A reader’s guide to 17 libraries + book clubs in Huntsville we love

Reviewed by: Elizabeth Hobbs

Reading time: 7 minutes

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The owner of the Bookwyrm inside of her store
The Bookwyrm is a great place to wiggle into a good book. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

Happy Read Across America week! While this week is specifically dedicated to my favorite pastime, Huntsville is home to a variety of bookstores, clubs, libraries and more all year round!

We took some time to track down all things bookish in town — check them out below.

Local Bookstores

The Snail on the Wall interior, filled with crowd
The Snail on the Wall is a cherished local bookstore! (Hville Blast / Ben Johnson)

The Snail on the Wall

This is an adorable independent bookstore in Five Points dedicated to providing readers with quality books, events and merchandise. They have thousands of books in-store and also provide a weekly list of The Snail’s favorites.

The Bookwyrm

The Bookwyrm is a medieval-themed bookstore with a wide array of used titles. In addition to events and clubs around books, this store also hosts game nights and events like their learn to play D&D sessions.

Booklegger Used Books

This used bookstore community event space has a ton of space (and books). Booklegger hosts events — like their popular “Book Bedazzling” series — and appears at various markets and pop-ups around town.

Blushing Books

You might’ve seen Blushing Books’ bright pink book bus at various events around town and looked around their cache of romance titles. If not, no worries! Their team is working to open a new brick and mortar storefront downtown later this year.

Burnwater Books

Burnwater Books is an independent seller that appears at various pop-ups around town; recently they had a stint at Canadian Bakin. When you can’t catch them in person, you can find their highly curated selection of prose, poetry and nonfiction on their website.

Other bookstores:

Book Clubs

people stacking books/book stack
One of the Huntsville Silent Book Club’s end of meeting book stack group photos! (Elizabeth Hobbs / Hville Blast)

Silent Book Club

Huntsville is home to a robust chapter of the worldwide “Silent Book Club” organization. At meetings — commonly held at Gold Sprint, Piper and Leaf or backstage at the Orion — members bring a book of their choosing (in a medium of their choosing) and silently enjoy them in the company of others. No discussion necessary!

Cattyshack’s Catty Book Club

Lowe Mill’s cat rescue and lounge, Cattyshack, also hosts its own monthly book clubs where members can discuss a book while petting cats. What’s not to love?! If this is up your alley, make sure to reserve your spot for any month’s meeting in advance — only 12 people can hang out with the cats at once.

Books for Beer Nerds

This book club is focused around another one of the group’s shared interests: beer. Books for Beer Nerds meets every second Sunday of the month at Innerspace Brewing Company — head there this upcoming Sunday for discussion around this month’s work, Hidden Figures.

And more…

Not interested in any of these clubs? You’re in luck — there are many more book clubs and groups around Huntsville. You can find a list of all library supported book clubs and upcoming meeting dates on their website.

Libraries

Gardening titles at the Friends Used Book Sale Room at Decatur Public Library in Decatur, Alabama.
The library is home to all kinds of different titles…even gardening! (Lisa Battles / Hville Blast)

The Huntsville-Madison County Library System hosts 10 different branches and over a million different items in circulation. There are several different locations in the Rocket City, all with various (free!) amenities to offer library cardholders.

Downtown Huntsville Public Library

North Huntsville Public Library

South Huntsville Public Library

Calvary Hill Public Library

Friends of the Library

The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library System also offers a Friends of the Library paid membership with perks like:

  • Access to Cover to Cover, the library’s quarterly digital
  • Members-only access to book sales
  • 50% off book sale events
  • 3-week check-outs for library books, audiobooks, DVDs, and Blu-Ray

Additionally, the Friends of the Library have small used bookstores inside of the Downtown Huntsville and South Huntsville branches with hours varying with volunteer support.

You can find out more about the Huntsville-Madison County Friends of the Library program here and tentative hours for the bookstores here.

Little Free Libraries

little free library
Have you seen the little free libraries scattered throughout Huntsville? (Ryleigh Scott / Hville Blast)

Huntsville’s Little Free Libraries are a part of a worldwide system of small, often homemade, outdoor book-sharing boxes located in parks or neighborhoods that operate on a “take a book, share a book” honor system.

Little Free Libraries are open 24/7 and driven by their surrounding community to increase access and excitement around books. They can be found at several locations in and around Huntsville:

Oak Park Little Free Library

Little Free Library #91244

Little Free Library #134753

Other bookish spots in Huntsville

exterior of pyewacet press in lowe mill
Pyewacket Press is a wonderful part of the Lowe Mill creative community. (Mallory Kimbrell / Hville Blast)

Pyewacket Press, Printmaking and Book Arts

This local printmaking and handmade book art studio is located in Lowe Mill and also hosts events like Sketchbook Journaling and Paper Making!

Huntsville Independent Press

 Huntsville’s only and North AL’s largest independent press, this shop is dedicated to lifting the voices of authors across the Tennessee Valley through quality editorial work.

These are all the bookish stores, spots, clubs and libraries we could find around Huntsville. If you are celebrating Read Across America Week or just in need of a fresh addition to your home library, one of these spots will surely have you covered.

👀 Did we miss your favorite bookish spot or store in Huntsville? Let us know!

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Caroline Chesnut
Caroline Chesnut
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