The recent bankruptcy of bookstore giant Borders has led to the closing of many of its Chicago stores. The Hyde Park location now sits dormant, the Lincoln Square spot just shut its doors, and the chain is even losing its Mag Mile storefront. Luckily, Chicago is full of awesome independent bookstores: far better places to pick up your reading than Borders ever was. Don't lament the downfall of corporate bookselling. Check out these great stores instead.

Powell's Books

Packed floor to ceiling with rare tomes, Powell's smells like the dust of centuries of knowledge. They specialize in books on medieval studies and classics, featuring many rare and out of print volumes. Most of their offerings are either used or discounted, so your unique find probably won't cost you a whole lot. Powell's is also the only place in North America you'll be able to find a special series of Oxford University Press reprints. Pretty cool stuff if you're into dead Greek dudes. You can find the Lakeview Powell's on Lincoln just off of Diversey, while southsiders can swing by their Hyde Park location at 57th and Harper. 

Quimby's

Hipsters and geeks alike will be delighted by this quirky selection. Quimby's is Chicago's premiere bookstore for alternative culture and underground literature. There you'll find strange little chapbooks and unusual zines that probably can't even be bought on the internet. Quimby's just celebrated the 20th year of its embodiment of the odd. Its dedication to featuring books from independent publishers ensures that you'll be helping to undermine corporate book culture just by shopping there. Quimby's is located in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood at North and Wolcott. 

Myopic Books

Also situated in Wicker Park, Myopic has one of the biggest selections of used books you're likely to encounter. Their rickety fiction loft is lined with older copies of fantastic books. Occasionally you'll find strange editions or reviewer's copies hidden among the standards. Their enormous wall of poetry also features one of the best selections I've ever seen of books by contemporary poets. What you'll find is always an adventure, given how quickly their stock changes, but it's often a rewarding one. They even have Charles Bukowski's last breath locked up in a glass case. Stop by after dinner at the still-living Earwax Cafe just across the street on Milwaukee. 

The Seminary Co-op

A neverending labyrinth of knowledge, the Sem-Coop provides humanities students at the University of Chicago with all their literary needs. Hidden away in the basement of the University's beautiful theological seminary, it's crammed full with all varieties of new books. Scholars will find the classics in abundance, but the Co-op does a good job at staying on top of new releases, too. There's even a substantial graphic novel section for nerdy student types. Frequent customers can receive an ongoing discount for a $30 membership fee. Even those who are long finished with school will be able to find pleasure reading somewhere in the Co-op's windowless depths. Pay it a visit at 58th and University if you happen to be south of things.