From the nostalgic to the collectible to the downright practical, a used bookstore will always… From the nostalgic to the collectible to the downright practical, a used bookstore will always outdo the high priced, mass produced, coffee shop-infiltrated ranks of new bookstores. This is the second of two pieces discussing various used books stores in the Pittsburgh area. So put on your walking shoes, get out your bus pass and travel the trails of used books across the Pittsburgh region.

ThreePenny Books, 1827 Murray Ave.

ThreePenny Books fills the used bookstore void in Squirrel Hill that The Bookworm left a year ago when it closed after more than 25 years. In fact, it is located just up Murray Avenue from the old underground store, lying in the block between Giant Eagle and Manor Theater.

The store is very student friendly. The odd hours, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, allow students to come in after classes and on weekends to shop and sell.

ThreePenny Books is not a specialty store, which means that the owner, Michael Embree, buys and sells anything in good condition. Embree said students buying books at the beginning of a semester and selling them back at the end is a common and welcome occurrence.

Plus, ThreePenny Books also offers a 15 percent discount to students with a valid ID.

The small, carpeted shop is so filled with bound literary wonders that bookends aren’t necessary, and the shelves overflow into stacks of books on the floor.

The exterior of ThreePenny Books entices passersby with a cart of interesting tomes.

Renovations are almost complete on a basement that will be filled with paperbacks.

But for now, the store is home to a wide variety of books from fiction, science fiction and nonfiction, to religious, self-help and reference. Some of the books are new editions, and others could have been your grandfather