For many renters, a large book collection means heavy boxes and dedicating a lot of wall space to shelving. Fortunately, Winnipeg has a lot to offer the avid reader. Whether you prefer to borrow your books for a short period or buy and sell books based on your interests, there’s something for every bibliophile.
If you’d like a snack with your new book, Winnipeg has two great hybrid bookstores. The Neighbourhood Bookstore and Café (898 Westminster Avenue) serves up soup, sandwiches, baked goods and fresh Onigiri alongside their used book collection. This is a great spot to buy and sell used books or to find your next favourite read with help from the bookstore staff. For a more specialized food and book selection, head to Mondragon (91 Albert Street). This political bookstore is organized as a workers collective and has incorporated a vegan restaurant and an organic grocery store into its space.
If you have a specific title or genre in mind, you may want to venture further afield in Winnipeg. Dog-Eared Books (1157 Henderson Hwy) has a broad selection of used books. Despite their low-tech website, you can easily browse their online inventory for a specific title before making the trip. True used book lovers will appreciate the large selection at Flipped Pages Book Exchange. Flipped Pages offers many services to its loyal customers including a rewards program and a “want list” for any specific titles you’d like to have held. Additionally, Flipped Pages offers used board games, puzzles and comic books for more unplugged entertainment.
If you’re a voracious reader with a quick book turnover, make sure you take advantage of the Winnipeg Public Library. The Millennium Branch is a quick walk from our communities at 33 Hargrave Street and 160 Smith Street, and our 15 Arden Avenue community is located between the Louis Riel and St. Vital Branches. If you’d like a little more structure for your reading, consider joining a Winnipeg Public Library Book Club. Contact your nearest branch for events or select a group by your favourite genre. If you’d like to host your own book club, the library also has some great titles in their selection of Book Club Kits. The kits come with 10 copies of the book as well as a reader’s guide. Each kit is available for two months to give your club lots of time to read and discuss.
This is one of the things that you’ve got to love about Winnipeg; it’s a city that has a great local culture. Whether you’re looking to expand your collection of Archie comics or anarchist tomes, you can find them right here. Are you considering making this vibrant city your home? Hazelview Properties offer rental apartments Winnipeg's bustling downtown core.