If you are a bibliophile (book lover), Pierce's Used Book Shop is a place for you. It is one of the best used book stores in the tri-state area. One visit to its West End Plaza Brodheadsville location and you will agree.

It is covered wall to wall in books, from top to bottom.The store reflects Russ Pierce's lifelong passion for books. So it's no wonder he still has the first book he ever bought, "Blackbeard's Ghost" from Scholastic Reader in 1967."It's in pristine condition," he says.In 1996, Pierce and his wife of 34 years, Pam, decided to open a used bookstore. They went all over to flea markets, yard sales and auctions, buying anything and everything. They opened their store in Walnutport with 30,000 books in 1997.Five years later, they moved the store to the Liberty Plaza in Brodheadsville. They were there for 12 years. Two years ago, they moved the store to its current location at the West End Plaza in Brodheadsville to accommodate their over 150,000 books.He says that when people come into the shop, their jaws drop.The Pierces no longer have to go to flea markets and yard sales."Now people bring in their used books to us. We literally get in thousands of books a month. So the store is constantly being refreshed," Pierce said.When he feels he's overstocked, he puts the word out and people come to him to buy in bulk.He's very proud of the fact that he hasn't raised his prices in 12 years.Pleasant Valley High School notifies him what its reading list is for the year and he has a book section dedicated to that list.Throughout the years, he has seen kids come into the store in strollers who come back to visit and are now in college, the military or with families of their own."I look at them and think people who read books are well-adjusted, nice people."He read something that always stuck with him: Somebody who can read but chooses not to has no advantage over someone who can't read.What he likes best about the business is the constant mental stimulation."It's like getting an amateur college education on virtually every subject."That's because he scans every book that comes into the store and with an almost photographic memory, retains most of what he reads.Also, when a customer comes in the shop and asks for a particular book, it sparks a conversation."That's how you get to learn a little about a subject," he said.Russ's favorite genre is nonfiction history dating from the 1040s and back.When Russ isn't tending to the bookstore, he's tending his large garden. He takes great pleasure in raising vegetables from heirloom seeds. He also enjoys a good poker game.If the store continues in the sales numbers that it has, Russ and Pam estimate they will have sold their one millionth book by 2017.After 17 years, he still has a passion for what he does. He has a feel for what people want to buy, and the bookstore continues to be a great business."I'm blessed," he said.Pierce's Used Book ShopLocation: West End Plaza, BrodheadsvilleOwners: Russ and Pam PierceType of business: BookstoreHow long: 17 yearsCategories: Horror, mystery, romance, classics, science fiction, fantasy, religion, inspirational, nonfiction, biographies, gardening, how-to and more. "We sell everything a bookstore can sell," he says. "I have more books than the chain stores."Just for kids: There is a special room just for kids, filled with books that can be purchased three for a $1.Total books: Over 150,000Who buys books: An eclectic mix, made up of home-schoolers, college kids looking for the classics and off-the-wall books, middle-age people who are looking for mysteries and romance novels. The bulk of his customers, about 75 percent, are women.Biggest sellers: Romance and mysteriesMost requested authors: Romance, Nora Roberts; Mystery, James Patterson; Fantasy, George R.R. Martin. Pierce says V.C. Andrews has seen a huge resurgence, and when Robert Parker died, everyone wanted his books.Most requested category: In the past five years, Pierce would have to say homesteading, books that tell how to raise chickens and composting, etc. He thinks it's because of the economy and people wanting to live more naturally, healthy and economically.Most requested books: "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger and "Animal Farm" by George Orwell.Pierce's personal favorites: "Papillon" a memoir by felon and fugitive, Henri Charrière and "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls.Store hours: Seven days a week, Monday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Cost: $3, $2 with trade-in.Discounts: Bring in your unwanted books for a discount on your purchase.Contact: Phone, 610-681-7717, visit Facebook.