Great treasure trove of books. She has books on all subjects and reasonable prices. A bibliophile's dream. Very pleasant staff and again books, books and more books. read more

Coming back to this place soon when I have hours to dedicate to sorting through these stacks of books. This place is so charming! read more

Karen Wickliff Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Wow. There are bookstores that look nice, but where I won't find a single book I just have to read. This bookstore was hot. It was dusty. It took a relatively long while just to check out. But I found a whole stack of unique, fascinating books not found elsewhere. Just walking around in here will rekindle a love of learning about all different kinds of subjects. If not prepared merely to browse for hours, it might be good to make a list of specific hard-to-find/old/out of print authors that you'd like to find, in advance. You'll surely find some treasure that way. There is a cafe just out the door and to the left. They have an (albeit extremely tiny) bathroom, outdoor seating, lemonade, chai, etc. read more

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How have I lived in Clintonville for 4 years and just now made it to Karen Wickliff books? It's a treasure trove of books, albeit a slightly messy one (but what good treasure trove isn't?). Used books line the walls, shelves, floor...I was able to find the books I wanted in the slightly organized fiction room, and I was able to find more that I didn't know I needed. If you love half-priced books you'll love this place, but come with patience and kindness, it's a tight squeeze in there but we'll worth it. The owners are so darling and sweet, and make sure you bring cash, it's all they accent. read more

Karen Wickliff Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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You can get lost in here for hours! If you love books definitely visit. The owners are so lovely read more

Karen Wickliff Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Stopped in here and fell in love. If you love good random book finds, this is the place for you! Tons, I mean tons of books everywhere, you will find something good! And the owners were so nice and considerate. Amazing prices as well. So glad I found this bookstore. read more

The CUTEST bookstore!!! The lady that runs this place is so knowledgeable and so sweet. My sister a a huge book lover and I'm so excited to show her this place when she comes to visit me!! It is a cash/check only but they will hold your books up to two weeks. Would definitely recommend this place!! So many books, you can spend hours here. read more

Karen Wickliff Books - Front entrance - Used Bookstore Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I've been dropping in on Karen to peruse her collection for several years. Given, it's been some time, I still hold this to be the best book store in Columbus if one is looking for anything antiquated. It's like an episode of Hoarders inside wherein the acquiring party is actually in the right. I could spend a whole day in here and still find items of interest. I hope this book store never changes (unless she finds more space!). For the veteran book browser who is ok with sifting and digging, it's a gold mine. read more

The other reviews are not joking when they say that you literally walk into pile upon pile upon pile of books. The aisles are super narrow because of this, and there are tons of bookshelves with signage giving you an idea of subjects as you wind your way through the rooms. The staff seem to know where things are and are happy to ask if you need assistance. If you're not into digging through book stacks, there is still a huge selection lined up on bookshelves for browsing. Very intriguing store! read more

I love piles of books. I think "the shelf" is a terrible invention. So Wickliff Books is pretty close to my ideal book store. I don't care if every page in every book is blank. I would browse here for hours just on an aesthetic incentive. Beyond that, you'll find all the usual categories. I looked around the science section for awhile and found a lot of really inexpensive books I'd love to own. Darwin, Darwin and Religion, Religion and Faith, Faith and Science. That bled into philosophy, then over to fiction. As you walk in, there's a display littered with a lot of disparate pamphlets and whatnots. One pamphlet was an illustrated work meant for children to understand about death. Another was about the geology of the Grand Canyon. They all were vintage and interesting. That's where I'd suggest starting. read more

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Karen Wickliff Books can be a confused mess of a place for the uninitiated. The front room is uncomfortably crowded as piles of books fill every open space around a small path to the main book room. Once you are inside and have your bearings, the store is pleasant enough. There are still a few random unordered stacks of books (which is a pet peeve of mine), but by-and-large, the shelves do the work. The selection is average but engrossing. The language section is especially impressive. Make sure you don't miss the unassuming back hallway. Though it looks like an employees-only area, it actually leads to a back room with most of the fiction. Located across the street from Areopagitica Books in Clintonville, this store helps make for a fun used bookstore mini-hop. read more

Karen Wickliff Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I want to thank Amy & Karen for helping me find a book I really wanted to read and buy... I was so excited to hear that this bookstore had what I was looking for... I also appreciate that they wanted to work with me to make sure that I could get my book fast... Wow , I can't believe how helpful and willing to go out of their way to make sure I would be happy.... Both Amy & Karen are amazing and I want to thank you again for going above and beyond to put a smile on my face and in my heart... I can't thank you enough for helping me out... This is a great bookstore.... Please stop by and take a look to see if they have what you are looking for... You never know , they might just have your book... Take care and please stay blessed always... .... read more

This is a great place if you are a bibliophile that enjoys vintage and used books. This may not be the right place for everyone because it doesn't sell new copies of the latest bestseller, but I must admit that I love it here. The store has a loosely followed system of categorization, but there are piles of books on just about every surface and throughout the store letting you make some finds randomly. This is a great spot for vintage, used, antique, out-of-print, and books that have gone out of fashion in the age of mass market paperbacks and Amazon. read more

Finally stopped in here. It's a bit out of my way, but I had a chance and took it. It's the essential book store- a real old-school used book store, stuffed with books. Seriously, they could use twice the space- the shelves are full, and books are stacked all over the place. My clumsy self had to be careful. But there is treasure in those mountains of books. Great choices, and a wide variety of topics. Prices are reasonable, service is friendly, and I can't wait to bring Sweetie here. Baby K... might get buried in an avalanche of books, so she won't be running around in here, but they have lots of kids books and some coloring books. This is the kind of bookstore that should be in every neighborhood, and while Amazon is nice, wandering the aisles of a good bookstore is an amazing experience. read more

The miserly reviews for this store are a disgrace. This is one of the best used bookstores I've been to, and the fact that it's in Columbus, rather than a very large city, makes it all the more of a gem. First, the selection is top notch. Karen's selection abilties are stunning for topics (or languages!) that she doesn't know if excellent. There are extensive sections on topics as diverse as Chinese literature and evolution. Second, the organization is absolutely satisfactory to me. There are many specific sections catering to very specific interests. Of course, used bookstores can never guarantee a specific book or edition, but by topic you can't go wrong. Lastly, and most stunningly, her selection of French, Spanish and especially German books is first rate and sizeable. What a rarity! The closest to this that I know of in the Midwest is Europa Books in Chicago, which has an expensive selection of new books. If you are looking for foreign language books, this is your only option in Columbus. The prices are not rock bottom, but I'm sure you can find that elsewhere. What Karen provides is quality. Good work! read more

This place is Melvil Dewey's--he of the decimal system--idea of absolute hell. It is a place that entropy has finally got order itself on its hands and knees ready to execute the coup de grace. It is a place that spurns the corporate cleanliness and shopability for stacks on the floor and musty book smells. In short: it's my kind of place. Karen has loads of books. In three rooms they are stack against bookshelves, faced on the bookshelves, and lie on top of the shelving units. She has closets filled with books. There are boxes of them, stacks, hardcover, soft. Her register is less a checkout and more of a fort made of books, as if she had to chisel the space out of 'Mount Books' like railroad men had to chisel tunnels in the old days. This just so she has a cubby to enact transactions. To be fair, there is a rhyme and reason to the place, there is orginazition. I would call it a 'controlled chaos.' It has well marked sections: philosophy, fiction, biography, Yadda-Yadda just like any bookstore. You'll find where you need to go if you are jonesing a certain genre. A used book haven, its not the place to go if you specifically need a title. No this is for the hidden gem, to find the surprise novel you never knew you wanted, to buy the ancient textbook, or to hunt for the hard to find. I found a funny old self help book for Newlyweds to help them cope with anxiety, (yep that anxiety.) With chapters such as " how to change positions," it will make a great gag gift. Karen Wickliff is for the reader that like surprises. She also has a case with collector-wanted literature. Kind of like the defunct Apocrypha Books that was once across the street. The atmosphere is low key. With its quiet room, hardwood floors and low lighting it makes me think of a secret library at Hogworth; as if I'd see a short, bespectacled Brit finding a secret spell in Wickliff's weak-spined stacks. As for me, I am on the hunt. Will Karen have the poetry book I am searching for? I went to the section and read each title carefully. Auden, Blake, Coleridge. . . Milton, Nash, Plath. Shoot! No O'Hera anything. The search continues. I could spend days here. read more

An awesome bookstore. If you like old books and hours of literary exploration, this is your place. But a warning, if you are expecting a polished, best selling heavy Barnes and Noble sort of establishment, well.... don't. All of the books are used, and there are piles of literally thousands upon thousand of books. There are shelves too, but the bottoms are generally obstructed by the aforementioned piles. Which can be an issue, but if you're the patient adventurous type, not a problem at all. You get to search for your treasures. They have every kind of book imaginable, all relatively well organized into general sections. A great selection of foreign language books: the HUGE German section especially appeals to me, plus they even usually have a decent amount of Scandinavian titles, which I definitely don't run across every day here in Central Ohio. Additional warnings: They close at 530, or earlier if the worker has to leave. They do NOT accept cards. There is a Chase a couple blocks north, which I had to run to. Personal checks are okay though. read more

If you like books upon books...upon more books, then you'll love this purveyor of knowledge. Ms. Wickliff loves the written word, and her store shows that in abundance. Now, the place may seem a bit...disordered, but her inventory is like a treasure hunt. We found this place by chance, and I was very pleased. I love a nook like this, because no matter where you look, there something interesting peeking out at you. One of the minor problems is that the place only takes checks or cash, but considering some of the finds I made, I wasn't unhappy about my trip to the ATM. The store is listed on the ABE books site, and does do special and mail order. BTW, just an example of the treasures that exist therein; I found a PILE of old "Amazing Stories" mags from 1932-33, in decent condition and wrapped for sale...The had to drag me out:) The place could be a bit more organized, granted, but if you want a nice change from the old Half-Price world, check out this little treasure trove when you swing down to Ohio's state capital:) read more

I remember spending hours at Karen Wickliffe's Books when I was new to town and right down the street from its former location at Hudson and High. Hours of browsing, moving and shifting stacks, blowing off dust, sifting through boxes, and perching on rickety chairs to scan an interesting title. Now, I don't have nearly as much time as I used to. Now that the new location is not-so-new (and the shelves are much as they were at the old shop), it's tougher to find interesting gems. That's me, though. If you love the thrill of the hunt when it comes to books, or taking the time to scour the shelves, this is the place for you. Great to hang out for a few hours if you have the time. read more

I have lived in Clintonville most of my life and I have spent countless hours scouring the shelves at this place. For a book lover this place is a wonderful maze of discovery. The sheer number of books in this space is astonishing. I don't know where she find all of these books but out of all of the used book stores in Columbus this is where you will find the most surprising and unique texts. If you're looking for popular contemporary books or a specific title don't count on just swinging through. If you're down for the hunt and love the smell and feel of old books you've found yourself a real gem! There are books in several other languages, old books, new books, strange children's books, leather bound books, barely used books, a ton of cookbooks, you name it! Keep Karen Wickliff Books alive! read more

Karen Wickliffe book store in Clintonville is the absolute worst bookstore I have ever been to. I will never go there again and I recommend anyone else actually interested in books of any kind to avoid it like the plague. I am amazed that it is able to stay in business considering the fact that it is virtually impossible to find anything and when you do happen to find a book you'd be interested in buying it's not priced and therefore not for sale. They remain stubbornly cash only in an age where almost no one uses cash anymore and books are piled so high in the aisles in boxes that it is IMPOSSIBLE to even see 50% of the books in inventory... many of which I know have been there unsold for at least the last 10 to 20 years. Don't even bother asking to move the books to see those that are hidden because you will be scolded by the rudely unhelpful staff. The owner of this bookstore does not appear to be interested in actually selling books which makes absolutely no sense to me. My experience there today, with the most unhelpful and unfriendly customer service I have EVER had the displeasure to experience, will be the last time I ever lower myself to set foot in that store. As much as I love books and bookstores this is one that I actually hate and get mad at myself for ever want to go into. We lose wonderful book stores like Acorn and the Village Bookshop and yet this insult to book selling remains inexplicably in business. Never again. read more

Was driving through Clintonville with a couple of friends, and we spotted this bookstore...and simply had to stop and go in. Being of the bookish persuasion, all three of us were immediately in heaven -- the store itself isn't massive (sizeable, but not huge), but the sheer number of books stacked, piled, and shelved everywhere is impressive. There IS a fairly accurate labeling system at work, though it's obvious that there are many more books than there is shelving space, which means that a significant number are piled on the floor. Other reviewers have listed this as a negative, but for me it's just part of the charm of a bookstore like this. If you want orderly, easy-to-navigate, and somewhat predictable fare, go to Half Price Books (which is also fabulous in its own way), but if you want a great bookstore *experience*, you really can't beat a place like this. As one of my friends put it, "this is what I think of when I think of a used bookstore." You'll sometimes have to dig, and you'll want to give yourself a lot of time to browse not only the pertinent sections, but the various stacks and piles in front of random and incongruous shelves, but you can come out with some true treasures. As doctoral students in English, one of my friends and I came out with 15 books between us...all of which we can "justify" for "research reasons." But really, we just loved the rare and unexpected books in our respective fields, even if we never wind up using them in any academic way. Tl;dr: Karen Wickliff Books is what the best used bookstores should be: packed full, somewhat disorganized, but replete with the kinds of works you simply won't find in a more organized and mainstream store. You could easily lose a full afternoon here, if not a day. **Fair warning: the one downside is that they are not equipped to take credit or debit, so be sure to bring cash or check!** read more

Karen Wickliff, herself a comely older woman with silver hair, is actually the 800 pound gorilla of the Columbus used book scene. I have shopped at her store--previously further south on high street--since i was fourteen or so years old. She was there for my Kafka binge, religion hunger, history hankerings. People who complain about the overflowing, messy quality of some areas of Wickliff's have been maybe too sullied by the contemporary idea of a store as shiny showcase. This place belongs to the dying class of stores where enthusiasm and desire for the greatest breadth and depth of offerings have overwhelmed the square footage and superceded the goals of posh store design. K Wickliff's invites time-spending, immersion, and curiosity. Also, they are not averse to taking in tattered examples of worthy titles and paying a fair price. Compare this to Half Price Croo...uh, Books--where they will sniff at your jacketless first edition of William James' The Varieties of Religious Experience and rare, creased Allen Ginsberg poetry book (bearded and naked photos), then offer a pitiable sum with the explanation that if these rare classics were but in new shiny condition like the rest of the tripe on their shelves, they would pay more. Not so a at Karen W's: She knows books deeply enough to understand when she's holding one hot volume in her hands. Wickliff's offers a shopping experience that reflects maybe better than any other book store I've visited the deep, patient mind of learning from books. read more

My review of this place is colored slightly by a few negative experiences that I have had with the people working there. They've either been rude or exceptionally unhelpful each time I am in there. The bookstore itself is admittedly overcrowded, which bothers me because I like to sit crosslegged on the ground and look at the book before I choose to get it or not. I've found that a lot of books are quite overpriced, but the prices vary greatly. The main thing when you're shopping here that you have be is graceful. Knocking things over is acknowledged by dirty looks. Ultimately this is a great place to go if you're looking for some particularly old stuff, just be prepared for what awaits you. read more

I love this store! I bought several Christmas gifts including a 1894 Scientific American journal on the New York City Water Supply for my son who studies watershed management. It was such a unique an interesting additional to his collection of books and magazines. The owner is so helpful and kind, she loves her store! read more

It seems like every time I come here, even if it is just to browse, I always buy books! It is a different bookstore every time I come here. That is a good thing, for sure. I hope this place is here for a long time. LOVE LOVE it and I'll keep coming back again. Honestly it seems like it gets more interesting and fun to look around in here every time I stop by. K. Wickliff will be getting my money as long as she has a bookshop. read more

Reading the reviews, you've got basically two types of people here: people who simply love bookstores and then people who are there to buy books. These aren't always the same thing... and while the former will hate my review and think I'm a cheapskate or curmudgeon, the latter will understand and agree. First, the good: KW has an amazing selection. You could literally peruse for hours and still only see half the store. Perusing doesn't mean BUYING, however. Having lived in many big cities and university towns, I know used bookstores and am a fairly good judge on the value of a used book. As such, I have three main problems with this store. First, it's very, very difficult to FIND anything. Stacks of books and unopened boxes block entire shelves of other books; some are marked "two volume set" with its twin nowhere to be seen. After a while, you reach overload and just skim. Second are the prices. Many of the titles here are wildly overpriced, and at times I wonder if the shop is there to store, or to sell, books. For her collectible or rare books, I understand the premium. But, much of the rest could see prices cut in half without being underpriced. Third problem (maybe worst of all) is the staff. To be fair, Karen herself was not in the store on the two occasions I visited, and the staff member both times was not particularly helpful, talked on the phone nonstop, and made irritated faces if I asked for help finding something. She also was not interested in dealing; I offered $4 for a book marked $6, for which they had FIVE copies of the same title, and it was rejected out of hand with an expression that seemed like she was genuinely offended. Despite how this review sounds, I'm no cheapskate, and I understand she's got to make a profit to keep her doors open. But, I'm there to buy books at a fair price, and don't want to pay a premium for kitsch, or nostalgia, or the "cool" factor of an oldworld-style bookstore intentionally out of sync with the times. Anyway, I won't visit the store again. As much as I'd love to support a local business, my limited budget, voracious reading appetite, and desire to deal with a friendly/knowledgeable staff interested in my business, demand I shop elsewhere. read more

Went here one day, while visiting my sister for my nieces first birthday. I happened to wander into it while checking out the Farmer's Market. There are piles of books, some still in boxes. I would help a lot if somebody straightened these books a little better or they moved to a bigger building. I know the 21st century and new technology is making books obsolete, but this place is like a maze of books especially if you are looking for something or want to feel in Alice in a "Wonderland" of books. read more

This place is awesome! The women who own it are very friendly and helpful. This place has exactly what you are looking for and with several different copies. Love this book store! Know that they do not take cards. read more

Lots of old books stuffed everywhere. On the floor, on shelves, all over the place. The books are somewhat unique, but are also much more expensive then comparable book stores. read more

Karen Wickliff Books - Used Bookstore Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Fantastic place. Just ahead of the also fantastic Acorn Bookship, probaby the best bookstore in Columbus. (I do enjoy the Book Loft but, at the end of the day, it's quantity over quality--a good, not great, store.) There are so many gems hidden in this little shop: titles by classic authors that you never see anywhere else, first editions and printings by modern authors at great prices, finds in every single category. It looks small at first, but it's actually quite big, with packed shelved full of surprises. read more

This is a rare and wonderful bookstore!!! I was there today. I hope it remains open through eternity. If I hopefully make it to heaven, I'll try to return to shop there. Chuck read more

If the smell of used books and the sight of stacks of books next to filled bookshelves makes you drool, you'll love this place, and I do. If you like your bookstores bereft of character, there are plenty of chain store locations to visit. My first visit there I ended up buying three paperbacks, but I almost felt as if I should have been paying admission to the store too. Among other things, I found decades old issues of "Amazing Stories", arcane travel books and currently popular authors. It's a bit out of my way, but I'll be a regular at Karen's. read more

Whenever we come to Columbus from Boston to visit my relatives here, my first stop is Karen Wickliff's. Once I've left her store with my usual armful of intellectual treasures, I go see family. They understand. read more

Well, there are some finds here. I could spend hours browsing. Some of the prices are quite reasonable, however some books are priced in an absolutely absurd "what-were-they-thinking?!" manner. For example a book that is not vintage, nor antique, nor discontinued, nor uncommon, yet was priced $5.00 above the retail price on the jacket! For a used copy! Absurd!!!! Also the owner refers to some computerized source when negotiating on prices which by all accounts appears to reflect no earthy market value. I would love to support an local business and buy used but when you are asking more for a used copy of the same edition than I could pay online for a new copy + the cost of shipping, and you still refuse to budge on the price, you have lost a sale, and you appear foolish. read more