Reserves & Special Orders

While we pride ourselves on our diverse, wide-ranging inventory,
sometimes we just don’t have that book you’re searching for
(at least not on the day you’re looking for it!)

If we don’t have a title in our possession,
we do offer a couple of options for you: reserves or special orders

Ask us about these options in-store, by phone,
by email, or through the contact form on this site.

For both options, we will call you when your book arrives —
please add us to your contacts so you’ll know it’s us!

We have limited shelf space available for special orders, reserves, and holds, so it’s always MOST appreciated if you can pick up your books promptly after we call you!

Reserves

If you are looking for a used book and don’t mind a bit of waiting, we can reserve any title for you. When a book that has been reserved is brought in on a trade, our inventory system will alert us that the title has been reserved. We will put it aside for you and give you a call to let you know.

The reserve will stay in our system until we get the book - sometimes we get it within a couple days, sometimes it takes years… either way, we’ll call you when someone brings in a copy!

We typically will hold reserved books for a couple of weeks before we move on to the next reserve or put the book back out for sale, but if you need us to hold it longer, just give us a call and let us know.

Special Orders

Sometimes you want a book and you want it ASAP - no relying on chance!
We are also happy to order books especially for you… new, used, out-of-print, whatever you need.

Please remember that trade credit CANNOT be used on special orders, regardless of whether the book is new or used. Unless the title is out-of-print or rare, new books are often cheaper than special-ordering a used copy.

For new books, we place orders to our suppliers twice weekly, and unless the books are back-ordered, we generally receive them in store within 5-10 days. Used books may take a bit longer depending on their availability, rarity, out-of-print status, etc.

As a alternative option for new books, if you like to shop online, Bookshop.org has access to the same new books that we do - and they’ll ship directly to you!

It’s tremendously helpful if you have the following information in mind when you request a special order:

# Book Title & Author
# Do you want new or used?
# If you’re requesting a used book, what condition do you want? (Be specific!)
# Do you have a format preference - hardcover, trade PB, mass market PB?
# If you need a specific edition, what is the ISBN?
# Do you need the book by a certain date?
# Is the book a gift?
# What is the price range or maximum price that you are hoping to spend?
# Do you need multiple copies?
# Do you have any other requirements for the book(s) you want?