The Dusty Bookshelf

A little about the ladies

manhattan

Cleo, the classy tortie, was found in an alley in Aggieville as a kitten. For the last fifteen years, her home has been among the books. You can usually find her basking in a storefront window.  

But don't forget about Cleo's littermate, Maxine, who recently passed away. Maxine loved curling up in an armchair for the afternoon, and we all miss her very much. We hope that you'll remember Maxine by donating to your local humane society in her name. If you would like to make a donation to the Riley County Humane Society, please visit their website.

lawrence

Alice came to us as a stray in 1999, and she decided she wanted to stay. Always look for her on her green chair in the animals and pets section.  

A history

The Dusty Bookshelf first opened inside a little storefront in Manhattan's Aggieville  in 1985. Due to the kindness of many customer volunteers, The Dusty Bookshelf moved twice before finally settling in its current home on the corner of Manhattan and Moro in 1991.

The handmade shelves full of books occupy a building in Aggieville that has come full circle, beginning as a college co-op bookstore, then transforming into a men's clothing store, and finally housing a bookstore once more.

With Manhattan shelves overflowing, and with a perfect opportunity to spend time in another amazing college town, the Lawrence store was opened in 1996 on Massachusetts Street, the shopping and cultural hub of the city. There were people waiting outside on opening day...and there hasn't been a lull since.

All of the books in the stores come in from the community, and in the culturally rich towns of Lawrence and Manhattan, we are constantly getting in little treasures. 

The Dusty Bookshelf is a simple holding shelf for a book before someone finds it and allows another chapter of its life to be written.