By Jorja O’Brien

As an interstate student, I’ve long wondered where I can look for the best books in Canberra.

I have struggled and started to think that books are either a poor standard but cheap, or good quality and exorbitant, forcing me to buy online (or wait for the Lifeline Bookfair…). However, this month I travelled to some of Canberra’s best known bookstores, and I can confidently say Canberra’s collection is rife.

Throughout this article I hope you will discover the bookseller gems in this city and, someday, find the time to support these businesses.

Firstly: Buy. Second. Hand.

Canberra’s array of second-hand bookstores is dwindling, but the quality of those that remain is extremely remarkable.

In Fyshwick, the Canty Family own the expansive Canty’s Bookshop. Canty’s has three rooms, stacked floor to ceiling with new and pre-loved books. Their selection is organised by genre and extremely easy to follow- though if you need help, the incredibly kind salespeople are immediately attentive. Canty’s has several copies of the same book, including rare-editions. At its core, Canty’s captures what books are all about… they’re not meant to be a business, but a way to share stories and explore new worlds. Although, they do sell vouchers which, with their wax seal and TNR font, are seriously the coolest I’ve seen! With low prices but such a notable range, Canty’s truly is one of Canberra’s greatest bookstores and well worth the drive to Fyshwick.

Another Fyshwick classic is Book Lovers Lane. The variety of this store is highly impressive, with books, CDs, comics, puzzles and more, it is a treasure chest for second-hand shopping. The store is located within the Fyshwick Markets and books are restocked daily! If you still need encouragement to go, Book Lovers Lane is run by warehouse volunteers and all proceeds go to a local Crisis Support Centre.

A great second-hand bookstore close to UC is Book Lore (Books, Books, Books) in Lyneham. While modest, Book Lore stocks a sensational range, particularly focusing on history and classics. The store is effectively organised by theme. For example, you will find WWII texts close to WWII Air Crafts and so on. Book Lore has the most interesting decorations that span every available surface and cover themes from Modern Architecture to postcards from 1927 Canberra. Book Lore is primarily second-hand so is naturally cheaper, but visiting Book Lore for the experience is the most notable motivator to visit!

While smaller, the second-hand stores in Canberra are inspiring and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting them and purchasing books for my ever-growing TBR. If you’re still stuck for cheaper books, standout stores might include charity op-shops like Vinnies and Salvos or even Kmart or Target.

Canberra’s array of commercial, retail bookstores is also extensive and worth visiting. The staples, of course, are Dymocks and QBD which stock almost every book you can think of brand new. They are on the pricier end but are valuable for their merch and the addictive smell of fresh books.

Canberra is also lucky to have independent retail stores.

The Book Cow in Kingston has a wide selection of new books, including an incredible range of children’s texts. One half of their store is completely dedicated to children’s novels which, I think, is rare but a fantastic idea. They are open until 6:30-7:00 PM on weekdays and 4-5:00 PM on weekends. Though they are expensive, they also offer memberships which return 5% of the purchase value. This was a stunning store located in one of Canberra’s most beautiful suburbs and a must-see if you can splurge.

Similarly, Griffith’s Paperchain has brand-new books and a wide range of texts. They also offer an online store which is helpful for viewing prices/availability before travelling to Griffith. I found Paperchain to be on the more affordable side of the retail stores, well-organised and visually engaging.

There you have it, Canberra’s best bookstores. I realise I didn’t get the chance to visit all Canberra has to offer but, hopefully, with these recommendations you can start your own exploration. Don’t forget about public libraries or even apps but do remember that purchasing from small, second-hand businesses is the only way to keep them alive.

Happy reading!

*All images taken by me, with consent from shopkeepers.

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