The Title Wave

This place is awesome! The books are so cheap! There are A LOT of kids books. I’m surprised I didn’t hear of this place earlier!!’ The only bad thing is that they close at 4 pm on most days. Makes it really hard if you work or if you want to take the kids there because of school.

In a city where you can barely turn around without running into another used bookstore, this gorgeous store falls unfortunately flat. While it is true it is definitely one of the prettier stores in the area, and it does have some hidden gems, the book selection is purely abysmal. I have a feeling that were I to review this store in, say, Bowling Green, Ohio that I’d be raving about it. The one exception to this is the children’s section which had both a good selection, and was the largest in the store. Really can’t beat the prices though.

I love the idea of turning an old library branch into a super cheap book shop. I understand that Title Wave is staffed by volunteers who allegedly love books, the library system, etc. Man these people are unfriendly. Not a smile/​nod/​hello/​how is your day.
This is a great spot to purchase books for kids, as the selection is always overflowing. As a kid, I loved reading Halloween books and there are TONS of these right now.
It is definitely a hit or miss experience, but always worth a look. I’ve walked out with several dvds, David Sedaris books, travel books, and cookbooks on some occasions, then been completely underwhelmed by the mediocre selection and scores of empty shelves the next time.

It is a creative idea, turn a defunct library branch into a used bookstore run by library volunteers, and stocked with library overstock. It does feel like shopping at the library, and the building architecture is quite nice, though that is just novelty. The book selection is unbelievably poor. Most of the shelves are nearly bare. The books that are there are what you’d expect at the average garage sale. I’d recommend just stopping for a second on Knott St, admiring the building from the outside, and actually going to a real bookstore.

Such great deals!!!

An excellent bookstore, and the prices are almost guiltily cheap. Some sections are larger than others, but it’s worth it to go in a check out what treasures you can find for under $ 3 (for many things). I walked out with a big bag of books for $ 26 and a smile on my face.
Thanks Title Wave!

Really awesome bookstore in a convenient location. Great spot to find books and/​or magazines on anything for very cheap. They have a very nice seating area as well. Love coming here and seeing what little gems I can find.

What a great use of a former library space. Title Wave at first glance appears to be a blast from the past library with lots of shelves, wooden paneling, large windows, book displays
and chairs. The difference is everything in here (books, audiobooks, DVDs) is for sale!
Everything is clearly organized which makes for easy browsing.
There are magazines, board books for Toddlers, manga & animé, Large Print Books,
teen/​young adult books, loads of fiction and non-​fiction and many many sale items
(including Christmas books, DVDs, CDs)
The friendly staff here makes it a pleasure to shop here.

This is one of the best library-​affiliated used bookstores I have ever seen. And they have a few tables and wi-​fi, and a VERY nice bathroom. Good friendly customer service. Great place.

A hidden gem. Once this place is discovered, it will be overrun with book nerds and bargain hunters. But for now, it’s a quiet refuge of old and newish books, DVDs, CDs, audio books, graphic novels and comics at incredible prices.
Here’s how it works: overstock books from Multnomah County Libraries are sent here to be sold at crazy, insane… just stupid discounts to raise money. And when I say «crazy discounts», I’m not saying they’re 10, 20 or 30% off. I’m saying a buck or two each for new hardcovers! I got Tina Fey’s «Bossy Pants» for $ 1.50, Steve Martin’s most recent novel for $ 1.50, a hardcover on Bonnie and Clyde for $ 1, a $ 40 Avengers graphic novel hardcover for $ 6. And music! If you’re one who still likes to own a CD, like me, make this place a weekly destination. I’ve found amazing tunes by Wilco, The Head & The Heart, Robert Earl Keen and others for only $.25 each.
That’s it, there’s no catch. There are 3 very small drawbacks. First, all of the books are rocking the Multnomah County Library’s stamps and stickers. Not a big deal if you plan on reading and keeping the book, or passing it on to a friend. But if you plan on selling it at Powell’s after you finish it, don’t even try. They won’t take it.
Second, they don’t have an inventory of their books. Not that they need it. Everything is organized quite well. But if you’re looking for something specific, you’re going to have to just wade through and find it. But if you do ask, you may get lucky! The staff are dedicated, amazing folks and they know their inventory quite well. Ask and you may receive.
Finally, the quality of each book varies. There are some in great condition, and many many others in very poor condition. But, come on people, these are used books, often used many times over. How bad do you want that copy of «100 Years of Fifty Shades of a Confederacy of Dune»? So bad you’re willing to deal with a broken spine and spend a buck?

After Powell’s this is my favorite bookstore! I usually end up spending about $ 1.50 per book. They have a ton of children’s picture books (and an educator discount!) with the library protective coverings so they last longer in the classroom.

During my first visit to Portland in 2008, I asked about the store at a comic shop. A person there said, «You might not find what you’re looking for, but you’ll always find something cool.» That was definitely my experience then, so when I returned in 2012 and only had time to schedule in about five must-​revisit places, this, yes, library book store made the cut. I didn’t find as much this time around, but but I did get the League of Extraordinary Omnibus hardcover for some really low price ($ 3 or $ 5, something really low like that) plus some 10c DVDs. I have no idea what I’ll unearth next time, but I’m sure I’ll find something surprising at a price my finances find agreeable.

If you need some children’s books, this is the place. I bought a book for every student in my class for under $ 16!!!
Magazines are like 10 cents and they have travel guides for cheap!
They just began offering 25% discount for educators also!
There are often crazy sales, a little before Christmas they had a buy 1, get 3 free sale. Yes, I said THREE free. Love this place!

I don’t know how anybody could have a complaint about this place. Where else are you going to get books at these prices that serve the greater good? I’m talking yard sale prices.
In addition, more than 90% of staff is volunteer, amazing.
I have yet to see a book of «questionable quality». I venture that if the books were free, people would still find fault.

I love to peruse used books but this doesn’t work for me.
I enjoy the idea of supporting the Multnomah County Library system through book sales but think the best attribute of this store is the very cool old building.
The books are heavily discounted and rightfully so because the quality is questionable at best and lean more toward frustratingly abused. The selection was diverse but not great.
There are some clearly overstock well conditioned books but after that section is done there is little to keep me looking further.
I will support the library directly with a donation next time and continue my searches for used book gems elsewhere.
Disappointing.

Only complaint? MOAR BOOKS, PLSKTHXBAI.
They take debit. They have snacks. Books are ridonk cheepers.
Got a Portland Monthly summer issue from last year for a dime. A dime, people. Also got a car guide (not a Chilton but I’m holding out hope) for $ 2 and a classic (Portrait of an Artist) for SEVENTY FIVE CENTS.
Three words: browse at length

Total secret… Mult. Co. library discards, steeply discounted… its own bookstore. Gotten CDs here as well as great literary finds.
For me, a love affair that will never die.

While I can’t imagine anyone having anything BAD to say about Title Wave, I feel compelled to write a review to sing its praises.
Simple business model– they sell the overstock from the Multnomah County Public Libraries. What this means is books for $ 2 and under, and I have found many great books here. Magazines as low as 25 – 50 cents, DVDs, language books, travel guides, children’s books– its all here and the chances are if you walk in with twenty dollars you won’t be able to carry out what that buys you.
The staff is helpful and seems genuinely happy to be there and the building is a well preserved gem, as it used to be a library branch.
Great place to buy cheap holiday gifts!

I’m in love.
The basic premise behind this place is that they buy retired library books and then turn around and sell them to the public and superamazingly low prices. I was a little skeptical before my first visit, wondering what I’d actually be able to find in such a place.
I stand corrected.
You will find aisle upon aisle of books. They will be nealty organized by genre. They will be cheap. You will quickly amass an armload.
Beyond this, they have magazines, DVDs, records, CDs, and all other manner of things you already have too many of. They also have a love section with tables and chairs so you can take a break from standing with your head turned at a 90 degree angle to read the titles. I ended up with a stack of about ten and then sat to peruse them at my leisure.
I also want to specifically mention their great selection of travel guides. I seem to read them on any country from cover to cover, so cheap and only slightly out-​of-​date guides represent a sort of entertainment gold mine for me.
I walked out of the store with a copy of See No Evil, the Lonely Planet Guide to Jamaica, a book on river running, and something on backcountry treks in the U.S. All for $ 10.
Take a moment to look at their great selection of Tidal Wave shirts, too! I especially like the vaguely psychedelic one that says «READ!» in 23 498 762 934 languges. For $ 8!
Places like this just warm the cockles of my heart. Don’t you want YOUR cockles warmed?

Title Wave is the Multnomah County Library’s used bookstore located in northeast Portland. My crush on Multnomah County Library only got bigger when I went into Title Wave for the first time. Books are reasonably priced and even more so when you hit the store on one of their many sale days.
While the fiction selection is sparse (I prefer the Goodwill on Grand for great used, cheap, fiction and literature), there is still plenty to pick through at Title Wave. I especially enjoy the used travel books and cookbooks. Tons of great kids’ books too.
Don’t miss it – the money goes to Portland sweethearts the Multnomah County Library!