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New, used, and bargain books. Located in the heart of Downtown Providence, RI since 2003. We focus on independent presses, academic publishers, art publishers, and other quality presses. New book ordering. Mail order. Shipping available worldwide. Author & other events. Vinyl records.
Selena velazquez
4 months ago
Was walking by and saw they had just opened! It’s such a cute and homie feeling bookstore. The girl working the counter was really nice and the inside was so clean. I love that all the shelving was labeled and they had some interesting genres of books!
Jess Ehm
3 months ago
Very cool, small bookshop! They even have "bargain books", that include excellent titles at a great price. Cool gifts and lots of great titles.
G. Jelly
5 months ago
Such a wonderful store! Would highly recommend it to anyone in search of great reads locally. I wandered into Symposium on a whim and was struck by the beautiful selection of books, records, and stationery. The atmosphere was inviting, with great music playing, clear signage throughout the space, cozy indoor seating, and flyers highlighting events either in the store or at nearby venues. I really enjoyed taking my time and perusing. What truly stood out to me was how incredibly helpful, personable, and knowledgeable the staff were. Five star service from staff who were a joy to chat with! Whether I asked if they had a specific title in stock or was simply looking for recommendations based on my interests, every team member demonstrated a deep knowledge of books and a clear expertise in the store's current selection. I was so impressed with how they offered insightful suggestions with confidence and enthusiasm, often going straight to the shelves to pull out their recommendations for me. I left with several new books I’m excited to start reading, and I can’t wait to return, especially when it’s time for holiday shopping!
Emily Drennan
2 months ago
I love Symposium! But I am begging them to get better price stickers that can peel off in one piece. The current stickers are so cheap that it is impossible to peel them off without gross residue. Again, love it there, just wish the stickers were better quality for the price of the books
Catherine Shih
4 months ago
Really good selection of books considering the size of the store. I really like the books that were laid out for recommendations or by concept. The art section is also pretty nice and I found a couple books to put on my reading list. The prices were a bit high but that’s to be expected from local book stores anyways.
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