Every book here has already lived one life.
The Second Story is a small used bookshop tucked in the Bow Valley, built around the idea that a well-worn book is worth more than a new one. Come browse, sit a while, and leave with something you weren’t expecting to find.
A shop built for browsing, not just buying.
The Second Story began as one shelf of paperbacks and grew, book by book, into a full shop of used and rare finds. We grade every copy honestly, price it fairly, and keep the shelves loose enough that something unexpected always turns up.
Every book graded and priced by hand — no guesswork on condition, ever.
A standing regional shelf built around books rooted in the Rockies.
Trade-ins and store credit accepted on almost anything we can resell.
From the Reading Desk
Read a Sample, Right Here
A short field guide to the shop, written the way we’d talk you through it in person. Ten pages, ten small ideas about used and rare books.
The Second Story: Notes on Used & Rare Books
Questions We Hear at the Counter
Yes — bring in a box or a bag and we’ll go through it while you browse. We buy based on condition and what our shelves need, and we’re happy to explain our offer on any title.
We use standard terms — fine, very good, good, and reading copy — and note anything specific like cover wear, foxing, or a loose spine directly on the price tag, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Absolutely. Tell us the title, author, or even just a half-remembered detail, and we’ll keep an eye out across our usual sources until we track down a copy.
We keep a small, rotating case of notable first editions and printings, each labelled with what makes it worth noting. It’s not a huge collection, but every piece in it is genuine.
Yes, our storefront has step-free entry and aisles wide enough to move through comfortably. Let us know if you need anything reached from a higher shelf.
We do ship within Canada for most titles. Reach out through the form below with the book you’re after and we’ll confirm shipping details and cost before anything is sent.
Yes, store credit is available on anything we buy, usually at a slightly better rate than a cash sale. Many regulars trade in and out of their collections this way.
We’re open daily through the main tourist season, with slightly shorter hours in the quieter winter months. The most current hours are always posted on our door and social pages.
Occasionally — small author visits, seasonal reading nights, and the odd pop-up swap table. Nothing runs on a fixed schedule, so it’s worth asking at the counter what’s coming up next.
For now, reservations go through the contact form below or a quick message to the shop directly. Tell us the title and we’ll hold it at the counter under your name.
This Week’s Finds
Every so often a box comes in with something worth putting straight on the front table. Here’s what made the staff stop and look twice this week.
A Small Run of Regional History Paperbacks
Six well-travelled titles on the early days of the Bow Valley, still holding up despite decades of being packed for hikes and passed between hands.
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A Well-Loved Poetry Collection
Soft-cornered and clearly read more than once — the kind of copy that came with someone’s pencil notes still faintly visible in the margins.
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A Battered but Complete First Printing
Rough around the edges, but every page is intact and the printing details check out — the kind of flawed copy collectors still ask about first.
Ask About ThisGuides for Book Buyers
How to Read a Used Book Listing Before You Buy
Read MoreUnderstanding Book Condition Grading, Term by Term
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First Editions, Printings, and What Actually Matters
Read More
Caring for Old Books at Home
Read MoreSend Us a Note
Looking for a specific title, want to sell a box of books, or just have a question? Write in below.