andrewteee
Established
Sometimes I just want to browse photography books in person. Are there any bookstores in the SF Bay area that have a good selection?
Bookstores with photo books in the SF Bay area?
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pagpow
Well-known
Hi, I'm with you. All of the large ones used to have good selections, but I notice the technical offerings they carry seem to be in decline at both Borders and Barnes and Noble. I have not been to Green Apple in a while, but they used to have a nice selection of photobooks. Are you looking new/used, art/technical?
andrewteee
Established
New or used. Focused on artistic content, not technical. I would not expect Borders or B&N to have much.
rncamero
Established
How about a local library or SFSU's library? You can search their catalog online http://opac.sfsu.edu/. I work at a university library and fortunate to have free access to a nice selection of technical books and monographs.
The MOMA store's selection I thought was decent.
The MOMA store's selection I thought was decent.
ampguy
Veteran
Moe's books on Telegraph in Berkeley has quite a selection of stuff I haven't seen elsewhere.
bob338
Well-known
if you make it to green apple, make sure to check out the locked case of rare books at the end of the art section. it's at the end of the left wall as you walk into the store. they usually unlock it for me and let me browse alone. they have several rare photography books in there.
there is also the regular photography section upstairs, which has a ton of used and new photo books, but it is usually messy and a little confusing to sort through.
bob
there is also the regular photography section upstairs, which has a ton of used and new photo books, but it is usually messy and a little confusing to sort through.
bob
Honus
carpe diem
The Berkeley Public Library has a good selection. You don't have to be a Berkeley resident to get a library card, as well.
vrgard
Well-known
SF MOMA is one place to look.
-Randy
-Randy
35mmdelux
Veni, vidi, vici
Barnes/Noble off Union Square used to have a nice selection & a great coffee shop upstairs. Borders on Market never had much. In Berkeley alot of bookstores off Telegraph Ave used to carry a fair amount of photog books.
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
Agreed! It's probably the best place. At least, it's the most consistent. Some B&N and Borders in the city and down the peninsula have had decent selections, but just not on a consistent basis. For example, the Borders in Stonestown used to have a great selection, but the photo section was always trashed and well "browsed". I don't know that I would stock a big collection of photo books if I owned a bookstore. People love to browse but not buy photo books.
I suggest browsing the PhotoEye newsletter and ordering from a local bookstore. Maybe if all us local photographers did this from one or two local bookstores, we could get a decent stocking on a consistent basis. My shameless plug is for Browser books on Fillmore. I've used them. I know the buyer there and she is keen on stocking good photo books.
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