Thank you for supporting your local independent bookstore!
If you have any questions or concerns about what we can do for you, please contact us.
Schools & Libraries | Consignment | Wish Lists | Returns
CUSTOMER REWARDS
Save your receipts and bring them back in JANUARY and JULY for store credit! We calculate the sum of your subtotals and give you 10% back to use towards future purchases at any time.
- The age of the receipt does not matter as long as the receipt is legible.
- Receipts cannot be redeemed for the subtotal reward more than once.
- Online orders from the previous 6 months may be applied towards the subtotal reward.
SPECIAL ORDERS
Although we carry an extensive range of titles, we may not have the particular title(s) of interest to you at the time of your inquiry. However, we are able to order most titles from our distributors, and they generally arrive at the store for pick-up, local delivery, or shipping within 2 to 7 business days, excluding unforeseen circumstances such as extreme weather, shipping delays, and publisher availability. Please note:
- Titles ordered from our independent bookstore distributors take 2 to 7 business days to arrive at the store. It is typically on the lower end of the range, but we recommend ordering a title as soon as possible with the full range in mind to be safe.
- Titles ordered directly from publishers generally take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks to arrive at the store depending on the publisher's fulfillment speed and the title's availability. Stocking backordered titles, for example, depends on when the publisher prints enough copies to send to distributors.
- Please call or visit our store to request a price quote.
ONLINE ORDERING
Ordering through our website is quick and convenient!
Please note:
- We only accept debit or credit cards for online purchases. We do take contactless payment and Apple Pay in-store. Though there is always an element of risk in using a credit card, all transactions are sent to our server using secure encrypted connections. We keep records of nothing.
- Titles that are in stock will ship within 1-2 business days via USPS Media Mail to the continental US. The shipping price may vary with oversized books.
- Titles that are out of stock follow the same timeline as our in-store special orders listed above.
- Prices in the online database are usually current and accurate. When the price is incorrect and lower than listed, we will ship with the lower price. When the price is incorrect and higher than listed, we will notify you and wait for your approval before shipping.
SHIPPING
Unless otherwise requested, we automatically use USPS Media Mail's service to keep shipping costs low for our customers. USPS Media Mail generally takes about 2 to 8 days for delivery.
Please note:
- If you prefer a faster shipping method, please call or email us to request this change. We are able to adjust the shipping service and speed and can provide a price quote.
- Once USPS picks up your order, the speed of delivery is no longer in our control. That being said, we are happy to assist you with tracking packages if there are unforeseen delays or circumstances. We will do everything that we can to ensure a painless experience, including reordering titles or issuing refunds when appropriate.
LOCAL DELIVERY
Since the onset of COVID-19, we are pleased to offer free local delivery on Tuesdays and Fridays. Whether you place an order in person or online, you qualify for free local delivery if you are located within our zone. For more information, please contact us. If you place an online order and request local delivery (or we notice you are within our zone), we will notify you and refund the shipping charge. Our courier will also leave a courtesy call.
USED BOOKS
Although we are a new bookstore, we strive to have a selection of used books available for purchase. We sell used books at 50% off the original list price. Twice a year, we offer a used book sale for an even better bargain with an additional 50% off the reduced price.
INTERESTED IN SELLING YOUR BOOKS TO US?
If you have recently published and gently used books to sell, let us know! We are happy to assist you with the process by reviewing your titles to determine if they are appropriate for our bookstore.
Please Note:
- We do not take used books from Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day.
- We do not accept college guides, test prep, textbooks, or travel/restaurant guides.
- We do not deal with rare or antiquarian titles and are happy to redirect you to appropriate sources.
- We accept 1-2 bags worth of books at a time.
- We do not review used books at the time of drop-off. Please allow us 2-3 days to evaluate your books.
- Accepted books receive 25% of the used book selling price (25% of half-price) in store credit.
- Depending on your preferences indicated on the paperwork completed at the time of drop off, unaccepted books may be returned to you or donated to our $1 bins.
- All of the proceeds from our $1 bins are given to local literacy organizations.
- You have 14 days from the first day we contact you to pick up your unaccepted books (if desired) or they will be donated.
DISCOUNTS
We offer discounts every day on selected book titles ranging from new releases to bestsellers to in-store book club picks. If more than one discount is applicable to a title, the higher of the two discounts will be applied. We do not combine discounts. Discounts do not apply to purchases of gift certificates.
Active Military & Veterans | 10% off every day |
AS220 Card Holders | 10% off every day |
Providence Athenæum Members | |
Book Club Picks* *must be officially sponsored by or associated with Books on the Square |
10% off every day |
Brown Employees | 10% off every day |
College Students (with valid ID) | 10% off every day |
Frequency Writers | 10% off every day |
Gifts for Schools | 10% off every day |
Grub Street Members | 10% off every day |
LitArts RI Members | 10% off every day |
Providence Athenæum Members | 10% off every day |
Public Librarians | 10% off every day |
Senior Citizens | 10% off on Tuesday |
Teachers & Librarians |
10% off personal purchases every day 20% classroom purchases every day |
Trinity & The Gamm Members | 10% off every day |
Wayland Square Employees | 10% off every day |
WGBH/WPBS Members | 10% off every day |
Single qualifying store purchases between $500 and $1,000 | 20% off every day |
Purchases over $1,000 | 25% off every day |
BUSINESS, INSTITUTION, and GOVERNMENT SAVINGS and SERVICES DISCOUNT
With this discount, you will find it easier to meet your organization’s book needs at our store. Whether you’re building your organization’s library, rewarding valuable employees or clients, or looking for training materials to stay on top of your industry’s changing demands, Books on the Square is here to save you time and money in the process. Please contact us at 401-331-9097 or email Jennifer at jennifer@booksq.com
DONATIONS
We are happy to support a variety of non-profit and community organizations. However, since we receive so many requests, we have decided to limit our donations to organizations involved in education and literacy.
We must receive a written request on official organization letterhead with contact person information. Please send all requests to Meghan Admirand.
Organizations that will be receiving donations will be contacted two weeks before the date of their event.