Make no mistake, there is not a party every hour of the day. Most often the store is quiet and you have the aisles of books all to yourself. At these times the staff is friendly but preoccupied.You'll need to be assertive with your questions here. For example, a sign by the cash register requests that you ring a bell when you're ready to checkout. It is stated that this is true even if the clerk is immediate in your vision. You may not be in hers. That sign is a no nonsense clue that selling books is not the only work getting done at Know Knew Books. When I pause at the register I want to peek at what the clerk is typing, but there are many books piled by her computer. Maybe the light pouring in from the storefront window is also positioned strategically.

While you tour the store consider a few tips. There are great local finds tucked here and there. You'll be amused when you find a dissertation on a unique part of local lore or a extreme part of historical scientific research propped up by some puzzles or board games most of the way back on the left side of the store. If you are looking for a particular fiction writer it is worth your while to check both the paperback half of the room and the hardback aisles. The book size, not the sturdiness of the cover, is sometimes the determinant for placement.The layout of the store is very smart overall, but the labeling on the shelves could be more regular and obvious as I follow my ABCs from one shelf to another.

Walking around Know Knew Books reminds me that often nostalgia is my favorite part of visiting used book stores. Although many times I arrive hankering for a specific book, I often happen through this store simply to see a book I forgot meant so much to me.

Running my eyes along the titles helps me remember my many friends, my many homes, and my many lives. Go to Know Knew if you think that could happen to you.