Cincinnati is very lucky to have such a wonderful public library system so that we can all have access to literature and a number of other features. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is an incredible resource in our city and it's important that we support them whenever possible. One easy way to do that, especially if you're an avid reader, is to shop at their used book warehouse. This enormous used bookshop is run by The Friends of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County and it's easily one of the best bookstores in Ohio -- used or not!
Lovingly referred to as The Warehouse, this enormous used bookstore is centrally located in Hartwell. The store is known for its crowd-drawing sales throughout the year, but it is actually open year round and is definitely worth a visit.
The used book warehouse is mainly run by volunteers who are passionate about books, reading, the public library, and the community. Aisles of shelves are stocked with donated books and some that are not used within the libraries. The selection is massive and includes any and everything you can imagine.
If you love books and spending time in bookstores, then you'll love this slice of literary heaven. The books may be used, but they are in great condition and are anxiously waiting for a spot on your nightstand.
The warehouse hosts a few big sales throughout the year, and those are the most popular times to visit, especially for incredible deals. But it's not widely known that the store is actually open throughout the entire year. Its hours are limited, but convenient, and can be found on the website, linked below.
In addition to the many genres of books, the store also has an audio-visual section with DVDs, vinyl, audiobooks, and more. And as far types of books, you'll find every genre of fiction and non-fiction, both older titles, brand new, and bestsellers.
The children's section is also impressive and a great way to build a library for young readers. You can stock up on early readers, picture books, chapter books, and more for a fraction of the cost of a typical bookstore, and all while supporting the public library.
While the lines are not typically out the door on a normal business day at the warehouse, they probably should be. This enormous used bookstore is a hidden gem in the Queen City that has something for everyone!
The volunteers of Friends of the Public Library are very appreciative of the community's support, and you can help by visiting and picking up a few new favorite titles. The libraries do so much to provide for our communities and schools and it's the least we can do to spend time browsing and shopping at this wonderful bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio.
It's easy to lose track of time when inside this enormous used book warehouse, but it's always time well spent. Did you know about this incredible book store that supports our libraries? Tag someone in the comments who would love to shop there with you!
The Friends' Used Bookstore at the Warehouse is located at 8456 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH, 45216. For more information, visit its website and follow along with them on Facebook.
And for another shop that's a book lover's dream, check out our previous article about the one-and-only Ohio Book Store.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!