Left Continue shopping
Your Order

You have no items in your cart

FAQS

Frequently asked Questions

When will my order arrive?

We have a small staff at The Library Store and we try to fulfill orders Monday through Friday. You should receive a tracking number when your order is fulfilled. Please check the shipping carrier website for up-to-date tracking information. Depending on where you live and which service is used, you can expect your order to arrive in 1-5 business days from the moment it's shipped. We encourage you to place orders early if you need your items by a particular date or take advantage of our Local Pickup option if you live nearby.

When will my pre-ordered book be shipped?

We ship out pre-ordered or back-ordered books when they arrive at The Library Store. There may be an additional wait period if we are waiting for signed bookplates to arrive. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

How much do you charge for shipping?

Currently, our shipping rates are based on UPS and USPS cubic carrier rates. Higher rates may apply for orders sent to Hawaii or Alaska.

Do you ship outside the United States?

We currently do not ship outside the United States.

Am I able to pickup my order in-person?

Yes, we offer curbside pickup on the 5th Street side of the Library during limited hours. We also offer in-store pickup during regular store hours. See our Local Pickup page for full details.

Do you take book donations?

We periodically accept small-volume donations of books that are in good condition. Please phone us at (213) 228-7550 or email us at librarystore@lfla.org to confirm that we are able to take your books. Note that we are unable to pick up the donation from you.

Where else can I donate my books?

Please consider donating your books to The ReFresh Spot, a Skid Row community-driven project that provides shower and laundry facilities for those experiencing homelessness. Contact Laura Hamilton at lhamilton@hhcla.org for more information.

Your local library: please contact individual branches for information on how to donate.

American Book Drive. Based in Southern California, the American Book Drive specializes in redistributing used books, helping to keep them out of landfills.

What types of products do you sell?

We offer a broad range of products that are suitable for adults and youth, alike. You'll find that much of our merchandise falls into categories pertaining to the Los Angeles Public Library, reading, writing, literature, Los Angeles and California, cooking, wellness, civic engagement and the arts and sciences. We regularly feature current writing by authors who have been guests at ALOUD events. While this may sound like serious business, our whimsical approach to product selection results in happy customers and a very fun shopping experience!

You have some products that feature swear words; is this appropriate for the library?

We understand that some of the material we carry may not be for everyone, but we don't believe in censorship and find some of our customers enjoy these products. They are meant to entertain and spark enthusiasm. We are in no way trying to offend anyone, but if something bothers you, please check the rest of our site and you will find that most of what we sell is non-controversial.

How can I sell my products at The Library Store?

We're happy to hear from new vendors and local artisans! Please email us at librarystore@lfla.org with a link to your wholesale website or catalogue.

Please note that we receive many inquiries and are unable to respond to every email. We will reach out to you if we feel The Library Store will be a good home for your product.

For consignment inquiries, please see our Vendor Consignment page for details.

What measures does The Library Store take to reduce its carbon footprint?

We recognize the critical importance of being good custodians of our environment. To this end, we strive to adhere to the following guidelines:

  • We do not select merchandise that has excessive packaging, and we particularly avoid excessive plastic packaging.
  • We seek stationery vendors who use recycled and/or FSC-certified paper.
  • We seek merchandise that will aid the consumer in leading an earth-friendly lifestyle.
  • We patronize and highlight local makers and vendors.
  • We've made great efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle in our shipping practices by mainly using recyclable cardboard and paper packaging, transitioning from plastic to paper tape, reusing shipping materials from incoming shipments, transitioning from plastic bubble wrap to Greenwrap, and compactly packing orders to reduce size, weight, and materials.
  • We offer curbside pickup for local patrons.

What is your return policy?

Items can be returned to us within 30 days from purchase. We do not accept returns of used, damaged, or consumable items. Returns made from online purchases must be shipped back to us at your own cost in order to process your refund. We may provide return labels if you wish to exchange an item for a different size or if you received the wrong item in your order. You may also return items to us during our regular store hours. Please email us at librarystore@lfla.org with any questions.

Yes, The Library Store is currently open and our current hours can be viewed here.

Are there late fees?

No, there are no late fees if you miss a scheduled payment.

What is the option to pay in installments on Shop Pay?

When checking out with Shop Pay, you now have the option to pay now or later. Paying in installments on Shop Pay allows you to split your purchase amount into flexible installment payments.* Your first payment is due when you make your purchase.

*Payment options are offered by Affirm and are subject to eligibility check and might not be available in all states. California residents: Affirm Loan Services, LLC is licensed by the Department of Business Oversight. Loans are made or arranged pursuant to California Financing Law license.

What if I make a return on a purchase made through Installments with Shop Pay?

If your refund amount is less than the amount remaining on your Shop Pay Installments balance, then you can expect one or both of the following:

  • A smaller payment balance on the final payment.
  • Less future payments on the remaining loan balance.

If your refund amount is more than the amount remaining on your Shop Pay Installments balance, then you can expect to receive the difference as a refund to your original payment method within 3 to 10 business days.

Which payment methods are accepted if I use the option to pay Installments on Shop Pay?

The installments option on Shop Pay is available on debit cards.

Have more questions?

  • For questions about installment payments on Shop Pay, visit this page
  • For questions about Shop Pay or the Shop App, visit this page