Job Discussion Forums

[thelmadatter]

Is it just the Tec or what? Why does there seem to be no market for used textbooks, mainly because teachers seem to require that students write in them?

Is there something in the copyright law here?

Texts are no cheaper here than in the States. If anything, they can be more expensive.

[Guy Courchesne]

I doubt copyright law has anything to do with it...there's no enforcement here in Mexico.

I've seen the odd ad in Segunadamano offering used texts, but otherwsie, even in this metropolis of DF, I've never seen a used book store. There has to be something somewhere...

[moonraven]

Gee, Guy--where have you been hanging out?

There are at least 20 good used bookstores north and east of the cathedral on Donceles. Some handle a multitude of topics--and they frequently have the offbeat items that I ask for (Humboldt's Venezuelan journals, for example--which I couldn't find in Caracas!) in the stacks in the back. Others are specialized--rare books, law books, etc. Lots of great stuff there....And they also carry new "remainders".

There are also some guys selling on racks in the street. They have some good stuff, but are usually overpriced. And they don't have texts. For similar stuff to theirs but at slightly better prices, try the alley from Tacuba to 5 de mayo that comes out across from the Sanborn's House of Tiles. Also along Balderas between the steps down to the Metro and the park of the Ciudadela (but few as far north as the big craft market). Balderas also has some puestos with 78 rpm records, neo-hippie jewelry, tees, decent used leather and wool jackets, etc.

And of course there is Laguinilla on weekends.

And here's the best place for really GOOD stuff: the street outside Cineteca. I bought some volumes of Jung's Collected Works there, plus other good stuff. And prices are seldom more than 20 pesos per volume.

Here in Cuautla I go once a week with a stack of books and mags and trade them in for others at my favorite used bookstore.

[Guy Courchesne]

I should have specified...used textbooks in EFL, as I think Thelma meant.

I've seen a couple of the places you mentioned...particularly around the Cuidadela. That's one of my favorite browsing areas.

The Centro has changed a lot in the last 3 years. Next time I'm downtown I'll look around where you say, but I had only seen the standard American Bookstore, the British bookstore, and a handful of english teaching stores, one good one on Motolina.

[MixtecaMike]

Moonraven already mentioned Lagunilla at weekends, but specifically:

On Sundays there is the big tianguis in Comonfort street, which has loads of hippy / punk / dark style clothes, jewelery CDs etc. Also tons of gemstones, and some old stuff, like old toys, comics, movie posters, etc. There are also antiques, but most of these are on Reforma, from the corner of Matamoros back towards the Garibaldi Metro.

However, for books, it is not strictly Lagunilla, but along the south side of Eje 1, from the corner of Reforma (or the Garibaldi Metro station) along as far as Comonfort. There are some good finds there, although the sellers are certainly sharp and not likely to sell you any treasures for a couple of bucks. Some bargains MAY be available from the odd guy on the north side of Eje 1 who sells stuff he has salvaged off a blanket.

Important notes: This info dates back from when I lived in Comonfort Street, so it may be out of date. But BEWARE of the bunch of people smoking dope and drinking at the two stores on the east side of Comonfort down towards Matamoros. There is a gang that operates there and they get strangers very drunk or stoned and then rob them when they pass out. Not violent, but you don't want to wake up in Col. Ext. Morelos with no wallet.

Also, there was The Cheese Man, who sells delicious cheese and salami from a shopping trolley on the corner of Reforma and Bocanegra (I think) anyways, it's the next street down from Matamoros heading back towards Eje 1. He's right in front of what used to be the big white Casa del Disco building.

All of this is only Sunday, best time to be there is from 12:00 till about 16:00.

[moonraven]

Guy,

It wasn't clear to me what she meant. Obviously I would not be looking for used EFL textbooks--given that I don't use textbooks and also do not buy any books in English.

The American Bookstore on Bol�var is about 4 blocks south and west of the street with the concentration of used bookstores, Donceles--which is also the street with all the new and used camera stores and the Colegio Nacional facility for conferencias magistrales. The bookstores have been there as long as I have been in Mexico--and probably have been there for fifty years or more, given that the UNAM used to have facilities for classes on the next street over.

[Guy Courchesne]

Like I say, Moonraven, I'll check next time I'm there. Browsing used book stores was a great hobby of mine back home.

I don't know how long it's been since you were al centro in DF, but they have recently completed a major renewal project there and many stores and buildings have changed...rents and property values gone up, all thanks to Carlos Slim.

[moonraven]

I go to Mexico City all the time, Guy, as it's only 2 hours from here by bus.

The last time I was there was last Wednesday--to catch the Mayan jade mask temporary exhibit at the Museo de Antropolog�a before it closed--and to see the Rodrigo Moya photos from the 50s and 60s at Centro de la Imagen. And then the reward of the Enchiladas Especiales at Cafe de Tacuba--chunks of chicken (not the scroungy shredded tendons and stuff), spinach, cream, cheese--gratineed. Not cheap, but the best in the city.

[Guy Courchesne]

Nice...no idea you made it up so frequently.

It's I who have to get out more...

If you ever want to get lunch sometime you are up here, PM me.

[moonraven]

Thanks. I will do that.