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Ars Libri
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Art Galleries Shopping Art Galleries Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Art Galleries, Bookstores
500 Harrison Ave(between Perry St & Randolph St)
Boston, MA 02118
Neighborhood: South End
(617) 357-5212
- Nearest Transit:
-
Washington St @ Perry St (191)
E Berkeley St @ Harrison Ave (11, 9)
Washington St @ E Berkeley St (191, SL4, SL5)
- Price Range:
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$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
4 reviews for Ars Libri
4 reviews in English
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Review from Julia N.
Boston, MA
1/13/2012
Ring the doorbell!
Greeted by a delightfully enthusiastic man who nudged me towards their current exhibition (which also made me accidentally pass this place on the way down Harrison), I enjoyed every single minute there. The point is that Ars Libri has many texts out of print -- probably why MOMA has a huge section.
They have a great amount of non-"American" texts, an impressive section of Dutch and German, awesome contemporary section as well as an awesome Modern section.
Ars Libri isn't a seek-and-exit experience, considering how many awesome texts I happened by while looking for some German textbooks. In regard to the pricing, it should be obvious that it will get pretty pricy. Everything I looked at, however, was 50 bucks and below, with absolutely no disgusting sidenotes, or highlight marks. A good majority of them are aged and smell wonderfully funky.
I didn't buy anything my first time around (the hardcover of Ringgold's narratives beckoned me. . . ) simply because I started picking up too much stuff. I will stop by here again, and it's also located near a nice cafe closer towards Tremont St.
I should have asked for the gentleman's name, but he was extremely helpful. I asked him the vaguest question concerning German artists and he directed me to an interesting section in the contemporary part. Amid thumbing through the binds of so many texts, he later approached me with a directory list of texts that may interest me. He was very pleasant, though I'm unsure the other two experienced the same friendliness with the woman working in the store. I get the feeling she does not enjoy being interrupted. -
Review from Filip T.
Cambridge, MA
4/23/2011
Hidden with rows and rows of
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Wish they had more architecture books, but there is so much more to discover. A whole bookshelf of MOMA catalogs dating back to the 50's?
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More wandering...
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Whats this? A catalog of every single design submitted for the Chicago Tribune competition, that basically calls into question everything ever said or written about the Adolf Loos design?
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Review from Steph M.
Boston, MA
11/10/2008
I've lived in the South End for about a year now and haven't done nearly as much exploring as I had hoped to (school, always getting in the way!). So last weekend, boyfriend and I decided to stroll down Harrison to find Gaslight and get to know the neighborhood better.
We passed Ars Libri and I was drawn to the stacks of books inside. Typically when stores have doorbells, you ring them...so we did. Soon after, a man let us in and left us to explore without giving us a snooty attitude just because we're on the young end of the spectrum--something I've encountered in many snobby art bookstores before. Before I could comprehend where I was, I noticed a large table amid the stacks with open bottles of wine so that, presumably, you could sit and sip on something as you read. Sweet, I thought.
And then I realized that I had found the holy grail.
Most people like art, so an art bookstore would be a cool thing to find. But as an art history major who is minoring in museum studies, the realization that the place was solely dedicated to books on art, ethnography, and architecture led me to hold in the loudest squeal that would have ever left my lips. I flitted from bookshelf to bookshelf, seeing titles that I had read excerpts from for school before but had never been able to hold in my hands. I was in heaven.
The store is impeccably organized, and the selection is amazing. I didn't speak much to the shopkeep, who I understand is a book dealer, but I imagine that he could find anything you might ever be looking for. And depending on what you're looking for, the book prices are actually pretty reasonable; there were a couple of out of print titles that I had been stalking on Amazon for upwards of $50 that were for sale at Ars Libri for less than $30. Not bad at all, especially considering the fine quality and excellent condition they were in.
I highly recommend this bookstore for any lover of books or art, or anyone looking to expand their horizons a bit. The space is beautiful and light, a soothing respite from the bustling city. I will most definitely be returning and hope to gradually fill my bookshelves up with the phenomenal wares this store has to offer. -
Review from Pete S.
Somerville, MA
9/13/2006
An excellent dealer in fine and rare used books primarily in the fine arts.
Ars Libri is located in an unassuming storefront on a quiet part of Harrison Ave. Stumbling upon it one Saturday morning I couldn't tell if it was even open to the public. I tried the door, and finding it locked, began to walk away. Just then a gentleman popped his head out and asked if he could help me. I was just passing by and curious, I said. "Are you open?"
"In a few minutes," he said. "Come on in."
Inside it felt more like the back room of a museum or a fine library. Historic and arcane books in all manner of languages lined the shelves of aisle after aisle, ranging from small manuscripts to huge leather-bound catalogues. Along one side, the owner sat at his desk, making deals on the telephone with other dealers of rare and delicate volumes as I just walked the aisles in some awe, occasionally daring to remove and inspect a book here and there when I wasn't afraid I'd somehow ruin a treasured artifact.
I have to admit, the whole place was a little bit intimidating, and I felt a little, well, unqualified to be there. The cheapest of books here are not at all cheap, and the low-key display and location made it feel almost as if I should have had an appointment to be there. But he let me in, so I tried not to let it bother me.
If you're like me and your heart rate picks up a little when surrounded by mysterious, intriguing old books, or if you're just passionate about the fine arts and want to see some books on the subject that you probably won't find in may other places, it's worth hunting this place out and having a careful look around.
