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Strands in New YorkDec 18 '00 Write an essay on this topic.It touts itself as having over "eight miles of books." Indeed. Eight miles of unorganized, misfiled books. Nonetheless, Stands, at 828 Broadway at 12th Street in lower Manhattan, was where I did some of my Christmas shopping this year. Why buy new when you can get second hand and in decent shape? I've shopped second-hand bookstores for years, and Strands is definitely one of the largest used stores in North America. Strands offers a large array of new and rare books, too. Many of those I saw last weekend are currently on the New York Times Bestseller list. The clerks have computerized systems that will look up titles and authors for you, as well, though they were ill prepared to tell me exactly where the title was. It could be where it is supposed to be on some labeled shelf, or it could be in a newly arrived bin. Prices tend to be one half off the cover price of the book, but other sales even lower can be found throughout the store. Managers, I've found, have attempted to organize this three-level store, but customers sell books so frequently there, that they are not keeping up. Books that have been around a few days will appropriately be found in their respective areas -- travel, psychology, fiction, etc., -- but bins upon bins of newly arrived and sale books litter all three levels of the store. The store is worth sifting through, however, but be prepared to spend a couple of hours at least, in order to get a good feel for what Strands offers. You won't always be able to walk in with a title list and find everything immediately, but chances are you'll find 90 percent of what's on your list. The phone number to Strands is 212-473-1452.  |
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by dandj
by kairosdreaming
by ladyconsumer
