Making Use of Used Bookstores

As a devout book reader and used bookstore lover, I was delighted to see the big space you gave recently to used bookstores.

I am disappointed, however that you included Acres of Books in Long Beach, thereby preventing you from listing Valley Book City on Lankershim Boulevard. You also could have included Book Castle in Burbank.

Ever since I came to Los Angeles, people have told me I ought to visit Acres of Books in Long Beach. Last year I finally did. They ought to give you a miner’s lamp when you enter the store. Instead of “acres” of books (I do know there are 43,560 square feet in an acre) there are great volumes of books--no pun intended. The books are stacked high in cases; the aisles are narrow. The ambience is that of any old country wine cellar. Lighting is terrible.

By contrast, the two Valley stores I mentioned--Valley Book City and Book Castle--are accessible and airy. They are my idea of what a good used bookstore can be.

Some other advantages of used bookstores are that they save trees, preserve important American history and are a great place to meet the opposite sex.

ROBERT C. CZAPIEWSKI

North Hollywood