Liberty Books — Local services in Lawrenceville

On 12/20/2024, my husband and I visited Liberty Books while waiting for a Christmas show at Aurora Theater. The visit began positively, as I engaged with a charming author and his editor, promoting and signing his book, The Modern-Day Renaissance Man: A Spiritual Odyssey. The book’s explicit discussion of spiritual themes, combined with our enriching conversation, prompted me to buy his book.

However, the mood took a nosedive when I asked an older lady working there where I could find books on spirituality. Her response was sharp and dismissive: "We do not have spiritual books; we are a Christian bookstore." The irony didn’t escape me—there I was, holding a book about a wise man’s spiritual journey and surrounded by shelves filled with Christian and non-Christian themes.

The name "Liberty Books" implies a haven for free thinkers, inclusivity, and a variety of perspectives, yet what I found was quite the opposite. The narrow view and brisk dismissal of anything outside Christian texts was more than just disappointing—it was bewildering.

In hindsight, I wish I’d just handed my money directly to the author outside the store. Supporting a business that doesn't live up to its name or embrace the diversity of thought that ‘Liberty’ suggests doesn’t sit right with me.

The only redeemable aspects of the visit were the heartening conversation with the author and the courteous young lady who handled my transaction. Due to these limited positive interactions, I rate my experience two stars and will...

This store has a large selection of books at good prices! The prices are even better if you have store credits! I got two books and will likely return in the future.

However, this store is NOT wheelchair accessible. The entire sci-fi/fantasy section is in the basement, only accessible by a staircase (with a kind of flimsy feeling handrail). There is a small ramp to get between different sections of the building, but it’s too steep for many wheelchair users to actually get up. And I suspect that some of the aisles would not be wide enough for some wheelchair users to navigate.

Additionally, the books are not very clearly organized in my opinion. At first I completely missed the fiction/novels section because it was sort of hidden behind the Christian books section. All of the sci-fi and fantasy books are grouped together in a basement room, so if you’re looking for JUST sci-fi or fantasy, you will have to go through all of the books! I know that’s common for bookstores to...

Visited this bookstore and was greeted by an older gentleman who started just showing us around. He literally walked us through the entire store, pointing out different sections—even the signage. It started off friendly and informative, but after about 10 minutes, my friend and I were quietly wondering when it would end.

After the tour, we browsed a bit more on our own, and I eventually asked him if they carried a specific book with the word "witchcraft" in the title. He seemed a bit startled and quickly replied, “We’re a Christian bookstore—we wouldn’t have anything on witchcraft.” I couldn’t help but chuckle, especially thinking of the large Sci-Fi/Fantasy section downstairs. And the book's main premise wasn't really anything to do with witchcraft. The staff was alright but the experience was a bit odd. Probably not a place I’d return to, but it might suit someone else better. Love their little book program...