The Dusty Bookshelf

Best used bookstore ever. Lawrence original.

This place is amazing. I could spend hours browsing the shelves. The prices are incredible — my jaw dropped when I saw how cheap even the hardcover books are. I found it a bit difficult to navigate but that’s only because of the massive selection. I hope this store doesn’t ever see the tragic end so many bookstores face these days.

I would like to publicly thank you for existing. I went to college in Lawrence over a decade ago. I was an English major. This bookstore is the only reason I could afford to eat at the beginning of each semester. The KU bookstore prices were beyond me as a very poor college student paying my own tuition and living expenses. Once I found out that you sold old paperbacks for half the original cover price, I felt like my life was saved. On top of that, I could bring those books in for trade at the end of the semester and usually receive enough credit for the next round of classes. I’ve moved around a lot since then, and now live in Oregon. I have yet to find another bookstore that fills my heart with happy like The Dusty Bookshelf.

Holy awesome when you walk in! Stack on stacks on stacks againat other stacks! Come in on your day off and just rummage through everything its the only way to keep your sanity and not jump from one place to another to another and lose ypur spot haha really great selection of everything!
But the stacks around the counter are off limits and haven’t been processed haha I did that once had to put it back but asked if they’d call me when they did so I get first dibs! Thanks :)

I LOVE this place! This is the stereotypical bookstore, with floor to ceiling shelves, crammed with everything from poetry to textbooks on Soviet Russia. Prices are cheap, the vibe is great… AND there is a cat that snoozes on chairs or generally wanders around. Great place for finding new reads for the true book lover!

on Monday, my husband had the day off and we were trying to think of something to do with our one-​year-​old. I mentioned heading up to Lawrence and he immediately mentioned that we could spend some time in the Dusty Bookshelf.
we were lucky to find a parking spot right across the street. we headed in (me with the stroller) and were greeted warmly. my husband wandered off and I headed over to the children’s section with my son. things aren’t really arranged in too much of an order, but still done nicely and you get a good sense of what’s there. they also had a few toys my son could play with.
after about an hour, we headed out. my husband asked the woman helping us how they are doing in this economy and she told us that last month was their best in her 10+ years of working there. so happy to hear people are really supporting independent book stores. I think we left with 10 different books for around $ 32… the same amount my husband spent for ONE book at B&N last week! (had a gift card to use)
they also sell book cover t-​shirts. I’m coveting a Sylvester and the Magic Pebble shirt for my son, that he’ll probably be ready for by the next time we head in there.

My brother and I are in heaven when we walk in there the smell of books cats and words to be read.

This is what used book stores should be. I loved walking into this place; getting that comforting whiff of gently turned pages, feeling the buzz of words, knowledge, stories in stacks upon stacks. It really does look like it could be a set for a movie, adorable bookstore cat included! The prices are right as well, I got two like-​new hardback classics for under $ 10.

Dusty Bookshelf looks like it came directly out of my dreams. In every book I’ve read that took place in a bookstore, THIS store is EXACTLY how it looks in my head, and I’ve never been to this store before.
This has to be the best bookstore I’ve ever encountered! From the variety, to the prices, to the most adorable, soft, lovely cat, it’s perfection! I wish I had hours… days…weeks to spend just going through their selection.
Hardbacks…$ 2, $ 4, $ 7…great prices! Paperbacks are half price, whether they are 50 years old or 3 years old. The store is vast, with a large selection of many topics. It looks like not only are there books from recent years, I wouldn’t be surprised to find either 1^st edition classics, or other classic out of print novels.
The employees are there to help but just let you browse at your leisure. I couldn’t think of an author I had on my mind from a book over 40 years old, yet the young employee knew what I was talking about and found it directly. Even with my new eReader, I can easily see buying some books here, simply because I love the store so much. 4 books including a hardback and a specialty book, $ 16. What a steal!

This is a bookhunter’s paradise! It’s very easy to see where the namesake comes from. When you walk through the door, you are immediately greeted by the scent of old worn books (one of my top 5 favorite olfactory triggers). If you’re stepping in on a sunny day, be sure to give your eyes a moment to adjust to the dimly lit store (wouldn’t want to trip over any books or feline friends).
Dusty Bookshelf is not a place to go if you’re looking for the latest book on Oprah’s list. I recommend it for anyone that can handle hunting for treasures based merely on some field or genre of interest. It’s easy to become totally lost in the books which overflow the shelves and pile from the floor to the ceiling.
The last time I was here, I found some great vintage books from the 1950s about clothing construction (each for around $ 2 I believe). This is by far my favorite used book store and I would recommend it to any true used book lover/​enthusiast. If only I could find some place like this in Dallas!

This is a serious book lover’s bookstore. And with a cute cat to boot.
The first thing that struck me was the stacks upon stacks of books ready to be filed or put away. With the solemn, tall, dark wood bookshelves that lined each wall, enclosing little sections and the information/​checkout desk in the center, there’s not much more to report about this place. They had every subject under the sun covered, and cozy chairs to forget yourself into.
This is a no nonsense, find-​it-​yourself store that allows you to browse, but the sales help seemed approachable enough if you need any help. Prices were reasonable, for used books in good condition.
Come here with a purpose, or better yet, find a title you’ve never heard of and get comfy in one of their chairs.

Any bookstore with a cat is good with me. The Dusty Bookshelf carries used books, so you can’t always find an exact title, but if you are just looking for a good read or a general topic you will find it here. The staff is very helpful in finding what you are looking for, and browsing the large amount of shelf space is a fun way to pass the time. Their attractive window displays draw me in like a moth to the flame, and change frequently. Meow.