Ball State University has a great gem down in the Village that offers great opportunities and is universally enjoyable for faculty, staff and students. It is the White Rabbit Used Bookstore.
The White Rabbit has been part of the Ball State community for quite some time. It sits there quietly between Greek's Pizzeria and the MT Cup - two other Ball State landmarks - but offers a great time that is all its own. In the last 16 years, it has touched the lives of countless people. It is a simple bookstore but has a lot to offer us.
Owner Derek Edwards has been in the book business for 28 years and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the world of literature that takes a quarter of a century to attain. He sits behind his desk and can direct you anywhere in the store to find exactly what it is you're looking for among his 10,000 titles.
Did you ever read comic books as a kid? The White Rabbit has boxes and boxes of old comic books just waiting for people to look through and get an armful for purchasing.
However, on the counter is one thing that almost any guy can recall loving, which is trading cards. The White Rabbit is a great place to get your collection started again.
The White Rabbit offers something very different than you would ever find at a large bookstore chain. You can find books on almost any subject. If you are looking for a gem from your childhood like the "Fear Street" or "Goosebumps" series, you can find it at the White Rabbit. If you want to find a political biography, you can find it here. If you want any of those thick, true crime books, you can find hundreds of them on these shelves.
Large chains and megastores such as Wal-Mart and Borders - let alone eBay and Amazon - could never offer the same book-buying experience that you get every time you go to the White Rabbit. I have nothing against large bookstores, but they pale in comparison to the character and personality you get when you go to the White Rabbit.
That brings me to another great thing about The White Rabbit - the prices. When shopping at the White Rabbit, you can get double what you could get somewhere else at a fraction of the price. Edwards does sell more rare titles for $100, but almost all of his items are priced anywhere from 50 cents to a few dollars. You can even bring in books for trading. Just give Derek your used books and he'll give you a great price for them, giving you in-store credit to pick up a couple of new books to keep you busy for a while to come.
If you're shopping right now, trying to get the shopping list completed before going home for break, stop and look around in the White Rabbit. I strongly suggest leaving yourself plenty of time to wander and explore the White Rabbit. Its shelves are packed with rare finds, and you don't want to cut yourself short on the chance of finding something special. The White Rabbit is a treasure. Its uniqueness makes it a special place that we should appreciate and enjoy.
Alex Carroll is a junior history major and writes 'Speak Softly' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Alex at apcarroll@bsu.edu.
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