An online or Yellow Pages search for used book stores in Gaithersburg, Maryland will yield inaccurate and misleading results. First, not all stores listed do, in fact, sell used books. For instance, at Libreria Diamante Bookstore, situated on the corner of N. Summit and E. Diamond in historic Gaithersburg Square, owner Ruby Habercamp stocks her shelves with the classics of Spanish literature as well as many of the latest works published in Spain and Mexico. Although Beyond Comics, “Maryland’s largest and coolest comic book store,” at 490 N. Frederick Ave., does, on rare occasions, buy used collectible comic books, its stable inventory consists of new comics, back issues, trade paperbacks, graphic novels, action figures, statues, cars, toys, and other miscellaneous merchandise associated in one way or another with comics. Next, some used book dealers, although located in Gaithersburg, do not have a publicly accessible storehouse. For example, both Doris Frohnsdorff (who specializes in books with fine bindings and illustrated books for children) and Books from the Crypt (which sells used books in the genres of science fiction, pulp fiction, and comics) have their business addresses listed in the Yellow Pages, although, in fact, all of their business is conducted online.
There are, however, two very good used book stores in Gaithersburg:
Wonder Books (formerly The Book Alcove) is located at 15976 Shady Grove Rd., north-east of the intersection of Shady Grove and Gaither. I’ve driven passed this business hundreds of times without ever discovering its presence, and yet just behind the 7-11 convenience store is a warehouse of over 200,000 books – “something for everybody in the whole family,” boasts owner Chuck Roberts. Wonder Books does not restrict its stock by subject, genre, or publication date. Its policy is to make an offer on all used books that are brought in and to recycle the books that prove themselves to be unmarketable.
Friends of the Library, Montgomery County (which has locations in Rockville and Wheaton, as well as in Gaithersburg), is situated at 604 Quince Orchard Rd., north-west of the intersection of Quince Orchard and Clopper, behind Chevy’s restaurant and next to Magruder’s grocery store. Here, in a show room of 3,000 square feet, you will find shelves stocked with books of all subjects, genres, and date, but a particularly large collection of children’s books. Friends of the Library does not buy used books, but will gladly accept whatever books you might care to give as a tax-deductible contribution. They also sell duplicates and other books that cannot be stocked in the public libraries of Montgomery Country. Most children’s books can be bought here for fifty cents or less, and you will find that 99% of the books are priced below three dollars. There are discounts for bulk purchases, and teachers always receive a 10% discount. All the proceeds help to keep our public libraries open.
