I had seen ads in the Boston Globe with the headline “Got Books?” and I thought “Got curious!” … the family and I headed up to Burlington this past weekend to find out what it was all about.
Before we drove there, I did a little research on-line to find out more about this bookstore with the attention-getting “Got Books?” slogan.
Books are 10% of the original price (that’s right, 90% discounted), with a minimum price of $1.00. Audiobooks are $3.50, and there are some new overstocks and remainders that are priced slightly higher, but are still bargains.
The Used Book Superstore is in a strip mall on Cambridge Street, easy to get to from Rtes. 128 and 3A. They’re open Tuesday – Saturday 10-8, and Sunday 10-6; closed on Monday.
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All the books in the store are donated; Got Books doesn’t
buy used books to re-sell. Look at this big purple box that was outside the door (I should have asked one of the kids to stand next to it for perspective, it’s over 6 feet tall!); the store will place a free book collection container at any business that wants to host one, various sizes are available. They offer free pick-up service throughout New England; the collection vans have that fun “Got Books?” logo, too.
When we stepped inside, I was impressed by the size (at 13,000 square feet they claim to be one of the largest used bookstores in Massachusetts), and the organization. Hardcover books are shelved separately from paperbacks, and fiction is shelved separately from non-fiction. Grouped alphabetically or by subject, it’s easy to find what you’re looking for. Or, at least to find where what you’re looking for should be. Not surprisingly, I didn’t find any recently-released books; they get new stock daily, so like any used bookstore it’s fairly hit-or-miss. I did see several near-pristine copies of popular fiction, such as novels by Carol Shields, Anne Tyler and Anita Shreve. I’m pretty particular about the condition of used books I buy, so I was happy to snag a few!
The children’s section is large and open. There’s a small playspace with a chalkboard and a few smaller
tables and chairs for the kids to look at their books while Mom and Dad keep shopping. Board books were in this low divided table, organized into broad categories for popular characters such as Clifford and Blues Clues, themes like holidays and big sister/big brother, and series like Little Golden Books. Kids videos, early readers and chapter books were on the shelves behind the table. My kids chose some great books, including every book in the Beacon Street Girls series for just $1.00 each.
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Of course, when you let my kids loose in a bookstore, they scatter like pins at the end of a bowling lane. As LM4 was crawling under the board book table, J looked at me and said “a little help here?” I smiled and explained that I couldn’t help because I had “research” to do. He rolled his eyes and muttered something about herding cats …
Got Books has another location in Lawrence, Massachusetts, which is open only on Fridays and Saturdays. All money raised at this store benefits charities in the northeast. This page lists several of the non-profit agencies that have benefited from funds earned at the Charity Book Sale, and some of the ways that these agencies have been helped.
Got Books has pledge to send 25,000 books to troops overseas this year. They hold a “Books for Troops”
night on the third Thursday of each month, and invite the public to come in and help fill boxes. If you live in eastern Massachusetts and have a family member or friend serving for the U. S. oversees, you encouraged to contact Got Books about sending a box to your soldier. The store offers discounts to teachers and the members of the military.
I thought we were visiting a used bookstore. It turns out that we were visiting one part (the “for profit” store) of a multi-tiered company. The profits from the store we visited pays for rent, transportation, gas, postage, wages, etc. (the cost of doing business); every penny that comes into the Lawrence store goes to charity. Both stores also help to recycle books in every way possible, rather than send them to a landfill.
I’ll leave you with this overview video from their website:
What do you do with your books when you’re “done” with them? Do you give them to a friend? Goodwill? Library book sale?
Do you have a special bookstore you’d like to share in a Spotlight on Bookstores post. Please contact me to schedule it!
That looks like an interesting store. I don’t mind used books, but like you, I want them to be in good shape. I pass my old books on to family and friends.
That looks like a lot of fun to browse around in!
I usually save my books for my sister. She lives in Costa Rica. Her husband works at a Bible school and they have about 50 percent English language speaking students. So when she’s done with the books they go in the school library so that the students can read them. If I don’t pass them on to her, I give them to my students or soething like that.
This bookstore is heaven. I wish we had something like this where I live. It would be perfect and I would not spend so much on books.
Since my work office is physically located in the University Library, I tend to donate my books to the Friends of the Library. I call and they pick them up. I get to write it off for taxes too if there is a considerable number of books I am donating.
Wow! I think the next time we go to visit my mom and step dad at their Maine house, we will have to make a side trip in to Lowell or Burlington.
I used to send my used books out through PaperBackSwap, but I haven’t lately. I’m not sure what to do with them now.
Kathy – I don’t mind used (in fact, I love a bargain!), but I look for those in great condition.
Amy – what a great way to “recycle” your books! Have you visited them in Costa Rica?
Violet – still, they don’t have EVERYTHING. I may visit the store again, but it won’t be part of my “regular” book scouting. I like all the services they’re involved with.
Ti – I’ve done a little of everything … shared with friends and family, Goodwill, Friends of Library, PBS, half.com. These days I’m doing more of sharing with friends and Goodwill drop off, rather than wait for the dates the Friends are accepting donations, or deal with the Post Office for PBS or half.com
Kylee – If you have time, check it out. We did get some deals, but it wasn’t overwhelming.
I wanna one in my town!
This store sounds like one I could spend A LOT of time in!!!
What books did YOU buy there?
I keep almost all the books I’ve read but sometimes if I wasn’t crazy about it I’ll trade it in at the paperback bookswap at the library. Mostly if I buy a book (once, maybe twice a month) I keep it though. It’s just used books or yard sale finds that make it to the swap.
I want one of those down here!
I would love to visit this bookstore. It looks wonderful.
Hi!
I live in Wilmington, one town over from Burlington, and our town opened its own book store next door to our public library, thus the name The Book Store Next Door. Just as Got Books?, Book Store Next Door accepts donations of books, CDs, videos, etc.; however, it is just a fraction of the size of Got Books? Superstore and open only on Saturdays and Sundays. While I haven’t been in there yet, I heard it’s a nice place. Below is a brief summary about the store:
Book Store Next Door
175 Middlesex Ave
Wilmington, MA 01887
Welcome to the Friends of the Wilmington Memorial Library’s Book Store Next Door! We are right next to the library and are open Saturdays 10 AM – 4 PM. Wilmington’s only bookstore has 3 rooms chock full of good reads for all ages! All profits benefit the Wilmington Memorial Library. Donations of books, CDs, and DVDs in good condition are always welcome.
You can also go to The Book Store Next Door’s blog for more information and recent updates.
At first I was a bit leery of their set-up, feeling that they might be over-emphasizing the charity and eco-green aspects of their for-profit business, but at this point, I’m fine with them. In the past, I have always tried to donate books to local libraries, feeling that it was the “right thing to do”, but I often got the feeling that they were doing ME a big favor: sorry, we don’t want textbooks; we don’t want books that are too old; we don’t want such-and-such subject matter; don’t bring us too many; we can’t take them now–bring them back closer to the book sale, etc. etc. etc.
Got Books will take just about anything other than encyclopedias, and they will take them at any time. And I can find some real bargains in return. As far as I’m concerned, if they can make a thriving business out of this, more power to them.
i was just wondering how old you have to be to work here?