The Reading Room

Local Guides

Bookish guides to Milwaukie and the Portland area — where to go, what to do, and how To Be Read fits in.

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Why Buy Used Books Instead of New? The Honest Case for It
Used books cost less, tread lighter on the planet, and turn up treasures you can't get new. Here's why a used bookstore beats the retail shelf.
June 21, 20264 min readRead
Where to sell or donate used books in Clackamas County
Got boxes of books to clear out in Clackamas County? Here's how to sell, trade, or donate them responsibly — and turn the good ones into credit toward your next read.
June 21, 20264 min readRead
What Books Can You Actually Sell to a Used Bookstore Today?
Not sure what a used bookstore will actually take? Here's which books stores want, which they pass on, and how to prep your box so more of it qualifies.
June 21, 20264 min readRead
Used Books Near West Linn, Oregon: To Be Read in Milwaukie
From West Linn, your closest used bookstore is a short hop across the river in Milwaukie. Here's what's on To Be Read's shelves and how to get there.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
Used books near Tigard, Oregon: visit To Be Read in Milwaukie
Tigard readers: the nearest deep used bookstore worth the trip is a short hop across the metro in Milwaukie. Here's the route and what's waiting at To Be Read.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
Used Books Near Sellwood-Moreland, SE Portland | To Be Read
From Sellwood-Moreland, a quick run south on McLoughlin reaches To Be Read in Milwaukie. Here's what's on the shelves and how to get there.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
Used Books Near Oregon City, Oregon: To Be Read in Milwaukie
Live in Oregon City? Your closest used bookstore is a quick drive up 99E in Milwaukie. Here's what To Be Read keeps on the shelves — and how to get there.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
Used books near Oak Grove & Gladstone, Oregon
If you're in Oak Grove, Gladstone, or Jennings Lodge, your nearest used bookstore is closer than you think — minutes north in Milwaukie. Here's what to know.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
Used books near Lake Oswego, Oregon
Lake Oswego and West Linn readers: your nearest used bookstore is a quick trip across the river in Milwaukie. Here's what's waiting at To Be Read.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
Used books near Happy Valley, Oregon
Happy Valley and Damascus readers: a deep, browseable used bookstore is closer than you think — a short drive west in Milwaukie. Here's what's waiting.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
Used books near Gresham, Oregon: visit To Be Read in Milwaukie
Gresham readers: the nearest deep, browseable used bookstore worth the drive sits west and south in Milwaukie. Here's the honest route and what's waiting at To Be Read.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
Used books near Canby, Oregon: visit To Be Read in Milwaukie
Canby readers: the nearest deep, browseable used bookstore worth the drive is a straight run up 99E to Milwaukie. Here's the route and what's waiting at To Be Read.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
How to Sell Your Textbooks in Portland: An Honest Guide
Trying to offload textbooks around Portland? Here's an honest guide to what used bookstores take, what they don't, and the alternatives worth trying.
June 21, 20264 min readRead
Rainy-day things to do in Milwaukie, Oregon
When the Oregon drizzle settles in, lean into it. Here's a cozy, low-key plan for a rainy day in Milwaukie — starting, naturally, with a stack of used books.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
Pacific Northwest Authors to Read: Local Pride from Our Shelves
From Le Guin to Beverly Cleary, the Pacific Northwest has shaped some of America's best writers. Here are local-pride picks, most easy to find used.
June 21, 20264 min readRead
A book lover's day out in Milwaukie, Oregon
Just south of Portland, Milwaukie is a quietly perfect spot for a slow reader's day: used books, a riverside walk, a Sunday market, and an easy MAX ride home.
June 21, 20264 min readRead
How Much Are Used Books Worth? An Honest Pricing Guide
Curious what your used books are worth? Here's an honest look at how condition, demand, and edition drive value — and why store credit goes further.
June 21, 20264 min readRead
Your first visit to To Be Read: what to know
Never been in before? Here's everything you need for a great first visit to To Be Read — where to park, how trading works, and how to leave with the perfect book.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
Do Bookstores Buy Used Books? How It Works at a Used Shop
Wondering if a bookstore will take your old books? Here's how buying and trading used books actually works, what we look for, and how to bring a box in.
June 21, 20264 min readRead
Cozy places to read in Milwaukie, Oregon
Found a good book and need somewhere to read it? Here are the coziest spots around Milwaukie, OR — riverside benches, shady parks, and a rainy-day plan B.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
Cash for Books vs. Store Credit: Which One Pays You More?
Cash or store credit for your old books? Here's why trade-in credit usually goes further at a used bookstore — and when taking cash is the smarter call.
June 21, 20264 min readRead
Looking for a bookstore near Clackamas Town Center?
Shopping the Clackamas area and want real books, not just big-box shelves? To Be Read is a longtime used bookstore minutes from Clackamas Town Center.
June 21, 20263 min readRead
The Best Used Bookstore in the Portland Area? Meet To Be Read
What makes a used bookstore the best in its area? Here's the honest case for To Be Read, a 45-year favorite serving Portland and Clackamas readers.
June 21, 20264 min readRead
Are Used Bookstores Worth It? Yes, and Here's Why They Are
Are used bookstores worth it in the age of one-click shopping? Absolutely, for value, discovery, and community. Here's what makes a great one.
June 21, 20264 min readRead
Finding a used bookstore near Milwaukie & Southeast Portland
New to the east side of the Portland metro and hunting for a neighborhood used bookstore? Here's how to find us in Milwaukie, what makes the shop tick, and how to plan a first visit.
June 18, 20263 min readRead
What to do with used books in the Portland area (besides recycle them)
Boxes of books you've finished and a shelf that's overflowing? Here's a practical rundown of what to do with used books in the Portland area — trade, donate, or rehome.
June 16, 20264 min readRead

Local Guides

Why Buy Used Books Instead of New? The Honest Case for It

Where to sell or donate used books in Clackamas County

What Books Can You Actually Sell to a Used Bookstore Today?

Used Books Near West Linn, Oregon: To Be Read in Milwaukie

Used books near Tigard, Oregon: visit To Be Read in Milwaukie

Used Books Near Sellwood-Moreland, SE Portland | To Be Read

Used Books Near Oregon City, Oregon: To Be Read in Milwaukie

Used books near Oak Grove & Gladstone, Oregon

Used books near Lake Oswego, Oregon

Used books near Happy Valley, Oregon

Used books near Gresham, Oregon: visit To Be Read in Milwaukie

Used books near Canby, Oregon: visit To Be Read in Milwaukie

How to Sell Your Textbooks in Portland: An Honest Guide

Rainy-day things to do in Milwaukie, Oregon

Pacific Northwest Authors to Read: Local Pride from Our Shelves

A book lover's day out in Milwaukie, Oregon

How Much Are Used Books Worth? An Honest Pricing Guide

Your first visit to To Be Read: what to know

Do Bookstores Buy Used Books? How It Works at a Used Shop

Cozy places to read in Milwaukie, Oregon

Cash for Books vs. Store Credit: Which One Pays You More?

Looking for a bookstore near Clackamas Town Center?

The Best Used Bookstore in the Portland Area? Meet To Be Read

Are Used Bookstores Worth It? Yes, and Here's Why They Are

Finding a used bookstore near Milwaukie & Southeast Portland

What to do with used books in the Portland area (besides recycle them)