Find Us
DIRECTIONS
Coming from the North on 101 South take Fairview exit, turn right on Fairview then make a left on Hollister Ave. Look for the store on the left hand side 1.5 blocks down from Fairview.
Coming from the South on 101 North take Highway 217 off-ramp toward UCSB/Airport, then the first exit onto Hollister Ave. Turn right on Hollister and stay on it for 2 city blocks while looking for curbside parking on the right hand side on the block with 7/11 store on the corner. We are right next door to Altamiranos Mexican grill, which has highly visible orange arches in front - our narrow entryway is easy to miss otherwise.
PARKING
Parking can be difficult in Old Town Goleta, so if nothing is available in the immediate vicinity of the store, we suggest using side streets (Magnolia Ave. is the nearest cross street), or utilizing the public parking spaces in the parking lot of Community West Bank across the street.
About
Paperback Alley is an independently owned used bookstore with broad and extensive stock suited for every taste and interest. We offer a wide selection of genre fiction, classic and contemporary literature, nonfiction, children's literature, audiobooks. To boost your book budget we will take your gently-used, marketable books in trade for store credit.
Santa Barbara County (along with the rest of the country) has seen increasing rates of bookstores closing in recent years. Paperback Alley has been an Old Town Goleta fixture for 40 years thus far and hopes to survive long into the digital future, serving as a literacy hub and gathering place for bibliophiles old and young.
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Our Hours
01/10/23 Update: Starting New Hours!
Monday: 11AM - 4PM
Tuesday: 11AM - 4PM
Wednesday: 11AM - 4PM
Thursday: 11AM - 4PM
Friday: 11AM - 4PM
Saturday: 11AM - 4PM
Sunday: Closed
" This is a store not to miss if you love reading". — Yelp Reviewer
See More Reviews:
"This bookstore has a very large selection, and all of the prices are VERY reasonable... My husband had to practically drag me out of here before I lost myself in the vortex of book-lovers' land ;-)
If you are a book-lover and happen to stop by in Santa Barbara, make sure you visit here! The smell of books in here was to die for.".
— Yelp Reviewer
" This is my FAVORITE used bookstore... She has a diverse selection squeezed into her tiny shop. It's amazing, but the owner seems to know her whole inventory almost by intuition like she has a homing beacon in her hand that helps her find whatever book you are looking for even if double shelved. It has that delightful old book smell. A favorite I look forward to stopping in at on every trip home to Goleta"
- Yelp Reviewer
"Large selection of sci-fi and romance with smaller but nicely sized selections of popular literature, classic literature, children's books, history, etc... very knowledgeable about the selection and knew exactly what they had or didn't have... I walked out with seven nice paperbacks. The great selection, organization of the store and friendliness of the owner make this a five-star place. I will definitely be back."
— Yelp Reviewer
"This place is a gem. Packed to the rafters with books, and yet the owner knows where every volume is. It's well organized and she's great at offering suggestions if you give her some titles you've liked. We go 2-3 times a year and stock up on used books, it is a treasure trove for both serious readers and vacation pastimes."
— Tripadvisor Reviewer
"I love this used bookstore. They have it all from classics to the newest fiction, children books and thrillers too. The staff is friendly and most often it's the owner herself. Ask her for a good title and she'll help you find it. The books are always in good condition and if you are a local or a fast reading visitor you can return the book for credit when you're done."
— Tripadvisor Reviewer