The three best used bookstores in northern Delaware: Hockessin Bookshelf, The Bookateria, and Manor Used Books

Show me a city without a good used bookstore and I will show you a city without a soul.

Northern Delaware is exceptionally fortunate to have three very different, but outstanding used bookstores that I frequent as often as possible.  Each has its own personality, its own strengths, and its own reasons why I go there.

Unlike many used bookstores,
the Hockessin Bookshelf is always
meticulously clean, well-lit, and
there is adequate space to move
around in.

The Hockessin Bookshelf is the smallest of the three.  It is located at 7179 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin DE 19707 (302) 235-7665.  Its operating hours are 10am-6pm Mon-Sat and 12noon-4pm on Sundays.

While the Bookshelf has a good, if compact selection of science fiction, thrillers, mysteries, and romance novels, it stands out in two particular areas:  classics/non-fiction and the children's section.  Of the three stores the Bookshelf has the most diverse (although not necessarily the largest) children's section, and because of the neighborhood it sees a lot of turnover.  My kids have always found something worthwhile there.  They also boast an outstanding classics/non-fiction section that is particularly strong (listen up, Libertarians) on recently published political hardcovers, from Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter on the right to Michael Moore on the left.  Don't pay full price for these; you will find them here.

Worth a special note is that a number of their customers are apparently pre-readers for publishers, and you can often find early publisher's editions.  They carry some new books at discount as well.

As usual, you get far better prices if you trade in books (only one box at a time accepted, please).  They are careful with your credit (it's computerized, too!), and you get a free book on your birthday.  They will take down your wants and call you when they find your book.

Floor to almost ceiling
is a good description of
the Bookateria shelves.

The Bookateria is in Newark (70 East Cleveland Avenue, Newark DE 19711; 302-737-4933), and is open (I think; call ahead to check) most weekdays from about 11am-6pm.  I believe they are closed on Thursdays.  One of the few weaknesses of the Bookateria is that you cannot find their hours anywhere posted besides the front door.

The Bookateria has long narrow aisles with high shelves:  good collections in particular of science fiction, mysteries, romance, thrillers, literature, history, political science, and general fiction.  My special interest is science fiction, and the holdings there turn over fairly regularly; there are some older paperbacks that have been around forever, but newer books appear and disappear pretty quickly.

It has some books that were obviously traded in by UD students from their classes, but this is not by any means a specialty.  There are some children's books, but this is clearly not a specialty.

The selection is very good, though if you are like me you will find yourself often having to hunker down and slide along the floor, as your favorite author will inevitably end up on the lowest shelf.

There is a large shelf behind the counter of select paperbacks that, due to their rarity or inherent value, sells for more than the usual trade-ins.  Your credit is kept on index cards and carefully marked off each time you visit.  Some of the reviews I have read complain of credit problems, but I have never found this to be the case.  The owner, Debbie Gallo, knows her stock quite well, and it is always good to ask because she can usually find what you are looking for.

Parking is limited.

It's a house full of books, and even though it looks
a little ramshackle on the outside, the treasure is on
the inside.

The largest of the three stores is Manor Used Books (1005 N. Dupont Highway, New Castle DE 19720; 302-322-5584), which is located in an old house.  The hours are 10am-6pm daily.

This is a typical (one might even say stereotypical) used bookstore, with not just shelves of books, but piles of books, comics, DVDs, magazines, and other oddments everywhere.  The shelves wind around through the whole first floor of the building.

The history, political science, and nonfiction sections are very strong (although the owner knows exactly what those hardbacks are worth; you will get a fair price but not a steal), but the true glory of the story (for me, anyway) is nearly entire rooms filled with science fiction, thrillers, mysteries, romance novels, kids' books, and classics.  If you don't see what you want, ask--the owner has more books in the basement or the attic or wherever he keeps the overflow, and can often produce things that are not on the shelves.

If you are just browsing, this can be an intimidating (and dusty!) experience, but well worth it is you have some idea what you are looking for.

Manor Used Books also does a thriving Ebay business.

Credit is kept on note cards, very carefully, and in the last six months they have begun accepting credit and debit cards, which was the major drawback here before.  It is important to note that trades are kept by categories, so if you plan on buying science fiction or classics, you need to trade science fiction or classics to get the best prices.

There is sometimes a temptation to order books online, or to visit Barnes & Noble (ah, for the days of Borders, sigh), but I have learned to my chagrin that you should check one or all of these used bookstores first.  To be honest, I don't always remember to do so.  Last week, in a fit of impatience, I ordered a set of three vintage SF paperbacks on Ebay for what came to nearly $20 (including shipping).  Yesterday I was at Manor Used Books (where I should have been in the first place), and could have picked up perfectly good copies of all three for a total of $6.

 --sound of head banging against the wall--

Last note:  all three of these stores could profit from a much better web presence.