IMAGINING TORONTO
Intersections of Literature and Place in the Toronto Region
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A Guide to Toronto Booksellers
Updated 5 August 2007
Please send additions and updates to Amy Lavender Harris at alharris@yorku.ca
You can begin your search for Toronto literature by visiting the Imagining Toronto Library.
* * *
The following guide to Toronto booksellers is arranged by the following source categories:
Book Stores, New and Used
Online Bookstores
Libraries and Archives
Annual Book Sales
Other Sources
| Book Stores, New and Used | ||
 |
A Different Booklist |
|
| Location: |
746 Bathurst Street (north of Bloor) Telephone: 416-538-0889 |
|
| Description: |
"A Different Booklist promotes literature from across the African diaspora, the Caribbean, Asia and Latin America. Our books range from academic materials to an excellent selection of children's literature." |
|
| Comments: |
Regularly hosts literaty events. Ask about Toronto-focused fiction and non-fiction. |
|
| ABC Books |
||
| Location: |
662 Yonge Street (west side, a few blocks south of Bloor). Telephone: 416-967-7654. |
|
| Description: |
General used books. | |
| Comments: |
ABC Books has quite a good selection of more recent Canadian titles in trade paperback, including many Toronto novels. Very reasonably priced. It's a good place to find the Toronto classics (Atwood, Onddatje, Michaels, others) in paperback. I stop in here whenever I'm on my way to Eliot's Bookshop, and almost always buy at least one title. | |
 |
Acadia Art and Rare Books |
|
| Location: |
232 Queen Street East and 29 McCaul Street, Toronto Telephone: 416-364-7638 (Queen); 416-849-4663 (McCaul) |
|
| Description: |
"We buy and sell antiquarian, out-of-print and used books. ... [and have] a great selection of art books, including monographs, photography, architecture and original graphics. Acadia specializes in out-of-print and antiquarian books. Collectors are sure to find a few surprises in our online listings by searching our collection of over 10,000 books, prints, and maps. " |
|
| Comments: |
I haven't been here in years, but recall the store on Queen East as compact, sunny, and filled with beautiful books. |
|
 |
Alexandre Antique Prints, Maps & Books |
|
| Location: |
593 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto Telephone: 416-364-2376 |
|
| Description: |
Founded in 1982, Anexandre described itself as "specialist dealers in 15th to 19th century Prints, Maps and Books" and adds, "We have a large collection of antique maps, city views, and town plans; with an emphasis on North America." |
|
| Comments: |
I've never been there, but expect their collection of Toronto maps and plans would be worth a look. |
|
 |
Another Story Bookshop |
|
| Location: |
315 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto Telephone: 416-462-1104 |
|
| Description: |
"Another Story Bookshop is a progressive bookstore with a comprehensive collection of books for children and adults with an emphasis on social justice, equity and diversity." |
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| Comments: |
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| Abelard Books | ||
| Location: |
519 Queen Street West (south side, just west of Spadina), Toronto. Telephone: 416-504-2665 |
|
| Description: |
"We are a relatively large second-hand bookshop with a general stock of literature and non-fiction - history, biography, art, science, music, travel, etc. Our main areas of specialisation are: philosophy, theology, church history, Greek and Latin classics, medieval literature and history, and archaeology. In these specialty fields, we also offer a selection of rare and early-printed books." Established in 1977. | |
| Comments: |
[Update (November 2006): Abelard is reportedly in the process of moving from its Queen Street West location.] An archetypal used bookstore with hardwood floors that creak, deep leather chairs, and staff who are polite but aloof. A good browsing spot, especially for art and philosophy titles. | |
| Aleph Bet Judaica |
||
| Location: |
3453 Bathurst Street, Toronto. Telephone: 416-781-2133 |
|
| Description: |
Judaica and a considerable stock of books. |
|
| Comments: |
I haven't been into Aleph Bet, but it looks intriguing. |
|
 |
Annex Books | |
| Location: |
1083 Bathurst Street, Toronto. Telephone: 416-537-1852. | |
| Description: |
"Specializing in Canadian literature, poetry, art, and modern first editions, we also stock a wide variety of general interest titles on topics ranging from Canadian and international history, health and psychology, philosophy and religion, travel, the media, contemporary theory, and more." | |
| Comments: |
Update (November 2006): Annex Books is reportedly moving to an online and by-appointment format only, but will continue to have one of Toronto's best selections of local and Canadian literature and poetry. |
|
 |
Atticus Books | |
| Location: |
84 Harbord Street (just west of Spadina), Toronto. Telephone: 416-922-6045 |
|
| Description: |
"Scholarly and antiquarian books" | |
| Comments: |
Toronto's best source of scholarly titles, especially in philosophy and literary criticism. (Virtually all other humanities and social science fields are also eminently represented). | |
 |
Babel Books and Music | |
| Location: |
123 Ossington (east side, just north of Queen) | |
| Description: |
Opened in 2005; mix of books and music. | |
| Comments: |
For a small store, Babel has a surprisingly good selection of Toronto literature and poetry, both current and out-of-print. The staff seem knowledgeable, too. | |
| Balfour Books | ||
| Location: |
601 College Street (south side, just west of Clinton), Toronto. Telephone: 416-531-9911 |
|
| Description: |
"With its whirring ceiling fans and wooden shelves, this shop boasts an appealing old-world atmosphere. One of the last general-interest used bookstores, it stocks almost 20,000 titles; specialties include opera, cooking, art, photography and children’s literature." (Toronto Life) |
|
| Comments |
I don't find myself at Balfour too often anymore because it isn't on my travel routes, but it has a decent selection of Canadian literature (which would include quite a few Toronto titles), and is also a good source for poetry, drama, and philosophy, among other fields. |
|
 |
Bakka-Phoenix Science Fiction Bookstore |
|
| Location: |
697 Queen Street West, Toronto. Telephone: 416-963-9993 | |
| Description: |
" BakkaPhoenix is Canada's premiere bookstore specialising in science fiction and fantasy books and magazines. Established in 1972, it is also one of the country's oldest independent bookstores." | |
| Comments: |
Has Toronto's best selection of new science fiction and fantasy and a good selection of used sci-fi books. |
|
 |
(the) Beguiling Comic Book/Art Shop |
|
| Location: |
601 Markham Street (south side, at Bloor), Toronto Telephone: 416-533-9168 |
|
| Description: |
" Founded in 1987, The Beguiling has set a new standard in Canada for retailing comics and related culture. Showcasing the largest selection of alternative, underground and avant-garde graphic story telling in the country, The Beguiling has a worldwide reputation for excellence. Among the many accolades afforded the store, the most prestigious was the first-ever Eisner Spirit of Retailing Award for excellence in retailing. The Beguiling has also sponsored many book signings, conventions and poetry/prose readings with legendary and current comics creators such as Robert Crumb, Harlan Ellison, Neil Gaiman, and others." |
|
| Comments: |
Toronto's best source for graphic novels. |
|
 |
Ben McNally Books | |
| Location: |
366 Bay Street, Toronto (between Adelaide and Richmond). Opening in the summer of 2007 |
|
| Description: |
The Globe & Mail reports that the new store will sell quality new fiction and non-fiction. |
|
| Comments: |
Ben McNally is a longstanding and well-regarded fixture in the Toronto book trade. A regular contributor to Harbourfront literary events and speaker on book publishing and selling (and until 2006 the long-time manager of Nicholas Hoare Books), McNally knows his books. I look forward to the opening. |
|
| BMV Books |
||
| Location: |
Newest location: 471 Bloor Street (south side, between Spadina and Bathurst); other locations at 10 Edward Street and 2289 Yonge Street. |
|
| Description: |
Wide variety of used books and new remaindered books. | |
| Comments: |
There has been grumbling about corporatization in the used book market, but BMV's got a good thing going at its Bloor Street West (Annex) location, with 15,000 square feet of used books in a bright, adequately well organized space, and the biggest selection of used science fiction in the city (Bakka-Phoenix is still the best source for new sci-fi). There is a section of Toronto non-fiction at the back of the second floor, and some Toronto literature sprinkled elsewhere in the store. |
|
| Book City | ||
| Location: |
Five locations across the city. (2350 Bloor Street West, in the Bloor West Village; 501 Bloor Street West, in the Annex; 663 Yonge, just south of Bloor; 348 Danforth; 1950 Queen Street East, in the Beaches) | |
| Description: |
"Toronto's Leading Independent BookStore - Comfortable, Classy and Cheap" Established in 1976. | |
| Comments: |
A Toronto institution, Book City remains Toronto's most successful independent seller of new and remaindered books. Its selection is large and eclectic, and you can almost always get autographed copies of recently published titles. I visit the Bloor West Book City weekly (and the Annex store monthly) and find the store my favourite place to scope out remaindered titles. My only (persistent, decade-long) complaint: would-be-writer staff who are too busy adjusting their black turtlenecks to assist customers. I love almost everything else about Book City. | |
 |
(the) Book Exchange | |
| Location: |
3111 Dundas Street West (south side, between Clendennan and Quebec), Toronto. Telephone: 416-604-9270. | |
| Description: |
"Good Deals on Books in All Categories! Fiction, Literature, Canadiana, The Arts, Photography, Crafts, Cooking, Gardening, Science, Reference, Religion, Travel, History, Health and Children's Books!" | |
| Comments: |
Another source for new and used books in the Junction. (see also Pandemonium) | |
| (the) Book Mark |
||
| Location: |
2964 Bloor Street West, in Etobicoke's Kingsway neighbourhood Telephone: 416-233-2191 |
|
| Description: |
Independent seller of new books. |
|
| Comments: |
A long-standing independent book seller. |
|
| Burke's Bookstore | ||
| Location: | ||
| Description: | ||
| Comments: | ||
| Burke's Bookstore | ||
| Location: | ||
| Chapters/Indigo | ||
| Location: |
Various shopping malls around Toronto; several prominent downtown locations, including the Eaton Centre, the Manulife Centre at Bay and Bloor, Yonge and Eglinton, and Bloor and Runnymede. | |
| Description: |
Canada's largest corporate book retailer, established in 1996. | |
| Comments: |
Chapters/Indigo is often blamed (fairly or unfairly) for decimating Canada's independent book trade and publishing industry. Its stores do tend to be of the 'big box' variety, and sell a large but relatively limited selection of titles, with emphasis on block-busters and best-sellers. In its favour, Chapters/Indigo stores do tend to have large poetry, drama, and biography sections, and (perhaps by way of a self-fulfilling prophesy) sell many remaindered titles for less than $10. The Chapters at Bloor and Runnymede, located in an old theatre, is spectacularly beautiful to walk through. | |
 |
Circus Books |
|
| Location: |
253 Gerrard Street East, Toronto (just west of Parliament) Telephone: 416-925-6116 |
|
| Description: |
Independent seller of used books and music |
|
| Comments: |
Hosts readings and musical performances |
|
 |
Contact Editions | |
| Location: |
491 Davenport Road (just east of Spadina), Toronto. Telephone: 416-322-0777 |
|
| Description: |
"Specializing in Rare & Used Books on Art, History, Literature & the Humanities" | |
| Comment: |
Contact Editions was located on Mount Pleasant Road for many years, and operated electronically for several years before opening again at its current geographical location. It's a good source for truly rare books. | |
 |
D & E Lake Books and Art |
|
| Location: |
239 King Street East, Toronto Telephone: 416-863-9930 |
|
| Description: |
Rare books, antique maps, antique prints, and modern books on art, architecture, and the decorative arts, with a special focus on early printed books, voyages and travels, Canadiana/Americana, and illustrated books. |
|
| Comment: |
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| David Mason Books | ||
| Location: |
366 Adelaide Street West, LL04, Toronto. Telephone: 416-598-1015 |
|
| Description: |
18th century to modern literature, women's writing, Canadiana and Canadian literature, children's books, pre-1930 travel wriiting, antiquarian books. | |
| Comments: |
David Mason Books used to operate out of a second-floor Queen Street West location. As I remember it, the store was large and light and filled with glass-doored shelves. The store still offers a large on-line inventory as well as selling through its current physical location. Prices tend to be high, reflecting the selection of rare, antiquarian, and first-edition books available. | |
 |
David Mirvish Books/ Books on Art | |
| Location: |
596 Markham Street (just west of Bathurst, near Honest Ed's), Toronto. Telephone: 416-531-9975 | |
| Description: |
"Today our specialty is books related to the visual arts (although we continue to stock many general interest titles). Here you'll find books on art, architecture, design and photography a collection that represents 80% of our inventory and is the foundation of our reputation." | |
| Comments: |
One of Toronto's most prominent independent bookstores (and probably its best art and architecture bookstore). I find myself here at least monthly, and enjoy browsing the large selection of remaindered books (and have found many excellent deals here) and the architecture and planning sections. Local authors often launch and/or speak here, and the store provides gallery space for locally published artists as well. | |
 |
Dencan Books & Magazines |
|
| Location: |
3113 Dundas Street West (south side, at Clendennan) Telephone: 416-763-2302 |
|
| Description: |
Used books; self-described as Toronto's messiest bookstore |
|
| Comments: |
A chaotic warren of books, loosely organized. There's a partial wall of Canadian literature on the left as you enter; the last time I was in I found several out-of-print, small press Toronto titles. A treasure-hunter's gem. |
|
| Eliot's Book Shop | ||
| Location: |
584 Yonge Street (west side, south of Bloor), Toronto Telephone: 416-925-0268 |
|
| Description: |
3 Floors of books. Mostly used. | |
| Comments: |
Eliot's is far and above my favourite used bookstore in Toronto. It is huge, diverse, and generally well-organized. Toronto literature is not separately catalogued here, but the Canadian literature section (on the second floor) is vast and meticulously alphabetized. It's worth going over the titles one-by-one. Eliot's also has an adequate collection of hard-to-find Toronto poetry anthologies and chapbooks. Inventory here appears to move fairly rapidly, so it's worth visiting often. | |
 |
Fertile Ground Business Books and Environmental Bookstore |
|
| Location: |
11 Irwin Avenue, Toronto (west of Yonge, just south of Bloor) Telephone: 416-964-0161 |
|
| Description: |
"Fertile Ground is an independent Canadian bookstore, located in downtown Toronto, devoted to supplying environmental and business literature. We carry a wide range of environmental books." | |
| Comments: |
Fertile Ground has operated since 1974, previously as Evans Bookstore. The store's selection of environmental books is impressive (environmental planning, environmental education, risk, etc.); most (or all) can also be ordered online. |
|
 |
Flying Dragon Bookshop |
|
| Location: |
1721 Bayview Ave., Toronto, Ontario (south of Eglinton) Telephone: 416-481-7721 |
|
| Description: |
Children's / family bookshop |
|
| Comments: |
||
| G.B. Kirk, Bookseller | ||
| Location: |
Electronic bookseller (located in Toronto) | |
| Description: |
Wide range of literature, poetry, religoon and spirituality, native studies, etc. | |
| Comments: |
I have ordered a number of books online from G.B. Kirk, which sells rare and out-of-print Toronto literature as well as more common titles. The books were hand-delivered to my door within hours of my placing the order. | |
| Glad Day Bookshop |
||
| Location: |
598A Yonge Street, Toronto (west side, south of Bloor near Wellesley. Telephone: 416-961-4161 |
|
| Description: |
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans bookstore operating independently since 1970. |
|
| Comments: |
New and hard-to-find GLBT fiction and non-fiction. |
|
| Handy Book Exchange |
||
| Location: |
1762 Avenue Road, Toronto. Telephone: 416-781-4139 |
|
| Description: |
||
| Comments: |
||
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Hugh Anson-Cartwright Fine Books, Maps & Prints |
|
| Location: |
(by appointment) 704 Spadina Avenue, Toronto Telephone: 416-979-2441 |
|
| Description: |
"We issue lists in many subject areas including: Canadiana, Arctic, Literature, Canadian Art, Voyages and Travels. A small stock of maps and prints is on display. We maintain a stock of fine leatherbound books." |
|
| Comments: |
||
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Monkey's Paw (the) |
|
| Location: |
1229 Dundas Street West (between Dovercourt and Ossington) |
|
| Description: |
"Toronto's most idiosyncratic secondhand bookshop, specializing in uncommon scholarly and out-of-print books; ephemera & images; manual typewriters; biological specimens. |
|
| Comments: |
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| Nicholas Hoare Books | ||
| Location: |
45 Front Street East (east of Union Station), Toronto. Telephone: 416-777-2665 |
|
| Description: |
Nicholas Hoare, which operates locations in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, describes itself as an elegant purveyor of books, with a bias toward the British. | |
| Comments: |
Nicholas Hoare is indeed an elegant bookstore, selling new titles and many books suitable for giving. It's a very good browsing bookstore. | |
 |
Open City Books |
|
| Location: |
1374 Danfoth Avenue, Toronto (between Greenwood and Coxwell); Telephone: 416-461-8087 | |
| Description: |
Appears to stock a very diverse range of subjects as well as mass market paperbacks and plenty of records/CDs. |
|
| Comments: |
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| Orion Books |
||
| Location: |
544 Yonge Street, Toronto (west side, south of Bloor) |
|
| Description: |
Occult, spirituality, and general bookshop. |
|
| Comments: |
I recall Orion selling some science fiction and fantasy titles. They're worth a look. |
|
 |
Pages Books & Magazines |
|
| Location: |
256 Queen St. West (at John Street, across from City TV), Toronto. Telephone: 416-598-1447 | |
| Description: |
One of Toronto's oldest independent bookstores (since 1979), offering a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction, art, cultural studies, and philosophy titles. | |
| Comments: |
Pages has Toronto's best selection of small press fiction and local poetry titles. It's a hip, downtown bookstore and despite this is still pretty down-to-earth. I have found quite a few Toronto titles here, especially in the small press section. | |
 |
Pandemonium New & Used Books & Discs | |
| Location: |
Location: 2862 Dundas Street West, Toronto. Telephone: 416-769-5257. |
|
| Description: |
New & Used Books & Discs. Quality contemporary literature, philosophy, art, poetry, religion and history, science fiction and mystery. |
|
| Comments: |
Located in the Junction at Dundas and Keele (north side, just west of Keele), this is my local source for used books. It has been a reliable source of Toronto poetry anthologies and chapbooks, although selection varies from month to month. | |
 |
(the) Recycled Book Shop | |
| Location: |
162 McCaul Street (west side, between College and Dundas), Toronto. Telephone: 416-351-0802 | |
| Description: |
"Art, architecture, photo, design, lit, sci-fi/mystery, self-help, spirituality, psychology, poetry, drama, fiction, travel & much much more." | |
| Comments: |
A good used bookstore with a large art books section (a given due to its location close to the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Ontario College of Art and Design). Also carries local titles. |
|
| Seekers Books | ||
| Location: |
509 Bloor Street West (south side, down a few steps, between Spadina and Bathurst). Telephone: 416-925-1982 | |
| Description: |
Wide selection of used books: general topics, specialty in religion and mysticism. | |
| Comments: |
A combination bookstore and headshop, Seekers Books is a good source for esoteric titles. Along the right-hand walls it has a good selection of Canadian literature and poetry, including quite a few local titles. Sections are loosely alphabetized: look around if an author or title seems missing. As a graduate student I used to stop into Seekers regularly on my way to one seedy bar or another late in the evenings (it's open until midnight). | |
 |
She Said Boom! | |
| Location: |
372 College Street (north side, just west of Spadina), and 393 Roncesvalles Avenue. Telephone: (College Street): 416-994-3224; (Roncesvalles): 416-531-6843 |
|
| Description: |
Voted Toronto's best used bookstore and best used record store by Now readers in 2002. A wide selection of titles and discs. Reportedly named after a punk band called the 5th Column. | |
| Comments: |
A good location for general used titles and paperbacks. The College Street location reportedly has a good local poetry selection, although I have to admit not having had much luck here. |
|
 |
Sleuth of Baker Street |
|
| Location: |
1600 Bayview Avenue, Toronto (at Manor Road East) Telephone: 416-483-3111 |
|
| Description: |
"Sleuth of Baker Streets is a bookstore that specializes in mysteries, crime novels, detective fiction, Sherlockiana, spy and thrillers novels ... British, American, Canadian. New, used, out of print. If we haven't got it, we'll find it." |
|
| Comments: |
A great place to sleuth out some of Toronto's prodigious output of mystery and detective fiction. |
|
 |
Steven Temple Books | |
| Location: |
489 Queen Street West (south side, just west of Spadina, 2nd floor), Toronto. Telephone: 416-703-9908. | |
| Description: |
Out of print and rare books. "We specialize in literary first editions of mainly the 19th and 20th centuries. We have one of the largest literary stocks in Canada and one of the world's largest stocks of Canadian literary books. We also have a good stock of select out of print, scarce, and rare non-fiction and antiquarian books in various fields." Established in 1974. | |
| Comments: |
Dusty and creaky but large and well organized. Good source for on-line shopping. | |
| Swipe Books |
||
| Location: |
477 Richmond Street West, Toronto Telephone: 1-800-56-SWIPE |
|
| Description: |
Books on advertising and design |
|
| Comments: |
Toronto Life magazine describes Swipe as "small but well stocked." |
|
| Ten Editions Bookstore | ||
| Location: |
698 Spadina Avenue (west side, between Bloor and Harbord), Toronto. Telephone: 416-964-3803 | |
| Description: |
Used books: Canadian, literary biographies, children's literature, architecture, other fields. | |
| Comments: |
Comfortable and crowded. A good place to browse foor good deals, especially for out-of-print paperbacks and hardcovers. Very large selection of Canadian literature and poetry in the back room; be prepared to climb ladders. |
|
 |
Theatre Books |
|
| Location: |
11 St. Thomas Street, Toronto (West off Bay Street, just south of Bloor Street) Telephone: 416-922-7175 |
|
| Description: |
Books on theatre, film, opera, and dance (as well as on acting, television, creative writing, costume, and so on) |
|
| Comments: |
Open since 1975 and quite comprehensive. |
|
| This Ain't the Rosedale Library |
||
| Location: |
483 Church Street, Toronto. Telephone: 416-929-9912 |
|
| Description: |
"Serving progressive communities for over 20 years: what the mainstream considers offbeat, we consider mainstream. Fiction, gay & lesbian books, reading and author events." |
|
| Comments: |
Progressive bookshop, selling a wide array of titles and specializing in gay and lesbian literature. |
|
 |
Toronto Women's Bookstore |
|
| Location: |
73 Harbord Street, Toronto. Telephone: 416-922-8744 |
|
| Description: |
"We are a non-profit bookstore dedicated to promoting anti-oppression politics and feminist politics. Our mission: To provide books by women writers, especially marginalized women, including women of colour, First Nations women, lesbians, other queer women, working class women, disabled women, Jewish women, and other groups of women." |
|
| Comments: |
Progressive, feminist bookstore specializing in titles by and about women. |
|
 |
Type Books | |
| Location: |
883 Queen Street West (south side, west of Bathurst, across from Trinity-Bellwoods Park). Telephone: 416-366-8973 | |
| Description: |
" An independent bookstore for serious book lovers and more whimsical readers alike." | |
| Comments: |
A rare independent new bookstore, opened in 2006. Beautifully laid out. Large selection of graphic novels. | |
 |
University of Toronto Bookstore | |
| Location: |
Main location 214 College Street (at St. George). Telephone: 416-640-7900 |
|
| Description: |
Purveyor of university textbooks and many scholarly and general titles. Established in 1897. | |
| Comments: |
A beautiful university bookstore in a cathedral-like setting. On the main floor is a very large selection of scholarly and general titles; there's also a good selection of remaindered books in the middle aisles. | |
 |
Webster's Fine Books & Maps |
|
| Location: |
website |
|
| Description: |
"Original antique maps from the 16th-19th century, with an emphasis on North American maps and maps and books on islands." |
|
| Comments: |
||
| World's Biggest Bookstore | ||
| Location: |
20 Edward Street (west off Yonge a few blocks north of Dundas), Toronto. | |
| Description: |
A very large bookstore selling a full range of new books. Owned by the Chapters/Indigo chain. | |
| Comments: |
When it opened in 1980 in a former bowling alley, the World's Biggest apparently really was the world's biggest bookstore. It's still huge, but now resembles a large Chapters/Indigo. It's a good place to find remaindered titles. It also has an impressively large poetry section on the ground floor. |
|
 |
York University Bookstore | |
| Location: |
York Lanes, York University campus, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto. Telephone: 416-736-5024 | |
| Description: |
Full-service university bookstore with a large selection of academic and general titles. | |
| Comments: |
I love the York bookstore most of all for its large (and hopefully increasing) selection of remaindered academic titles, most available for less than $10. The selection seems to change weekly, so there's almost always something new. The bookstore has an excellent array of poetry collections, literature, and literary anthologies, and plenty of literary criticism. | |
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Zoinks! Music and Books |
|
| Location: |
1019 Bloor Street West (between Ossington and Dufferin), Toronto. Telephone: 416-913-8827 |
|
| Description: |
Sells used literature and non-fiction as well as music and DVDs. Small but apparently carefully chosen stock. |
|
| Comments: |
Sounds interesting and well worth a visit. |
|
Online Bookstores
AbeBooks.com
AbeBooks, or the Advanced Book Exchange, is a kind of electronic marketplace for used booksellers. I use Abebooks.com most often for ordering used books I cannot find locally. Its search functions are superior, and it is possible to locate local booksellers fairly easily. I have never had a delivery go awry, although occasionally have been charged extra fees by individual booksellers after placing my order, a practice I find problematic. Delivery charges vary widely among booksellers: it's a good idea to compare these costs before ordering.
Alibris.com
Another good source for used books online; also an electronic marketplace for many hundreds (or thousands) of used booksellers. I haven't used Alibris very often, but have had good success finding books, and have never had an order go missing.
Amazon.ca
I rely on Amazon.ca not only as a source for ordering books, but for confirming publishing details and noting reviews and descriptions of titles. It's a reliable source for ordering on-line and deliveries are usually quick and consistent.
Biblio.com
"45 million used books, textbooks, rare books & out-of-print books." I have used Biblio.com a few times, and have no complaints.
Libraries and Archives
City of Toronto Archives
Location: 255 Spadina Road, north of Bloor, near Davenport. Telephone: 416-397-5000
Access: walk north on Spadina from Dupont subway station.
Description: a suberb archive of materials relating to Toronto.
Toronto Public Library
With 99 branches and more than eleven million items available for borrowing, the Toronto Public Library system is the biggest in Canada. It is also reportedly the most widely used library system in the world. Services and materials are provided in a wide variety of languages. It is easy and free to obtain a library card if you live in Toronto. The TPL maintains a Toronto-focused page called Toronto Arts and Stories (where it is possible to find descriptions of some Toronto literature) and the Historicity: Toronto Then and Now information portal.
Toronto Reference Library
Location: 789 Yonge Street (east side, a short walk north of Bloor). Telephone: 416-395-5577
Description: The Toronto Reference Library is a branch of the Toronto Public Library system, and has a very large collection of reference materials and books available to the public.
Toronto Urban Affairs Library
Location: Metro Hall, 55 John Street. Telephone: 416-397-7241
Description: "While international in scope, it emphasizes 20th century coverage of Canadian material, with in-depth coverage of the Toronto area. Spanning several disciplines and media, the Urban Affairs Library contains more than 90,000 books and government documents, 300 current magazine titles and 195,000 microforms. You'll also find maps, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, videocassettes, community newspapers, online databases and CD-ROM products."
University of Toronto Library
Location: Fort Book, St. George Street (west side, south of Bloor); other locations on the University of Toronto campus.
Description: Very large and comprehensive university library. Browsing and borrowing privileges are generally reserved to University of Toronto students and alumni, and graduate students at other universities with borrowing exchange agreements. Inquire at the Library to find out if you are eligible to obtain privileges.
York University Library
Location: Accessible from Central Square, York University campus, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto.
Telephone: 416-736-5150
Description: Large and comprehensive university library. Borrowing privileges are generally restricted to current students, alumni, and students at other universities with borrowing exchange agreements. Inquire at the Library to find out if you are eligible to obtain borrowing privileges. Researchers may also wish to visit the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections.
Annual Book Sales in Toronto
The colleges of the University of Toronto have absolutely wonderful annual used book sales in the fall. I mark my calendar months ahead and salivate as their dates grow near. It is easy to find incredible deals at these sales, most (or all) of whose proceeds directly benefit the libraries and colleges hosting them. Be prepared to brave large crowds on opening night (a small admission fee is often charged on opening night, but students with ID get in free). Often books are half-priced on the final day of the sale. The selection of books is terrific throughout these sales.
New College Book Sale
Trinity College Book Sale
University College Book Sale
Victoria College Book Sale
Woodsworth College Book Sale
Other Sources
Garage Sales
Garage sales (Saturdays usually, May to October; look for signs on telephone posts or ads in local newspapers) are one of the great untapped markets for books in Toronto. It's always worth stopping and digging around, because mouldy old boxes will very often produce one ot two Toronto titles you simply cannot find anywhere else. New books are often discarded within a few months or a couple of years of publication, so they're the city's cheapest venue for good used books. Frequently I have also found rare (or at least out-of-print) first editions and autographed books. The price? Usually between a quarter and a dollar (only rarely will I pay more than a dollar for a garage sale book). At least half of my very large personal inventory of books has come from garage sales.
Goodwill, Salvation Army, Value Village
I haven't been in any of these second-hand charity stores lately, but always used to be able to find interesting books quite inexpensively. I have noted some price inflation in recent years, but suppose the treasure-hunt experience somewhat makes up for it.
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Last updated 5 August 2007
Copyright © Amy Lavender Harris, 2005-2008
CN Tower image rights belong to Darcy Brown
Last updated 5 August 2007
Copyright © Amy Lavender Harris, 2005-2008
CN Tower image rights belong to Darcy Brown