By: Ashton Newton Entertainment Editor
Just down the road from Monmouth sits Second Chance Books, a used bookstore tucked into Main Street, Independence and a wonderland for book lovers. Shelves stand seven feet tall filled up with books of all genres. The store extends back through narrow corridors that are lined with even more books that lead to poetry, drama, travel and much more. Cozy chairs sit in some aisles welcoming customers to come in and stay a while.
“We opened in 1991. We were originally across from Highway 99 and then we moved to this location about eight years ago,” said Dina Carter, co-owner of Second Chance Books.
Dina runs the store alongside her husband, Steve Carter. The store is open seven days a week and provides something fun to do on lazy Sundays.
“Students get in a little bubble up in Monmouth and don’t seem to know that there’s anything over here, which isn’t all that far away,” added Carter. “We’re also open on Sundays too, where not a lot of places around here are.”
Second Chance Books doesn’t just sell books, they buy used books as well.
“If customers bring in their books that they don’t want, we’ll give them half of what we’ll sell it for in trade credit and that credit can be used for half of what they pick up at the store,” said Carter.
There was also a book signing being held in front of the store. Activities such as that can be found on Second Chance Books’ Facebook page.
Dina and Steve Carter also enjoy supporting Western, they’ve donated to the Smith Fine Arts Series and they’ve donated gift certificates to auctions at Western.
“I’m always happy to see students in and I’m always encouraged that they want the physical book as opposed to the electronic gadget,” added Carter.
Second Chance Books can be found right on Main Street Independence and is open seven days a week. Check out more on their Facebook page or online at their Abebooks.com page.
Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu
