The city of Cleveland is packed with things to do, and bookstores are certainly not neglected. The many local bookstores make a great stop for specialty books and gifts, and for those who are looking for a larger chain will be right at home at one of the several Barnes & Noble and Borders stores scattered throughout the city.

Loganberry Books is a locally owned and run bookstore featuring over 70,000 selections of books for readers of all ages. They sell new, used and rare books and also featured is an Annex Gallery where local artists can display their work. Located at 13015 Larchmere Boulevard in West Shaker Heights, the gorgeous store is an excellent place to stop, sit awhile, get involved with a workshop or pick up a copy of a great book.

Joseph-Beth Booksellers is a national chain with a branch located at 25001 Cedar Road in Lyndhurst. The store features an excellent selection of all types of books, and is committed to being involved in the community through charity work, creative partnerships, book fairs and their buyer rewards program. Additionally, the bookstore features the Bronte Bistro, a great place to sit and have a sandwich while you read your new books.

Visible Voice Books is a one-of-a-kind bookstore. They specialize in new, used, antique and specially ordered books; in addition, they have a wine bar and pride themselves on the numerous ways they provide for customers to get involved. Offered is everything from writing workshops to jazz shows, and the store maintains a blog on their website so visitors can be up to date on the latest happenings at the store. Located at 1023 Kenilworth in Cleveland, Visible Voice Books is one store every book lover should visit.

Mac’s Backs Paperbacks is a three-story bookstore brimming with new and used books on 1820 Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights. Mac’s Backs acts as a book exchange, offering credits to customers towards book purchases when they bring in used books. The store also belongs to BookSense, which is a partnership between locally owned bookstores across the nation. There is also a monthly book club, among the other exciting events that take place. Customers looking for a familiar, friendly place to shop for books will feel right at home at Mac’s Backs.

Blessings Christian Bookstore features a large collection of Christian literature, gifts, CDs and Bibles. Located at 10533 Saint Clair Avenue, Blessings Christian Bookstore has a great selection of spiritual gifts, in addition to movies, choir robes and church supplies. Their website also has daily Bible trivia and stories.

Frank’s Hebrew Bookstore is another great place to shop for religious books, although they offer a wider religious spectrum, with sections of books on everything from the Talmud to Kabbalah. The store was founded in 1916 and recently moved to a new location; the store can now be found at 14425 Cedar Road in Cleveland. The store is currently run by its third generation of Frank family members, and all visitors are welcomed into the store’s comfortable familiar atmosphere.

Appletree Books, found at 12419 Cedar Road in Cleveland, is owned by retired Case Western Reserve University Professor Jane Kessler and features a great selection of mostly new books. The store has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and is a great place to stop and browse for any type of books.

The Crooked River Reading Club, located at the Galleria at Ereview, 1301 East 9th Street in downtown Cleveland, is owned by Gail Rapps. This is her second bookstore. The Crooked River Reading Club specializes in working with customers to find rare, out-of-print, foreign language and special order books. Book signings by local authors are frequent, and many editions of signed books are carried by the store. Free gift wrapping is offered for most purchases, as well, and employees are always willing to help customers locate a great read.

The Learned Owl Book Shop is a presence both in Cleveland and online, where it has a website, a Facebook and a Twitter. The physical store is at 204 North Main Street in Hudson, and has three floors, each with a great selection of books. Anything from illustrated children’s books to the latest bestselling novels can be found, and employees are available to make recommendations and special orders. The Learned Owl also has guest writers and their website features a page devoted to book groups, so those looking for like-minded readers will have the ability to connect with various groups.

Zubal Books, where “Scholarly books have been bought and sold since 1961” is a fantastic place to stop and shop for new and used books. Featured on the Travel Channel’s hit show Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, Zubal’s is a unique store. Located in a warehouse in Cleveland, the shopping is all done online –over 5 million titles are available to readers who are looking for rare or out-of-print books or just something to read to pass the time.

Fireside Bookshop has been around for forty-five years and has an excellent selection of all kinds of books, as well as the ability to have special orders delivered within two days; if a customer is looking for an out-of-print book, Fireside’s employees will also research where they can find a copy of it for you and how much it will cost. Located at 29 North Franklin Street in Chagrin Falls, Fireside Bookshop is a great place for book lovers of all ages.

Borders, a national chain of booksellers, can be found at several locations in and around Cleveland, including at 3466 Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights, 6025 Kruse Drive in Solon and 2101 Richmond Road in Beachwood. Borders bookstores feature a great selection of adult and kids’ books, gifts, music and movies.

Barnes & Noble, another national chain, can be found at 691 Richmond Road in Richmond Heights. Barnes & Noble has a large number of books available, as well as movies, CDs and gifts and Preschool Storytime during the week for youngsters who are eager to find some good books to read.