I love stopping into Symposia whenever I am walking around town. They have racks and tables of discount books outside every single day, and you can find lots of best sellers out there, so don't forget to give then a good browse. While they won't have every book under the sun, they have a lot. I'd say I find the particular book that I went in looking for 85% of the time. They also take donations! I always see folks carting in large bags of books, ready for their next life. The staff are always so helpful, the space is cozy and exactly what you'd want your neighborhood bookstore to feel like. Check it out! read more

High quality selection of used books. Well edited. Constant flow of new items Coming in. read more

I bought two DVDs there for $1 each! It was a cute shop and had pretty good selection for it being a second hand store. The ladies who were working were lovely and gave such a great service. read more

Symposia is the bookstore where you might go in to browse and inadvertently interrupt a puppet show or a kids' party or a musical performance or a poetry reading. Hoboken needs Symposia, particularly since that indie bookseller with the weird gleam in his eye on Washington between 7th and 8th is long gone. read more

I've had several wonderful trips and found great books for me and my grandkids and puzzles! It's a great store to browse and there are always surprise finds. The puppet shows here are also excellent. I highly encourage shopping and donating to this treasure. read more

Great spot in hoboken to find an amazing selection of books! Puppet shows are magical!

Symposia has now reopened, but their hours will currently be 12-5 p.m. (seven days/week). Also, they're in need of volunteers at this time.

What a great find! I've gone twice now and have bought a bunch of books on my list for 2 for $8 from the cart at the front of the store. No more buying books from Amazon, I'm coming to symposia from now on! They also purchase books off and give tax write offs as well. What a hidden gem read more

Symposia Community Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

SUPPORT LOCAL BOOK STORES!! The used books here are VERY reasonably priced, none of our books were more than $10, we ended up getting about 6 books for less than $50. The only thing is I wish the books were a bit more organized, but that's the magic of exploring a local shop. read more

Walking into this place was very weird. I love used bookstores and was excited to visit one since there are none in my hometown. However, when I entered the establishment there were only two bookshelves I could access. The rest were blocked off because of a children's play group (or daycare) occurring in the middle of the floor. There was even a changing table right next to the door. I like kids, but that was VERY offputting. Looking at the bookshelves I could get to was difficult, the place was dimly lit and the labels on the shelves were very faded. Hopefully it's a better shopping experience when the place isn't blocked off by toys and full of kids. read more

This place is great - a few tables outside with $5 books, inside is cozy and small and smells just like it should. One book caught my eye (one was The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam - READ IT IMMEDIATELY) and kept my need for paper satiated during my flight back to the bookstore desert of South Florida. read more

I went here looking for a genre and was greeted by the shop keeper asking me if I needed any help. The store had exactly what I was looking for. read more

I found a lot of used books in great condition and price. And staff was very friendly! I will definitely check this place out again.

I stumbled upon this book store when my companions and I were waiting to eat at Stacks (which would be a great name for a book store as well, now that i'm thinking of it). They had an array of fiction and self help out front. Several titles caught my attention. Most books were about $5 and all in good condition. I settled on 2 titles I picked up from the sidewalk display and then went inside to ask about a Burroughs book that I hadn't read yet (might as well get an older book at a cheaper price, right?). The people operating the store were helpful although subdued. I can see why a previous reviewer would perceive them as unfriendly though. I asked if they took cards and they did not, so I had to put back the 2 sidewalk titles. Oh well. Stores like this are pretty rare these days so, can't be too mad about the cash only rule. I paid with the only cash I had on hand and walked out with a new/used book to read. I found exactly what I wanted and I plan to be back to check out the fairly large selection the next time I am in Hoboken. read more

OK place to donate and to pick some inexpensive, not so popular titles. BUT, just so you know...If you donate on a day when the old guy is there, he tries to make you do all the work..i.e. wheel the books to the back room, up a ramp, and then tries to get you to take them all out of the boxes or carts and put them on the table. He wants to just stand there and do nothing. Just best to refuse to do all of his work for him. He's very lazy, very rude and smells of alcohol. Think I'll start taking my books to STRAND. They're much nicer there. read more

Since I have a CD player in my car I love playing CD's and Symposia has a great selection of oldies but goodies. I've been listening to Lauryn Hill's 'miseducation' album for weeks and I love it. It's 2 CDs for a dollar = great deal. Today I picked up Carlos Santana and Annie Lenox. Wonderful variety of books too that are very gently used. And saw great puppet class for kids. read more

Symposia Community Bookstore - Puppet show for kids - Bookstores Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

I think the staff here is volunteer, so they get a pass on seeming uninterested/unknowledgeable. They have a ton of used book and they are normally around $5 or some other equally affordable price. Apparently Tuesday nights the place is closed for yoga... read more

Great used bookstore with clearly organized categories of books. Variation of categories, books at great prices.

Located on 510 Washington St. you will find this gem of a place that takes used books donations and sells mind blowing titles for extremely bargained prices. This is a palace of used books and if you are a book hunting connoisseur you need to make you way out here to view the staggering amazing book collection. The service is beyond excellent and I will look forward to coming here as a repeated customer. The employees here know their books and are willing to go above and beyond. This bookstore is quite the catch so if you have any lingering books that are sitting untouched bring them over here to donate! Let's support local businesses and keep bookstores alive. Support your local bookstore! Symposia deserves it and so much more. read more

Unfriendly staff, and not a great selection of books. All used fiction is $5, but all books (especially used books) are not equal. With Barnes & Noble out of business, Hoboken could use a really solid, friendly used bookstore/cafe. read more

Positive experience both buying books and at the children's puppet show. Friendly staff and a varied selection of books. Small space but lots of choice. May want to check on class/show timing to make sure your purchase time doesn't fall at the same time. read more

Donations only. No trade-ins or buy backs.

I took five bags of books in to donate and noticed two two disc dvds I wanted of old TV shows. I asked how much and the young guy working (he looked like a teenager) said he had to check to see if it was valuable online first. Ok, fine. Then he said $4.00. I was like, $2.00 per box that's great! Then he said no, $2.00 per disc. Kind of annoying. When do you buy a boxed set per disc? He was just kind of rude and when I had just donated 50 books to their inventory you'd think he'd be friendlier or want to work with me. read more