Libraries / Books

Berkeley has a wonderful selection of bookstores. I didn't realize how fortunate we were until I tried looking for an independent bookstore in Long Island.... and found that the closest one to my family was in a toy store 3.8 miles away.. the next two were 13.8 and 21 miles away!

We live Berkeley's Thousand Oaks neighborhood. I found two independent bookstores in our 94707 zip code, and another dozen within 3 miles of our home! That's more bookstores than when I searched the Upper West Side of Manhattan!

Just one of the reasons we love living in Berkeley!

Our favorites? Builder's Booksource (architecture and design), Moe's (I still remember when Moe was in the "Reprint Mint" building on Telegraph... and Moe was smoking his big cigar), Cody's (Telegraph and also 4th Street), and Nolo Press (who published my book "How To Buy A House In California")

How To Buy A House In California Warner, Serkes & Devine 643.12 H83 This is the best selling book I co-authored for Nolo Press. We're now in our 9th Edition.. and have sold about 50,000 copies!         Booksense Independent Bookstores Berkeley has a wonderful selection of bookstores. I didn't realize how fortunate we were until I tried looking for an independent bookstore in Long Island.... and found that the closest one to my family was in a toy store 3.8 miles away.. the next two were 13.8 and 21 miles away!         Footlights Theatrical Bookstore 1322 Solano Avenue Albany CA 510-526-5065         New Pieces Gallery 1605 Solano Avenue Berkeley CA Attractive place         Half Price Books & Magazines 1849 Solano Avenue Berkeley CA 510-526-6080 Always fun to browse         Pegasus Books 1855 Solano Avenue Berkeley CA 510-525-6888 Good selection of magazines, and new and used books and records. The sister store is Pendragon on College Avenue in Rockridge         Collected Thoughts Bookshop 1816 Euclid Avenue Berkeley CA 510-843-1816         Easy Going Travel Bookstore 1385 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley CA 510-843-3533 The best travel bookstore in the East Bay. I ALWAYS buy my travel books here. Friendly folks and an outstanding selection of travel books. Support our local independent book stores         Black Oak Books 1491 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley CA 510-486-0698 One of Berkeley’s more literary independent book stores. Carol met Spaulding Gray there one day when she was buying me a book.         Avenue Books 2904 College Avenue Berkeley CA 510-549-3532 Pleasant, locally owned bookstore. Support Berkeley’s independent bookstores... such as Avenue Books, Cody’s, Lewin’s, Black Oak, and Easy Going         Berkeley Book Stores Berkeley         Dark Carnival Science Fiction 3086 Claremont Avenue Berkeley CA 510-654-7323 Science Fiction and Fantasy - the name says it all         Dave’s International News 2444 Durant Avenue Berkeley CA 510-883-0325 Excellent selection of newspapers and magazines from all over the world. It’s in the ground floor of the Durant parking garage         Moe’s Books 2476 Telegraph Avenue Berkeley CA When I first came to Berkeley, I’d make weekly pilgrimages up to Telegraph Avenue to visit Moe’s Books and Cody’s Books. I still remember Moe... who was a heavy set guy who always smoked a cigar... and reminded me of an uncle I never had. Make the trip yourself, the treat yourself to a Top Dog on Durant, just above Telegraph         University Press Books/Berkeley 2430 Bancroft Way Berkeley CA 510-548-0585         Ned’s Books 2480 Bancroft Way Berkeley CA 510-204-0900 New and Used Textbooks         Cody's Books 2454 Telegraph Avenue Berkeley CA 510-845-7852 When I first came to Berkeley, I’d make weekly pilgrimages up to Telegraph Avenue to visit Moe’s Books and Cody’s Books. I still remember Moe... who was a heavy set guy who always smoked a cigar... and reminded me of an uncle I never had. Make the trip yourself, then treat yourself to a Top Dog on Durant, just above TelegraphCody’s has stores on Telegraph (the flagship) and 4th Street Cody's Telegraph is the largest independent book store in BerkeleyShop locally, think globally         Half Price Books & Magazines 2525 Telegraph Avenue Berkeley CA 510-843-6412 Always fun to browse - stores on Solano and Telegraph         The Library Bookstores 2433 Channing Way Berkeley CA 510-841-5604         Eastwind Books of Berkeley 2066 University Avenue Berkeley CA 510-548-2350 Books of Asia         Other Change Of Hobbit-Fantasy 2020 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley CA 510-848-0413 Fantasy books and magazines (not to be confused with Saul Zaentz’s Fantasy Records, which has produced the remarkable movies Amadeus and The English Patient)         Pegasus Books Downtown 2349 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley CA 510-649-1300 Duplicate Two Pegasus bookstores in Berkeley - Solano and Shattuck, and a sister store Pendragon on College Avenue in Rockridge Duplicate         Barnes & Noble 2352 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley CA 510-644-0861 If you can’t find (or order) what you want from our local, independent bookstores such as Cody’s, Easy Going, Diesel, or Black Oak, consider Barnes & Noble or Borders         Comic Relief 2138 University Avenue Berkeley CA 510-843-5002 Graphic Novels, Comics, Manga, and Comic Strips, Popular and Fringe Culture, Movie/TV, and Art Books.         Books from India 1810 University Avenue Berkeley CA 510-548-4110         The Ross Valley Book Co 3360 Adeline Street Berkeley CA 510-526-6400         Alkebulan Books 1757 Alcatraz Avenue Berkeley CA 510-653-8754         Good Vibrations 2504 San Pablo Avenue Berkeley CA 510-841-8987 Their logo is “Promoting Sexual Health and Pleasure since 1977” and they have a delightful (literally) selection of books and toys (not the Toys R Us variety)         Ecology Center Bookstore 2530 San Pablo Avenue Berkeley CA 510-548-3402 Gardening, Social Justice and Childrens titles         Cody’s Books 1730 Fourth Street Berkeley CA 510-559-9500 When I first came to Berkeley, I’d make weekly pilgrimages up to Telegraph Avenue to visit Moe’s Books and Cody’s Books. I still remember Moe... who was a heavy set guy who always smoked a cigar... and reminded me of an uncle I never had. This is the Cody’s branch in Berkeley’s 4th Street Neighborhood. The flagship store is on Telegraph Avenue. A clean, well lighted, delightful bookstore. Buy books locally - support your local businesses!         Builders Booksource 1817 Fourth Street Berkeley CA 510-845-6874 Everything you want to know about home building and architecture. They have books on design, architecture, real estate, and more.It's one of my favorite bookstores in Berkeley.         Building Education Center 812 Page Street Berkeley CA 510-525-7610 Helps you build it yourself         Nolo Press 950 Parker Street Berkeley CA 510-549-1976 Nolo Press published my book “How To Buy A House In California”, now in it’s 8th Edition! If you buy it directly me from me, though... I make more money! Ira Serkes 800-887-6668 They specialize in Self Help Legal, Nonprofit and Business Titles         Europa Books/Magazines 3229 North Clark Street Chicago IL         Mc Graw Hill 520 North Michigan Avenue Chicago IL         Borders Books & Music 830 North Michigan Avenue Chicago IL         Barnes & Noble 1130 North State Parkway Chicago IL         Crown Books 24 North Wabash Chicago IL         Barbara’s Bookstore 1350 North Wells Chicago IL         Sandmeyer’s Bookstore 714 South Dearborn Chicago IL         Savvy Traveller 310 South Michigan Chicago IL         Super Crown 105 South Wabash Chicago IL         Abraham Lincoln Bookstore 357 West Chicago Avenue Chicago IL         Barnes & Noble Bookstore 5604 Bay Emeryville CA 510-547-0905 If you can’t find (or order) what you want from our local, independent bookstores such as Cody’s, Easy Going, Diesel, or Black Oak, consider Barnes & Noble or Borders         Borders Books & Music 5800 Shellmound Street Emeryville CA 510-654-1633 If you can’t find (or order) what you want from our local, independent bookstores such as Cody’s, Easy Going, Diesel, or Black Oak, consider Barnes & Noble or Borders         Boadecias Books 398 Colusa Avenue Kensington CA 510-559-9184 Specialty on lesbian and gay literature, it also has a persistent black and white cat! It's next to Kensington Bistro and across the “circus” (aka traffic circle) from Kensington Circus Pub.Why persistent - I watched the cat repeatedly try to get into the restaurant next door.Also check http://www.Boadeciasbooks.com/         Diesel, A Bookstore 5433 College Avenue Oakland CA 510-653-9965 One of our local, independent bookstores such as Cody’s, Easy Going, Moes, or Black Oak, consider Barnes & Noble or Borders.         Pendragon Books 5560 College Avenue Oakland CA 510-652-6259 Used and new books in Rockridge         2nd Edition 6120 La Salle Avenue Oakland CA 510-339-7315 One of the East Bay’s independent book stores         The Book Tree 6121 La Salle Avenue Oakland CA 510-339-0513         Walden Pond 3316 Grand Avenue Oakland CA 510-832-4438 One of the East Bay’s independent book stores. Shop locally!         Barnes & Noble Bookstore 98 Broadway Oakland CA 510-272-0120 If you can’t find (or order) what you want from our local, independent bookstores such as Cody’s, Easy Going, Diesel, or Black Oak, consider Barnes & Noble or Borders. When in Jack London Square, we do enjoy browsing         Bibliomania 1816 Telegraph Avenue Oakland CA 510-835-5733 Specializing in Social Movements, Modern Literature, Collectible Children’s Books, Military History and Black Studies         Stacey's Books 581 Market Street San Francisco CA 415-421-4687 One of the Bay Area's best book stores, along with Cody's Books and Moe's. Stacey's has an excellent selection of books, with an specialty in business and professional books.         William Stout Architectural Books 804 Montgomery Street San Francisco CA 415-391-6757 Architecture books         Magellan’s 110 West Sola Street Santa Barbara CA 800-962-4943 Travel books and supplies         Wonderful bookstores, and outstanding libraries! Boy, are we fortunate in the East Bay!I borrow lots of books, videos, DVD's and CD's from the Berkeley and Albany Libraries... and you can reserve and renew books on line!The Berkeley Main Library (with new annex) was just reopened and it's a delight to visit when you're downtown.If you belong to the YMCA, park at the adjoining Hinks' Parking Lot weekday mornings, validate your ticket after your workout, and then stop by the library on your way back to the car.         Albany Library 1247 Marin Avenue Albany CA 510-526-3720 Pleasant library and community center with a good DVD & VCR selection. It’s part of the Alameda County Library System. You can reserve books online, they’ll search all the branches and call or email you when they arrive. What a great system! http://www.albanyca.org/communitysvcs.html         Albany Library 1247 Marin Avenue Albany CA 510-526-3720 Pleasant library and community center with a good DVD & VCR selection. It’s part of the Alameda County Library System. You can reserve books online, they’ll search all the branches and call or email you when they arrive. What a great system!         Berkeley Library Claremont Branch 2940 Benvenue Avenue Berkeley CA 510-644-6880 Berkeley has a great library system. The main library is an Art Deco Jewel in downtown Berkeley. This is one of the four branch libraries (Elmwood/Claremont, South, West & North Berkeley)         Tool Lending Library Berkeley CA What a great idea - lend tools out! I once needed a bolt cutter, and kept on asking myself, where am I ever going to borrow a bolt cutter... adn realized from the tool lending library!         Berkeley Library South Branch 1901 Russell Street Berkeley CA 510-644-6860 Berkeley has a great library system. The main library is an Art Deco Jewel in downtown Berkeley. This is one of the four branch libraries (Elmwood/Claremont, South, West & North Berkeley)         Berkeley Library West Branch 1125 University Avenue Berkeley CA 510-644-8595 Berkeley has a great library system. The main library is an Art Deco Jewel in downtown Berkeley. This is one of the four branch libraries (Elmwood/Claremont, South, West & North Berkeley).         Kensington Library 61 Arlington Avenue Kensington CA 510-524-3043         Richmond Public Library Richmond CA 510-620-6555 Richmond Public LIbrary Information         The First Church Of Christ, Scientist Cerny, Susan; Bruce, Anthony 720.97946 F519         There, There - East San Francisco Bay At Your Feet Doss, Margot Patterson 917.946 DOS         The East Bay Out: A Personal Guide To The East Bay Regional Parks Margolin, Malcolm 917.9465 M336e 1988         San Francisco At Your Feet Doss, Margot Patterson 917.9461 D741 1980         The Bay Area At Your Feet Doss, Margot Patterson 917.946 D741b         Jerry Graham's Bay Area Backroads Graham, Jerry & Catherine 917.946 G76j         Jerry Graham's Bay Area Backroads Food And Lodging Guide Graham, Jerry & Catherine 917.946 G76j1 1990         San Francisco Bay Area Livable Neighborhoods Inman, Bradley 643.12 In6L         Michelin Guide California                 Book Crossing A friend of mine told me about this. liked their description from their web site so much I copied it for your reading pleasure. "You've come to a friendly place, and we welcome you to our book-lovers' community. What is BookCrossing, you ask? It's a global book club that crosses time and space. It's a reading group that knows no geographical boundaries. Do you like free books? How about free book clubs?. Well, the books our members leave in the wild are free... but it's the act of freeing books that points to the heart of BookCrossing. Book trading has never been more exciting, more serendipitous, than with BookCrossing. Our goal, simply, is to make the whole world a library. BookCrossing is a book exchange of infinite proportion, the first and only of its kind."         Gialli - English-language mysteries set in Italy My friend Chuck Reese (used to be my supervisor at Chevron) runs this site as a labor of love. If you like mysteries... and Italy... check out his site!         Bargain Hunting In The Bay Area Socolich, Sally Bay Area CA 658.872 B238 1995         The Dog Lover's Companion: Inside Scoop Where To Take Your Dog York, Lyle Bay Area CA 917.946 Y82d 1992         Henry Higby Gutterson : Residential Work In Berkeley Gutterson, Henry Higby Berkeley CA 720.97946 G987h         Berkeley In The '60's [Videorecording] Kitchell, Mark Berkeley CA         The Berkeley Archipelago Lyford, Joseph P. Berkeley CA 979.467 L986b         Berkeley Houses By Julia Morgan Marvin, Betty Berkeley CA 720.973 M822         Exactly Opposite The Golden Gate : Essays On Berkeley's History Mc Ardle, Phil Berkeley CA 979.467 B4555         Berkeley Inside/Out Guide Pitcher, Don & Margolin, Malcolm Berkeley CA 917.9467 P681b         John Galen Howard And The Berkeley Campus Partridge, Loren W Berkeley CA 720.97946 H834p         National Steinbeck Center 1 Main Street Salinas CA 831-796-3833 Consider a visit to the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas if you’re heading to Monterey/Carmel         San Francisco: The Ultimate Guide Delehanty, Randolph San Francisco CA 917.9461 D377s         Golden Gate Park At Your Feet Doss, Margot Patterson San Francisco CA 917.9461 D741g 1978         San Francisco Access Restaurants Wurmer, Richard Saul San Francisco CA         San Francisco Access Sites Wurmer, Richard Saul San Francisco CA 917.9461 W964s         Claremont Creekside Cerny, Susan 720.97946 C561         The Oakland Paramount Stone, Susannah Harri 725.8 St72o         A Living Legacy : Historic Architecture Of The East Bay Wilson, Mark A 720.97946 W695L