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Step 1
Ask if the used book store has a specialty. Some used book stores carry rare, expensive first editions. Others have a huge amount of genre fiction, such as science-fiction or fantasy and still others might focus on local or regional books. Some used book stores, if they're large enough, will have all of these things and more.
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Step 2
Look for books you might not usually seek out. The shopping experience at a used book store is quite different from that at a bookseller like Borders or Barnes & Noble. At a used book store, you can find cookbooks from the 1960s, out-of-print architecture books, signed early editions and more. These books are fun to read and nice to display in your home.
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Step 3
Research rare books. Sometimes, people bring boxes of books to sell to a used book store, without realizing that the box contains some true gems. You never know when you'll find a rare comic book tucked among the 10-cent comics, or a special printing of a popular book. By understanding what makes books rare and valuable, you can keep your eye out for such treasures at a used book store.
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Step 4
Take your used book shopping online. You can find treasure in Internet stores as well as in brick-and-mortar shops. Internet-based used book stores are particularly great for finding inexpensive textbooks. They also offer huge inventories. If you can't find exactly what you need, chances are good that an online used book store can order it for you.
