Our Story

In 1972, we opened our first store in a converted laundromat in Dallas, Texas. Co-founders Ken Gjemre and Pat Anderson stocked the store with more than 2,000 books from their personal libraries. Half Price Books was created with the idea of offering a great product at a great price. And it worked! Today, Half Price Books is America's favorite new and used bookstore chain. Our simple philosophy continues under the leadership of Sharon Anderson Wright, daughter of Pat Anderson.

Today Half Price Books has stores in 16 states, with each store carrying a unique variety of new and used books, music, movies and games. The company continues to grow having opened new stores in the Chicago area, Omaha, Nebraska and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Half Price Books is also committed to the community. To help teachers and librarians stretch their dollar even further, we offer a 10% Discount Card, good at all Half Price Books locations. We've been supporting literacy for more than 40 years by working with local literacy groups across the country. Half Price Books strives to help provide people of all ages with the tools and skills necessary to become readers. And through the Half Pint Library program, thousands of books are collected and donated to nonprofit organizations each year.