A Guide to Local Bookstores

Book Buyers trades store credit (and sometimes cash) for used books of every shape, size and genre, then resells. 600 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. 375-4208, bookbuyers.com.

Bookworks serves triple duty as a bookstore (new releases, best-sellers, local history, kids), coffeehouse and gift shop. 667 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 372-2242, bookworkspg.com.

Carpe Diem Fine Books offers a glorious cache of out-of-print, collectible gems, with a focus on Californian and Western history. 245 Pearl St., Monterey. 643-2754, carpediemfinebooks.com.

Historic downtown Salinas is home to DownTown Book and Sound, which specializes in used local lit and carries CDs and DVDs as well. 222 Main St., Salinas. 435-4636, downtownbookandsound.com.

Friends of the Marina Library holds regular book sales, and also operates an Amazon store where there are a number of textbooks available. Members get 20 percent off. 682-8016, www.friendsofthemarinalibrary.org. To go straight to the online store, bit.ly/friendsofmarinalibrary.

Maybe you just can't seem to beat library late fees. If so, consider buying a book inside the John Steinbeck Library at Friends Corner Book Shop, run by Friends of the Salinas Public Library. There's also a book sale on the lawn the first Saturday of every month from 9:30am-3pm. 350 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. FOSPL.bookshop@gmail.com, friendsofsalinaspl.org.

The Henry Miller Memorial Library houses the legacy of author-artist Henry Miller, specializing in books written by and about him and his contemporaries. It also hosts literary/artistic events, many of which are now happening at the Henry Miller Lab. 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur (Library); 3728 The Barnyard, Suite G-23, Carmel (Lab). 667-2574, henrymiller.org.

The offerings lean heavily toward books by Salinas’ native son, John Steinbeck, at the National Steinbeck Center’s museum store. You can also view exhibits about his life and works. 1 Main St., Salinas. 775-4721, steinbeck.org.

Look no further than Old Capitol Books for a comprehensive selection of gently used, antiquated, out-of-print books, plus cards and artwork by local artists. New ownership as of Aug. 1 means a 50-percent-off sale through Aug. 15. 559 Tyler St., Monterey. 333-0383, oldcapitolbooks.com.

Jean O’Brien bought Old Monterey Book Co. as a retirement gift to herself. The books are high-quality used volumes, antiquarians, and more. 136 Bonifacio Place, Monterey. 372-3111.

River House Books is a quaint, family-owned locale with a wide range of new works hand-picked by the proprietor. 208 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel. 626-2665, riverhousebookscarmel.com.