Hidden Gems for Book Lovers in Wichita

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If you’re anything like me, I love to find a good deal on a well-loved book. While modern bookstores are fun to go into occasionally, they lack the personality and heart of a used bookstore. It’s a different environment and feels cozy and like your next favorite book is hiding in a bin under a pile of other books. While you can’t necessarily expect to find a certain title at these stores, it’s more about the search and what you unexpectedly find along the way. There’s so much more than mainstream literature, and it’s refreshing to see what else is out there. Then once you find that book, there’s nothing that beats the feeling of seeing a $3 price tag. On top of the great prices, nothing is left out of their selection of genres. There really is something for everyone to be found at these stores.  

A couple of my favorites in Wichita are Book-A-Holic and ICT Books. I've made many memories at Book-A-Holic, going there with my grandma since I was young. She would take us in and we would browse around for a couple hours. Those are some of my favorite memories with her, and I found some of my favorite books on those trips. I still love going there and usually can’t resist the temptation to get something for myself. They have multiple locations and all of them have a cozy, academia atmosphere. 

Another recent find that I have not been to as often is ICT Books. Its main attraction for me was their bins of books. I spent over an hour digging through the bins with my friend, and we found nostalgic throwbacks and other interesting titles we had never heard of. We also spent a good amount of time combing through their DVD selection. There were many more bins and shelves filled with DVDs of anything you could want. The most appealing part about ICT Books is their low prices. Every item in the store costs only $1.25! As a college student, it’s nice to be able to buy a book without breaking the bank. While its environment is a little less inviting, it feels meant more for rummaging and hunting for unknown treasure! 

Though it’s nice to get a new first-hand book every now and then, the experience and feeling of finding a second-hand book at a used bookstore is invaluable. It feels wrong to go to a new bookstore when there’s a used one the same distance away. I will always enjoy my experiences and the search at these local bookstores and will continue to frequent them!