Services > Title Wave Used Bookstore
The Title Wave Used Bookstore
"A Bargain-Hunting Booklovers' Paradise"
— Metro Parent, March 2004
Browse through 20,000 used books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, videos, magazines and cassettes at bargain prices, starting at $2 for hardback novels and nonfiction. Some items start at $.25
Discover great selections of children's books and large-print items. Check regularly; the inventory changes every day.
Location, hours
- 216 N.E. Knott, Portland, OR 97212
- 503.988.5021
- Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Holiday closures
- Bad weather updates
- Location map
Shop online
Shop online for Title Wave used books in dozens of fiction and nonfiction categories — from Antiques & Collectibles to Literary Collections to True Crime.
Become a Title Wave volunteer!
Cashiers, book processors, book researchers and CD/DVD checkers are needed. Cashiers work full-day shifts. Processors and researchers may work half-day shifts, weekdays and Saturdays.
To apply to be a Title Wave volunteer, contact Volunteer Services (503.988.5461 or 503.988.5731).
History
The building, designed in the Spanish Renaissance Revival style, was built in 1912 as the original Albina Branch Library, one of Multnomah County Library's Carnegie libraries.
The store opened for business in March 1988. Since then,
- 700,000+ books have been recycled.
- More than a million and a half in revenue has been generated.
- Volunteers have given 130,000+ hours of time.
In 2009, The Title Wave was renovated to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
How we do it
A faithful, hard-working corps of more than 50 volunteers staffs the store, handling all aspects of the operation. The books, discards from Multnomah County Library's collection, are removed from the library's computer catalog, stamped, sorted, researched, priced and shelved for retail.
Rod Richards, The Title Wave supervisor, searches through books that have been withdrawn from the library system to be sold at very low prices. Rod believes that The Title Wave "provides a valuable service to both the library and the community."
Volunteer Isabelle Ryan says, "The Multnomah County Library system has given me so much over the years, from the day I learned to read and got my first library card to last week when I moved up in the queue to check out P.D. James' newest! When I retired and had the opportunity to do volunteer work, it was time to give back. It has been, and continues to be, a joy."
Direct questions to store supervisor Rodney Richards.