WILMINGTON

• Barnes & Noble, 950 Inspiration Drive, Wilmington [Map this], at Mayfaire Town Center, 509-1880, Web site. The mega-store book chain with a huge inventory (also including CDs, DVDs, games, cards, magazines). An attached Starbucks and some comfy chairs scattered around the floor encourage browsers.

• Books-A-Million, 3737 Oleander Drive, Wilmington [Map this], 452-1519, Web site. Mega-store heavy on discounts and remainder titles, with large magazine rack, large religious section and Joe Muggs coffeeshop.

• Cox Christian Books, 75 S. Kerr Ave., Wilmington [Map this], 762-2272. Evangelical Christian boostore with CDs, cards, etc.

• McAllister & Solomon Used & Rare Books, 4402 Wrightsville Ave., Wilmington [Map this], 350-0189, Web site . Used bookstore serving the collectors’ market. Strong sections on local history, art, children’s literature, cookbooks, military history and biography.

• Old Books on Front Street, 22 N. Front St., Wilmington [Map this], 763-4754, Web site. Hardcover and paperback used books; a cheerfully cluttered outlet. Strong African-American, Judaica and film/theater selections, plus growing foreign language section.

•Pat’s Paperback Exchange, 4336 Market St., 762-9271. Used paperback books with a strong emphasis on ‘beach’ and recreational reading; some non-fiction and academic books.

• Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave., Wilmington [Map this], 452-1107, Web site. Small independent bookstore with strong emphasis on literary fiction, women’s issues and progressive politics. Small cafe.

• The Salt Shaker, 705 S. Kerr Ave., Wilmington [Map this], 350-1753, Web site . Christian bookstore with large selection of religious fiction, devotionals and contemporary Christian music, plus an attached cafe.

• Two Sisters Bookery, 318 Nutt St., Wilmington [Map this], at The Cotton Exchange downtown, 762-4444, Web site . Small independent bookstore with emphasis on contemporary fiction, local-interest titles and a strong poetry section.

• The Used Bookery, 6770 Market St., Wilmington [Map this], 313-1137. General interest selection of used paperbacks and some hardcovers; large mystery section.

HOLDEN BEACH

• Lowell’s Bookworm, 2980 Holden Beach Road SW, Holden Beach [Map this], 842-7380 or (877) 720-7199. Web site. Best sellers, new fiction, paperbacks, children’s books, used books, plus regional and local history.

SHALLOTTE

• Azio Media, 225 Smith Ave., Shallotte [Map this], 755-3322 or (866) 315-3322. Web site. Used, rare and out-of-print books for the collectors market; more than 100,000 titles. Autographed copies and first editions a specialty; also vinyl records and comics. Large sections on Southern literature, nautical books, art books, mystery, humor and history.

SOUTHPORT

• Beach Road Books, 4700 Long Beach Road, Southport [Map this], 457-9653. General-interest bookstore with strong North Carolina and regional titles. A whole room is devoted to children’s books and early readers. The staff offers special services to local book clubs.

• Books ‘n’ Stuff, 4961 Long Beach Road, Southport [Map this], at Live Oak Village Shopping Center, 457-9017. Large selections of used paperbacks, plus hardcovers, books on tape, CDs and some collectibles.

SUNSET BEACH

• Pelican Book Store, 1780 Chandlers Lane, Sunset Beach [Map this], 579-8770. Independent bookstore, hardcover and paperback, with used and children’s books. Also rents computer time.

TOPSAIL BEACH

• Quarter Moon Books, 708 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach [Map this], 328-4969 or (800) 697-9134. Web site. Character-filled, ‘whimsical’ community bookstore specializing in recreational reading, history and nature books, plus a strong emphasis on local art. Coffee for sale.

Date posted: March 4, 2009