Austin (Used) Book Collective
The Austin (Used) Book Collective will pop up at Keep Looking during the 2025 Book Trail on Saturday, April 12. Scroll below to meet the booksellers that make up the collective!
“Freud’s favorite bookshop.”
Tell us the story of your store’s origin.
We opened in the fall of 2023. Both booksellers behind Idle Hands are enthusiastic readers who seek to build large personal libraries. One summer, we were inspired by the many used book offerings in the Northeast and wanted to try our hand at expanding our knowledge of sourcing and selling books in our community.
What makes your store special?
Idle Hands Books is a pop-up used bookstore that intentionally curates an ever-evolving collection of books. We specialize in literary fiction, psychoanalytic theory, and leftist politics. In addition, we carry a robust stock of poetry and translated works from small and independent publishers.
What are a few of your store’s favorite books from the past year?
“Curated, Slow, Friendly”
Tell us the story of your store’s origin.
2023: Our book store started as a way to make room for more books in our own collection. So we actually began by selling books from our own personal library. We had so much fun talking to people about books and wanted to keep up with the relationships we formed by popping up. The rest is history.
What makes your store special?
We view our store as a medium to talk to people about books we love and work we admire.
What are a few of your store’s favorite books from the past year?
Sleeper (Books and Stuff)
✽ @sleeper_books
Year Opened — 2021 (online), 2024 (in-person)
Employees — 2
“Thoughtful. Eclectic. Weird.”
Tell us the story of your store’s origin.
We started acquiring stock and selling online in 2021; our first in-person market was in 2024. The two of us—Jessica and Aaron—started Sleeper in an effort to connect with and support the bookish community here in Austin and Central Texas. We've met so many great people and made quite a few friends while spelunking for stock and running markets, especially as part of the Austin (Used) Book Collective, which we helped form last year. Couldn't be happier.
What makes your store special?
At Sleeper, vintage and otherwise distinctive printings of classic and modern literature are probably what sell best. As our name may hint, though, we are particularly excited to introduce readers to ambitious, provocative, and just plain weird books that have fallen off the radar—or that were never really on it to begin with.
What are a few of your store’s favorite books from the past year?
“Rare, German, Academic”
Tell us the story of your store’s origin.
I have been a bookseller since 2024, with a background as an independent scholar, translator, and teacher.
What makes your store special?
"J. Simon Books" is part of the Austin (Used) Book Collective, with a special focus on non-fiction, academic books, including rare German books, art history, and literature in translation.