Reader’s Corner

The atmosphere is one of being well read. The people working here are so nice and well acquainted with all sorts of books and music. The selection was just enough for me, and the space felt home like and comforting. A must attend in Raleigh.

Of the used book stores in Raleigh, this is not the biggest, but it is my favorite. Why? It’s all about the books. There are bigger stores, but they are also about video games and CD’s and toys and other things. This one is just about books. OK, they have managed to stick some DVD’s and LP’s and CD’s in there. But mostly books. If you’re a big fella like me, you’re going to have to suck it in pretty much the whole time you’re inside. The aisles are as narrow as humanly possible just to fit in one more aisle of books. Take your time, look around, and enjoy how the place is decorated with things that they’ve found inside of used books.
UPDATE 12/​13/​2015: I like revisiting my old reviews to make sure that they still reflect my opinion of a business, especially if my old review might be too good for current conditions, or if the business has improved enough to deserve a better rating. I’m really happy to say that Reader’s Corner continues to hold my 5 Star love. I came out with four more beautiful hardcover books for my Personal Study project (who needs a mancave?) This time I brought my shy 9 year old daughter. The staff was so nice to her. They offered to show her the children’s book section, asked if there might be anything she might like to look for since it was clear that she wasn’t at all into my perusal of the Classics section. Take your time and really look carefully; there are diamonds hiding all over the shop.

Great organization and great prices, ⁹⁄₁₀ times will have the books I’m looking for or will help me to locate them.

In the area, on our way to a vacation, we needed some books. Found this place on Unilocal.
Located in the area of NC State, the first great part was the parking lot. The area has loads of businesses, and parking looks tight. Having A nice lot was great.
Inside was a small, but full store. First I set the kids up in the youth aisle, then went to explore. Great prices. Helpful staff. Everyone left with 3 – 4 books.
If I lived local, I’d be here often.

One of my favorite places to be! The staff is very friendly and inviting. The prices are great, but the environment makes you want to stay there for hours. Truly good people run this place. They give to the homeless as well! Makes me not want to shop any where else.

Love this little gem! Great customer service here. Reasonable pricing and surprisingly a vast selection.

I like this place. They’ve got a section outside with books for 10 cents or 25 cents. I found a couple books in this section that was def a steal. I like the wide selection of books they have. They’ve got everything from bibles to Shakespeare to Lord of the Rings, and Twilight. I especially like that they have different editions of a book. You can choose an old shabby one for under 5 bucks or you can choose a brand spankin new one for less than 10. I spent about an hour in here and I’d have to say I really enjoyed it. I love the smell of books, especially old books. They just have such an enticing smell that makes you want to read all of them. I suggest you a lot some time to roam around. It’s like a scavenger hunt.
I bought 8 books for around $ 35. Not bad at all considering 4 of them were pretty much crisp new books that weren’t even touched. They also take trades, so if you have a few books you don’t want you can bring it in and trade for something else that interests you. I love that idea.
This is def a must go to place for book worms. I suggest you try find what you’re looking for here first before hitting up a Barnes or Borders. It’ll save you so much cash that you can then spend elsewhere. :)

Five stars for the prices, the selection, and the unbeatable atmosphere.
They have a section outside with hundreds of books that are 10 cents — 25 cents, and this is by far my favorite section. For under five bucks I walked away with 5 John Grisham titles, a nearly new 50 shades of grey as a gag gift for a friend, and around a half dozen historical fiction novels that my collection has been missing. The books outside are worth looking at.
What blew me away and keeps me coming back to readers corner is the fact that they maintain a very high degree of professionalism while still being friendly. Never once have I gotten a weird look for coming in and asking about esoteric or Pagan books here. I can not say the same for Barnes and noble or even Edward McKay.
If, by the way, you are looking for the above subject, they actually have a decent rotating stock there. I clean them out about every other month and u haven’t seen the same book twice.

Great selection and great prices. All this place needs are a few Cheshire chairs and to serve cognac and sherry. I would never leave! I love Todd! He’s like a light storm on a hot day… much needed wind and rain.

Cool Used Books and Music! Meet the Literate Few! Drew Crew are attracted to a place like this! This IS my kind of place! Decorated with Sketches and Toys the store has as much Charm as it does Books! VAST! On a Rainy Day this place is even more Romantic! «Be Careful you could fall in Love in there»…RodO
Outside Storefront is Lined with Shelves of Books for a small fraction of a Dollar… This place is inspiring and make me think… Like a Cameo Appearance from Director Takashi Miike with the line «Be Careful… You could spend ALL your Money in there!»
Find all kinds of Books! I could start my personal Library, no you may NOT borrow my Books!
Vintage PlayBoy (the Magazines and who knows, maybe some of the patrons too)?

Simply a great book store!
Good prices and selection, along with friendly staff. You’ll find a few gems :)

They have an amazing selection! So many categories at affordable prices. Something for everybody. The staff are very nice and helpful. Pretty much what a used book shop should strive to be, Readers Corner excels at. And I must say the various notes, photos, etc taped at the end of each shelf is really cool to look at. A truly unique place.

One of my favorite places in Raleigh. It has been there since the 70’s.
Great prices, super friendly staff. They tend to carry older, more beat up books (character!) that other bookstores I find turn away.
Easily Raleigh’s best bookstore. When all the Waldenbooks, Booksamillion, Barnes and Noble, Borders have bitten the dust, Readers Corner will still be there, chugging along.

I took my dad visiting from India to this store. He was so thrilled to find the books he was looking for. The staff was very friendly and helped my dad with locating the books. They even recognized him when he visited for the second time and gave a 40% discount. My Dad got three boxes of books.
Most of the old bookstores carry fiction, non-​fiction and comics. But this store is one of the very few, carrying books from different fields of study. Especially, social sciences, philosophy, politics and Marxism. If you are one looking for books in these fields this is your go to book store. You will be surprised as well as thrilled with your findings.

I’m giving it four stars for the customer service! The staff was helpful and I felt they truly cared and wanted me to find what I was looking for. They even pointed me in another book store’s direction when I couldn’t find what I needed. The selection was scarce and many books were outdated, but given the place is small, and crammed full of books as it is, there isn’t much to be done about that!

This review is based entirely on their focus/​selection on academic books in the humanities and social sciences.
This bookshop reminds me of Bart’s in Ojai. I don’t know which one is older, but Bart’s in Ojai like The Reader’s Corner has a selection of books outside the shop to which readers can browse and buy from after the store closes. I like that concept :)
Now, about their selection of academic books in the humanities/​social sciences. Today, I went to take a look at their anthropology, sociology, African studies, Black studies, philosophy, and religion sections. Not bad, though not as good as Nice Price Books in Carrboro. This should be qualified with the following though: apparently, according to one of the shopkeepers there, they have a warehouse for more expensive used books so if you’re looking for a particular book, ask them. They keep an inventory online (you can browse that on the web). So, their physical browsable selection is not as good as Nice Price Books in Carrboro’s, but they may actually have a wider inventory (I don’t know). They didn’t have the two books I was looking for though.

Who can SHOP at a bookstore when it’s closed?
Not anywhere but at the Reader’s Corner. On Sunday as I waved to the guys goodbye as they closed up shop, I begun to poke my nose. The right side of the store (outside) is 10 cents and the left is 25 cents. I know, I know, I didn’t believe it either. Luckily, I walked away with 4 books and payign a whopping buck for them. Nothing makes a happier shopper than great steals.
Some books are a little old, some are the original copies which means if the copy was re-​edited the ones before are the ones sold here. Great little place to come and find some fluffing for your bookshelf.

I once came and tried to get a job here. The man behind the counter laughed and said, «Nah, there are no openings.» He gestured to his older friend. «We’ll probably just work here til we die.»
Lucky dudes.
They get to hang out in a sweet environment of gently used knowledge, classical music, and $ 1 postcards. One of my favorite places in Raleigh, hands down.

When you’re whizzing down Hillsborough, you might miss this eclectic little bookstore tucked back from the main drag. Though it may be small in size, the selection is huge and the prices are outstanding.
The front of the shop (outside) hosts extensive bookshelves packed with unusual books & paperbacks. When the store is closed, make your selections and drop your payment through the slot in the door. (How cool is that!?!)
Excellent fiction section, wonderful coffee-​table books and a nice collection of childrens & young adult books. A fabulous dollar table sits adjacent the counter where I’ve found quite a few treasures!
What I especially love about this bookstore are the owners’ personal touches: pictures, letters, interesting literary documents and just plain funny stuff are posted on the endcaps of all the shelves.
Tip: Pick up a mocha at Cup a Joe and wander the ½ a block to the Reader’s Corner. What a fantastic way to spend an hour or two!

I love this place.
Smells just right.
Great variety of books, some music, magazines, and they support local radio with some of their proceeds.
Ijust don’t get there often enough!