Bryn Mawr Book Exchange

Bryn Mawr Book Exchange has been a Main Line institution since 1976, its overflowing shelves drawing bibliophiles from across the Philadelphia region and beyond. The store sprawls through two connected storefronts on Lancaster Avenue, every available surface laden with books stacked, shelved, and occasionally piled in precarious towers that somehow always yield exactly the title you were looking for. The academic strengths are formidable, nourished by proximity to Bryn Mawr College, Haverford, and Swarthmore, with philosophy, classics, and women's studies sections that can hold their own against university libraries. The rare books section, kept behind glass in the back room, contains first editions and signed copies spanning centuries of literary production. Despite its scholarly character, the store is welcoming to all comers, and the knowledgeable staff delight in helping casual browsers discover unexpected gems alongside the serious collectors who make regular pilgrimages.