read more

Great bookstore with great prices. Fiction and judaica section is large. Cat is cute.

Love this cute little bookstore! Never know what gems I will find. My fiancé likes to tag along and pet the cute cats that inhabit the shop. Service is always friendly. I've found some great books here, some that looked brand new. read more

I almost suffered a massive brain aneurysm when I stepped through the door of The Book Corner and started combing the shelves. The side effect of the brain aneurysm (previous to certain death, of course) would have involved me speaking in tongues and throwing all of my money and credit cards at the poor, bookish-looking dude behind the counter and completely tearing the store up Looney-Tunes-Tasmanian-Devil style. Picture it --- Me, spinning wildly between the shelves of used book wonderment --- Ripping hundreds of books off the shelves and then spinning wildly out the door with all of them --- leaving the counter guy bewildered and frightened. I might as well have just done that, because my inner book nerd exploded in that store and I had a mini-freakout when I grabbed books from some of my favorite authors at insanely affordable prices. A.M. Homes! David Sedaris! John Irving! There is no reason to pay $15-$20 for a book at a large chain when you've got The Book Corner. read more

Our family just LOVES The Book Corner! Very gently used books for us all, at a steal! Located on a corner (obviously), behind the main branch of The Free Library Of Philadelphia, diagonal from Whole Foods, sits this lovely little book shop which is volunteer run and where all purchases support The Friends Of The Free Library. My children and I would come here every single week after story-time over at the library. I would let them each pick out a few items for a mere couple of bucks. They have a very nice children's section with books for all ages, up to teens, as well as some DVDs. I personally love the hardback, beautiful coffee table art and travel books. I have quite a collection from here. None over $5 or so. The place is very well organized and there's something for everyone's reading style preference. It's so fun to just browse the shelves! In the day and age of Kindles and such, I'm still a fan of turning the pages of an actual book as well of owning a colorful collection I can re-read year after year. This is a fantastic place to start your collection or add to it! This is a great stop located just off The Parkway for any fan of books. Look out for their annual sale! Oh, and say hi to the friendly house cat! read more

Sweetest little book store ever. Adorable, friendly cars just walk around and go about their business as you peruse the countless genres of books. You can walk through, sections are labeled and find anything you're interested in ready. There are books, tapes, dvds and i believe records. Staff is friendly, place is cool. read more

Pluses: supercheap and an oddball variety of books. Low overhead (books donated, space donated? by the Free Library), low costs. Radically egalitarian: all books are the same price: $1, $3, $4, regardless of status. Minuses: Many sections are in no sort of order: sociology, religion, politics are a chaotic jumble. Books are chronically mis-shelved and the "to be shelved" books are laying around, tempting, but stacked on each other making for difficulty snooping. One of the workers plays painful music on his tinny smartphone making for an unpleasant experience to all but himself, apparently. In sum: Don't expect to find what you're looking for, but you will be pleasantly surprised with all that you do find! read more

It's like the Tardis - this place is bigger on the inside. Rows and rows and tons of books, arranged by topic and (sort of ) then in alphabetical order. Unlike the used bookstores of my current town (I'm looking at you, Strand) this stuff is cheap. $3/$2/$1 for hard covers, paperbacks and other stuff. Stuff you actually want to read. The man behind the counter was very nice, gave some nice recommendations about the area, and was the first person ever to ask me where I was from based on my accent. If I lived in Philly I would be here constantly. read more

This place is deceptively small. I almost willing to swear that it is bigger on the inside, like The TARDIS. You almost need a GPS and hire a Sherpa guide. I kept finding rooms with books in them, I'll have to go back several times to see it all. It is located at 20th and Wood Streets, behind the Free Library of Philadelphia. This store and another on Chestnut Street are run by the Friends of the Free Library. read more

What a fun place to shop! Cute cat! Nice selection! Very helpful staff and so genuine. The man with floppy hair devoted so much time to me that poor guy I felt bad but I needed help picking out gifts in a new store. A lot of sex books, but hey I don't judge! A great supply of kids as adults as well. read more

From the street this does indeed look like a tiny corner bookstore. However, this store is huge and contains and additional two gigantic rooms full of books at great prices. The books are extremely well organized, the store is well lit, with plenty of room to move around, and their selection is fantastic. Sometimes thrift bookstores are full of the obvious discards that nobody wants even as a second hand book. Not this place. It is great. And, how can you beat the prices: Mass market - $2 Paperback - $3 Hardback - $4 Is it possible to experience all that goodness and have your money go to a good cause? Why yes it is. The money raised through the stores supports the Philadelphia Free Library, making any purchase here utterly satisfying. I could gush more about this store but think I will conclude. read more