Encore, encore!

When you first enter the store, you may be impressed by the number of books you see. That first room, however, is just the beginning. There are three more beyond that. Fortunately, the place is remarkably well organized, making it easy if you are looking for a particular book or author. And if you are just wanting to browse, well, plan on spending some time.

Unlike most used bookstores, which pay for the books they sell, Encore Books’ stock is completely donated. Volunteers sort through the donations, organizing them first by category and then by subject or author as appropriate. Books in bad shape — those that are moldy or torn, for instance — are tossed, ensuring that what you find at Encore Books is of good to high quality.

Because the books are donated, what you’ll encounter on any given visit depends upon what has come in recently, so repeat visits are a must. They occasionally get books — and sometimes even entire collections — from people who were serious collectors, so among the mundane there are often some real finds. For instance, Encore Books currently has an entire bookcase full of books on China (some in Chinese, some in English) donated by a Stanford professor. And because Encore Books remains one of those rare bookstores that is not on the internet, the good stuff isn’t immediately snatched up by some far-off collector or by someone looking to “flip” a bargain.

That brings me to the other great thing about Encore Books: their pricing. Encore Books exists to help fund the History Museum upstairs, and their books are priced to sell. For instance, they have an entire room dedicated to paperbacks, all of which cost $1. Hardback books, even those in nearly new condition, can be had for as little as $2-$4. Although rarer books do cost more, if you are a regular patron of used bookstores, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Encore Books’ prices. And if that isn’t good enough, know that twice each year — in the spring and in the fall — Encore Books holds a 50 percent off sale, where everything goes for half price.

Encore Books doesn’t just sell books, though that is probably 95 percent of what they have to offer. They also have some DVDs, CDs and LPs, along with some terrific posters they obtained from Sunset Magazine. But books are their main stock in trade. They have everything from romances to classics to popular mysteries to books on philosophy. You name it, and they probably have it — including graphic novels and some comic books. They even have a section dedicated to signed books for the collectors among us.

If you have some gently used books you are willing to donate, Encore Books can always use more. You can bring them in whenever they are open or, if your donation is particularly large, they can come to you and pick them up. Just give them a call.

Encore Books on the Square is located at 2200 Broadway in Redwood City, beneath the courthouse building on Courthouse Square. As you are facing the steps to the courthouse, the entrance to the bookstore is on your left, down a ramp. Note that this being a volunteer-run operation, their hours are limited. They are only open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Go to historysmc.org/encore-books-square for more information. Also note that to keep things simple and to keep their overhead down they only take cash or checks: absolutely no credit cards. But given their pricing, this minor inconvenience for some should be well worth it.

With the disappearance of so many brick-and-mortar bookstores in the last several years, I am delighted that this hidden gem resides in Redwood City’s heart. But spread the word: Encore Books shouldn’t remain hidden any longer.

Greg Wilson is the creator of Walking Redwood City, a blog inspired by his walks throughout Redwood City and adjacent communities. He can be reached at greg@walkingRedwoodCity.com. Follow Greg on Twitter @walkingRWC.