Great selection of used books that are in really good condition, not battered at all and some feel new or pretty new. The store is cute and well organized with clear labels everywhere, and it has a fun, hip college vibe that makes it easy to spend time browsing. There was a small discount section right outside too. Great place to pick up your next read! read more

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Prepare to spend hours in the bookstore. With three levels, this massive used bookstore has a lot to look through. There's a lot of progressive/activism books, but plenty of fiction too! I thought the books were generally well-priced, and the service was helpful and efficient. read more

Truly one of the great used bookstores in the US. I'm adding it to my Yelp used bookstore collection. Staff person/cashier was very helpful to me in looking for some of my rather obscure interests. I was actually able to find some of those obscure items! Books overall are in very good condition, and the inventory is well organized and accessible. They are not super cheap, but priced well within a reasonable range. Autumn Leaves is also remarkable for the depth of their inventory of radical and anarchist nonfiction. For example, they have the biggest collection of Noah Chomsky books that I have ever seen. Will definitely be back! read more

so many awesome options, seating to peruse what you buy before you buy it, and overall just super nice vibe in there. AMAZING philosophy selection, best I've seen in a while. the prices are very fair, not overpriced but not especially cheap either. awesome music too!! love this place, i always make sure to go when im in town and always leave with some great new finds. read more

As a language learner, I appreciate that Autumn Leaves has a dedicated section of books in different languages. Granted, a good portion of those books are dictionaries, but it is still worth a look to see if there's something interesting (or to grab a perfectly good gently used dictionary when starting a new language!). I'm not currently learning Japanese, but there was a Where's Waldo book in Japanese, among some other cute books. They have a pretty decent selections of Spanish compared to other languages (German, for example, was all really old books). This bookstore has a great variety and is huge, so it can be hard to provide a useful review for everyone. They have some very VERY old books (kept in a special case kind of old) up to practically brand new. If you know what you're looking for, you'll probably find something great! In my opinion, the selection of books I was looking for was lacking. Used book stores can be a toss up since curation is more difficult than sourcing new. But I would definitely come again the next time I'm in Ithaca to see what's new! read more

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Help me sort this out...several weeks ago I went in for something by John Stuart Mill and found it(--yes!). I paid with my card but, after I signed the receipt, as I lifted the pen, the receipt curled up and I was unable to hand it to the woman clerk at the register. The woman seemed indifferent as she picked the receipt up, but I actually felt bad because I like handing things to people as opposed to leaving them there to be picked up. I tried to hand her back the pen she had set in front of me to sign the receipt with, but her hand instantly shied away from mine. I was surprised by this, and thought I misread what happened. So, I tried to hand her the pen again, but she clearly pulled her hand away and said, "No, it's fine. Just set it down there." It was clear she was not going to accept the pen from my hand. I set it down on the counter and she put it into a cupful of pens beside the register. Someone please tell me that this woman is a germophobe, and that what I experienced at Autumn Leaves was not a racist microaggression! Yes, she is white, and I am brown. At least Amazon doesn't make me feel unwelcome as it takes my money! read more

An inspiring coworker once told me: "You are the same person day to day except for the people you meet and the books you read." Every person who has changed the world in some meaningful has been a voracious reader. I won't lie. I like Netflix and it's easier to mindlessly binge watch Breaking Bad than engage with Dostoevsky. Reading is hard, blah blah. However, I was compelled...my spirit was pulled into this store to try and find Charles Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis," an autobiographical account of his epic NYC to France flight. So I asked the man working behind the counter if they had it. They don't have an inventory (being a used bookstore and all), but he recommended what sections to peruse through. In the Travel section, I did not find Lindbergh's book -- but I did find a book written on Yosemite which I picked up (for $5!) since I'll be exploring the park in a few weeks and figured that reading up on it may help me appreciate it more. Upstairs was the biography section, along with a neat looking cafe inside the bookstore (as well as a desktop computer where someone was playing some first person shoot video game -- what?!). I didn't find the book I initially came out to find, but walked away with David McCullough's biography of the Wright Brothers. I finished this book in mere days over the extended weekend and couldn't put it down. This used book store is...as the young hip kids (who are not me) may call it: "the bees knees." The reasons are simple: 1) Open layout, intelligently organized -- multiple floors! 2) Helpful staff, a cafe on the 2nd floor...and a desktop computer where you can play video games (what?!) 3) Books are in great condition. Pricing is very fair. I picked up a $30 practically new hardcover book by an award winning author for $15 and my Yosemite book was only $5. It didn't have a price on it, so the cashier offered it for $5. That works! Oh and the book store accept credit cards! Woo hoo. The only suggestion may be to invest time in building an actual inventory of all the titles, but I understand that might not be practical for a used bookstore with as many titles as this one. If you find yourself in Ithaca, love books -- you really need to stop in here! read more

We stopped in last night just for a break from driving home to philly after spending some time in Toronto. The shop is a bit grungy, but i appreciate that from a used book shop. The selections on the shelves were great, and the prices were what i'd expect from a store in a college town. I found a few great books i had been looking for at fair prices and a bunch of great Criterion DVD's too. Frank, possibly the shop owner? was very knowledgeable, helpful a great to talk with. I was bummed the record store closed while was looking for books, so no review for the record shop today. As for the Vegan Cafe; it's really awesome !! the coffee was great, and the fruit bar that i had was awesome !!! The staff were super cool too. I forget the name, but they hosted a singer songwriter "Andrew Alling" who did an awesome performance last night too. I'd totally recommend catching him if you live in town . https://www.andrewalling.com/dates read more

My favorite hangout on the Ithaca Commons. The first rate selection of books drew me in. The peaceful cafe upstairs (which also is the headquarters of the workers center and serves as a meeting space for community groups), and the incredible record store downstairs keeps me coming back. Truly an Ithaca treasure read more

Each Autumn Leaves visit, I have arrived hopeful and left disappointed. It isn't just that I've never found what I'm looking for - that's to be expected in a used book store. It's that I've never found anything I wasn't looking for either - which runs counter to the magic of a used bookstore. I've come to realize this place just doesn't have any magic. :( To be blunt, the space is cluttered with fliers and free newspapers, the lighting is dingy, and the shopkeepers don't smile. The shelves - while well-organized - are dusty. Upstairs, the cafe is cavernous and quiet, but you're greeted with a threatening sign about not bringing in any outside food. Downstairs, the record collection's low ceilings and musty basement smell discourage leisurely browsing. The whole place lacks a certain coziness. I'm grateful for the existence of used book shops, but this one really could use a facelift. read more

Autumn Leaves Books - View from above the cafe. (Can you see the dust?) - Bookstores Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Autumn Leaves Used Bookstore has been on the Commons for many years. Frequented by many students and Ithaca tourists, they always have great stock. I found a Herman Hesse book for $1 ! I think this store has many hidden gems. Check it out!! read more

So cute! Always surprised but the gorgeous things I find here. Bought an older children's book - hardcover - for only 50¢. Couldn't believe my luck. read more

My partner and I were visiting Ithaca for a day, and, knowing Ithaca's reputation for used bookstores, spent a good portion of our day's wanderings perusing different "book barns." We stopped into Autumn Leaves while waiting to eat dinner, and easily spent a good hour browsing through the selection of political science, cultural studies, cultural criticism, and even the Youth Literature sections. We were impressed with the organization of this bookstore compared to some others we'd seen that day, and I also appreciated the bright lighting and ample comfy seating. The store manager was nice and amiable, and we felt comfortable hanging out and reading while we tried to kill time. We didn't even realize there was an upstairs until much later, because the first floor was so absorbing. My partner finally found the Angela Davis book he'd been trying to find all day. I dunno if that speaks to Autumn Leaves' selection or their organization, but either way, we liked it! read more

This is a wonderful used bookstore, one of the best I've been in. Their selection is constantly changing. I've gone in looking for one particular book, not finding it but finding others that I wanted to read. I go back a week later and the first book I was looking for...yeah, they had two copies. It's on the Ithaca Commons, so it's relatively quiet. There is an amazing collection of LP's available downstairs, the entire basement is full of LP's. There is a cafe upstairs (i never used it) and there are still more books up there. The staff is great, very helpful, very knowledgeable. They even have rare, out of print, signed books! read more

Giving less than 5 stars to a used book store is almost sacrilegious for this particular bookworm. But I just did not care for this store! Most used bookstores have friendly proprietors or at least employees who love greeting visitors. We were never greeted here, not even when we passed by on our way out. That wasn't what really incensed me, however. What got me going was the prices. Some paperbacks in good but obviously used condition were priced at $8. I saw nothing for less than $4. I can't imagine what justifies an $8 used paperback. I can buy that for $.25 online. One book had a Goodwill price on the back of $2 and yet this store had marked it up to $6. Look, I get you need to make a profit, but don't insult me! Insulted bookworm gives 2 stars. read more

This is a hippie cafe located on the second floor of a used bookshop on the Ithaca Commons. While they do offer vegan bacon and seitan, their sandwich/panini choices looked really dull and it wasn't clear to me that they could do quality vegan versions of their egg-fish-and-cheese-heavy standards. The cafe is pretty basic. Unfortunately, they don't offer vegan breakfast sandwiches or even the option to substitute tofu for egg in many of their sandwiches and dishes, which seemed surprising to me, given that they do offer seitan and vegan bacon. I did get a vegan cookie from them ($2.70 with tax) which was pretty dry, hard and not terribly tasty. While I enjoy the vibe at this place, it's currently not up to snuff. Add some vegan breakfast sandwiches, veganaise and egg substitutions and I might come back. read more

We stopped in over the weekend. It was our first visit. Autumn Leaves is very clean and well-organized. And they have a reasonably good selection. If the books you read tend to be more academic than popular, you might like the selection even more. Personally, I was pleased to see so many books published by university or other academic presses but didn't purchase any because their social science selection is underwhelming. Also, the prices are decent but not outstanding; they are basically consistent with other used book stores in the area. If you're in Ithaca and looking for discount books but don't want to shop Amazon, Autumn Leaves is worth a try. read more

I really admire multi-use spaces, and Autumn Leaves does well at offering a variety. It not only has a basement vinyl room, Angry Mom Records...see my comprehensive/infatuated love note review of it.., in addition to the main bookstore floor, but also has an upstairs cafe with a great study area & accessible plugs/free wifi, and upstairs meeting space for a workers collective? Rad! I've found some great social studies/critical theory/cultural studies books here at great reasonable prices, and I've only been in 3 times. This place is a gem. read more

This is always my first spot to visit when I'm at Ithaca Commons. They have a fairly well organized selection of a wide variety of books, plus additional "Thrill of the Hunt" specials and discounts in bargain bins. Similar to used bookstores in other communities with a large college presence (e.g., New Paltz, Saratoga Springs), you can find everything from homeopathy to rocket science, music, gardening, etc. Today I found a book for which I had been searching for months having had no luck at larger bookstores (new and used) and even my local libraries. Upstairs holds the cafe and the Biography section, music is downstairs. The staff is on a first-name basis with the local customers, but they don't treat the out-of-town visitors any differently. read more

little gem in Ithaca. This is a great bookstore with new and used books.. They have lots of sales going on too. I think in the second floor they have a little cafe, I never been upstairs but you can see it once you walk inside. In the back they have a child section where you can pick books for your child and also sit down and read to them. Very nice ! read more

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Great place to browse for books. In particular I like their fiction and science-fiction/fantasy sections. I sometimes come across great finds in the poetry section as well (I like a lot of the newer, kind-of-experimental poets, whose books are very hard to find in used -- or new for that matter -- bookstores). They also buy used books, and a couple times of year I bring in a couple boxes to bump up the balance on my in-store credit. They're a bit picky (they want clean copies of authors who are going to sell, and are NOT interested in buying hard cover books). But I haven't paid cash here for a used book for years -- I'm lucky because it seems they particularly like to buy the kind of books I read. Someone else mentioned bad parking -- since the store is on the Commons, it's the same deal as other Commons stores. There are several parking garages within a block or two, which charge sometimes like $1 an hour, and metered on-street parking all around the Commons. Now, if you think you can find your book in less than 15 minutes, you can risk parking in one of the "15 Minute" zones on either side of Green St in front of the Public Library, but don't linger if you do that or you will get a ticket. (These 15 min loading zones are essential if you're bringing them in a couple heavy boxes of books to sell!) read more

Autumn Leaves is my number one favorite thing about Ithaca. As one half of an older couple of two who read constantly, living on a limited budget, owning too many books and a need to continually down-size, the generous buy-back policy keeps us with continually renewed excellent reading material at little cost. Also the half-floor upstairs that provides resources and meeting space for every politically progressive group in Ithaca means that even in horrific historical times like the present we hold a literal space for hopefulness about the world. And there is no more peaceful yet stimulating place to have coffee or tea than the cafe. read more

I have very particular things that I look for in bookstores. Dim lighting. Shelves so overcrowded that the bookseller has resorted to stacking books on the floor. Small isles with bookshelves 12-15 feet high. Little nooks. Large art book sections. I like to feel like an archeologist when i'm in a bookstore. I like having to push aside stacks of books to access more stacks of book. I like stores where books aren't properly labeled so you have to open the book and flip through it, not knowing its subjects or contents. I like bookstores that are dark, mysterious, and romantic. Autumn leaves isn't my type of used bookstore. Its well lit. There is tons of space between isles. The bookshelves never extend beyond eye level. Its clean. The art books section is somewhat limited. Everything was well labeled and in clear view (ie, you don't need to dig for books. I'm big on the digging process). The prices are also on the high side. Autumn Leaves may be perfect for other types of book buyers; those who want a more traditional retail experience. It also sells used records, and has a cafe on the upper level. It just didn't click with my particular preferences. But check it out, judge for yourself, and always support your local bookstores!!! read more

This is purely about selling books because other reviews cover buying books. I huffed it here with 28 of my best books (several pristine hardcovers) to sell, a broad array of both mainstream and unique novels and subjects. He quietly took all my books out of the box and then offered a grand total of $1 for my "pocket US Constitution." I accepted and walked out the door with all my books, and my crisp $1. It was actually a net loss because I had to pay the parking structure. Guess I'll turn to eBay. read more

The store has a moderately good selection of used books. However, do NOT go there to sell your own used books. I took 2 large bags there, and they decided to buy about 5, because they didn't think they could sell the others. Fair enough. I then asked what they would do with the rest. They said that they would sell them for a dollar, by putting them on shelves outside the store. Although they had said they would not be able to sell them (which is why they couldn't buy them from me), they then in the same breath said that they would indeed be selling them. That was lie number one. However, I did not complain, because I feel that it's good for books to have a second life. I went to the story a few days later and saw, on the standard shelves, inside the store, the very books they had said they could not buy them from me, because they would not be able to sell them. And yet, there they were and marked for considerably more than $1.00. That was lie number 2. How do I know the books were mine? Because sometimes, when I need to write something down and have no access to paper, I write it down on the last few (blank) pages of the book I'm reading. And, indeed, there were my notes on the last few pages of the books. I really do not like liars. If you need to sell scholarly books, go to The Bookery in the DeWitt Mall. In addition, there are two other large used book stores on Route 13. The additional benefit is that the owners don't lie. read more

As mentioned in previous reviews, this place is well-lit, well-organized, and has a fairly large selection. However, the selection is not at large as if it could be if the books had been crammed into rows and rows of tightly compacted shelves a la The Strand and other warehouse-style sites. This dilemma presents a used book buyer dialectic on preferred bibliophile environments; maximum stuff at the expense of organization and creature comforts on one end of the spectrum, sparse pickings in an excessively lit and decorated showroom at the other. Autumn Leaves balances this nicely, avoiding the feel of a warehouse but still providing enough light and space to see the books. Further, if you really want the warehouse element, trek downstairs for their extensive used vinyl collection. Great variety, good prices, wonderful hidden treasures among the vast stacks of 45's sold at bulk prices. The cafe upstairs is also very nice; good simple sandwiches, excellent coffee, and comfortable seating. The only thing that prevents my doling out five full stars (and consider this review 4.5 stars, pretty darned good) is the store's hilarious but mildly annoying selection in terms of history, political theory, and other humanities texts. Granted, this is simply an inevitable consequence of drawing on a large college town for cast-off books for inventory, but there's a thoroughly twisted circumstance to be found on these shelves. You'll find a fairly sparse selection of basic historic surveys, academically rigorous cultural studies, and solid reference materials... but shelf upon shelf of communist treatises, anarchist manifestos, Marx/Engels/Trotsky/Lenin biographies, non-violent resistance and public disobedience manuals, etc. The juxtaposition in selection between the mainstream and loony books in these sections is pretty funny, but an impediment to any real reliance on Autumn Leaves for decent books in this genre. Otherwise, though, perfect... and, really, this quirk makes it all the more perfect for the Ithaca Commons. read more

Autumn Leaves is a great book store. You can sell your used books there for cash, they Have a cafe and lounge upstairs for relaxing. They have really good toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and really tasty homemade cookies for cheap. In the basement they have a lot of used records for good deals. Its been there for years and I don't think its going anywhere any time soon. They don't have any parking, there is a loading zone in the back but if your longer then 15 min. they will ticket you! read more

I arrived in town late in the day and discovered many of the stores located on the Commons close up at 6pm. I was delighted to discover this gem was opened until 8pm featuring rows upon rows of reading material. It was easy to pass time and get lost in the wide variety of genres. I didn't visit the cafe upstairs, but it seemed popular. I picked up a great selection of new and classics for a great price. Highly recommend! read more

This bookstore is great! Fair amount of used books and hard to find volumes as well. Their selection is great and their pricing is even better. I've gotten quite a few of hard to find books for such a cheap price here. They have a record shop in the basement and a relaxing café on the second floor. Being the bookworm that I am, I really enjoy my time here at Autumn Leaves. This is one of my favorite places to study without distractions. I always get a lot of things done at their café. This place really is a neighborhood gem! Highly recommended! read more

I spent a lot of time in Autumn Leaves when I was taking classes at Cornell. Their selection looked a LOT like our shelves at home, and it's just a nice place to relax with a drink. read more

My favorite bookstore! It has all the desirable features of a Barnes and Noble (coffee shop, books in good condition, nice shelving and organization) but without the Barnes and Noble part. Their coffee shop sells delicious fair trade organic coffee (not Starbucks), the books are half cover price or less, and they've got lovely hand-painted signs designating sections of expertly chosen history, fiction, philosophy, and other books. But don't let the beautiful space and selection of new titles fool you--they have cases of rare titles, curiosities, and first editions (just look behind the glass doors). It's a great place to hang out in addition to being a source for books. Joe, the owner, passes his vast expertise in rare books, cookbooks, sci-fi, and everything in between on to his staff. They are also generous buyers/traders if you have good titles in good condition. Highly recommended! read more

An excellent selection at pretty good prices. Autumn Leaves is an Ithaca institution. The owner works hard at livin' the legend of the laconic indie bookseller, but that's part of the charm. read more

This bookstore is great for finding quirky, one-of-a-kind books for super cheap prices, but I mostly go here for the cafe upstairs. It's a great area to study without distractions (via the internet), and I love their hot apple cider. read more

This place is wonderful. I love walking in here and going straight to the science fiction section. Such good varieties, and the workers there are pretty helpful too. Used books are the way to go and this place is a perfect example read more

I love the price range of the books in this store. The $1 rack is a great place to go for a battered old paperback classic or two and there are also nice hardcover copies of modern bestsellers for $10 - $15. The salespeople are so nice about helping me hunt down books that they may or may not have in stock, and the record store downstairs is also really cool. They also don't mind if I want to sit down and preview a book before buying, which is great for a used bookstore. The cafe upstairs is also a really cool hidden gem. The selection of food isn't enormously broad, but what there is tastes amazing. The drinks especially are really good, between the odd coffee drinks and the sodas that are available. If you're looking to enjoy an afternoon picking out a few books and reading them in place with a yummy drink, then this is the place to go. read more

I normally will walk out of used bookstores with gads upon gads of books; I don't think I bought anything here. What I did appreciate though, was the upstairs cafe; the coffee is decent and there are plenty of tables, though I don't remember there ever being a crowd. A perfect place to do homework for_real_. The downstairs bookstore is very well organized--great for the student rummaging for required reading--but deals with more slightly used books than anything truly rare. Want a used Barnes & Noble edition of Jane Eyre? Check. Want a not_too_ hard to-find-but-still-unique reprinted British edition with woodcut illustrations? Save your time. Many of the books inside I found way too expensive for their condition, but they do have a few racks outside where I've been tempted by some fascinating titles for a dollar or two. A good mix of titles for the myriad of college students, a nice place to hang out, and Autumn Leaves rates pretty well. read more

Today, I did the unimaginable, I went into a used book store and did not come out with a book. While everything was well lit and well organized, I just didn't see anything that I wanted. read more

They have no computer inventory for any of their books that they have in the store so if you can't find something that's on the shelf (which, by the way are really well organized, by authors last name) then your out of luck, don't expect them to 'look it up' to see if they have in stock a certain book you are looking for, as I was told by the staff that they do not have records of their books to look thru. I could not find any of 6 popular books (non fiction memoirs) that were published in the last 15 years one day that I was ardently looking for so yea that was obviously quite annoying and a negative of the store. On the plus side, it's a ideal 'trading' book store as you can sell some of your used books there for cash or get a credit for books you buy in the store :) Upstairs, they have a cafe and reading lounge upstairs for relaxing, reading and chit chatting that is pretty cool. Fun staff that are friendly, smart and talkative, real reasonable priced books, a great store to waste hours of time in for sure! read more

I love browsing their $1 rack when it's nice outside. Wonderful store.