The Harvard Coop Bookstore

Great Bookstore with helpful staff. You may need a few hrs to look through every section.

Snobby and absolutely inappropriate staff (especially the old lady with short grey hair and glasses). Treats you like an idiot if you ask her anything. She talks to you as if she’s better than you and gives you a face expression of disgust. Wow, apparently not a place where you can ask a question. Someone please teach her how to be professional or let her go. Will never go back there.

The coop is a big bookstore! It has a few floors and a café. They also sell games and notebooks. The best floor is the first floor– the table exhibits of books are actually pretty well thought out and helpful. Provides great gift ideas. It definitely has more of a Barnes and nobles feel than a local bookstore, which some people might like but I don’t. I think Harvard students get good deals, sometimes I’m tempted to try to pretend I am one. They also have talks by authors here sometimes– in fact, you should make sure there isn’t one going on before you go because it shuts down the rest of the bookstore.

Lovely place — it’s big and has a nice little café. The collection of books is diverse. They sell lots of board games, which are great as gifts.
There are some places to sit to read. The café is upstairs with plenty of tables.
Staff is helpful and inviting.
I could window shop here all day.
Located right off the Harvard stop of the Red Line.

Whenever in Cambridge, I ALWAYS stop at the Coop.
It’s transitioned from a general merchandise department store when I was a student to a Barnes & Noble-​run store with a combination of books, a café and EVERY type of Harvard merchandise you’d ever want. Inexpensive pens to cufflinks, all with the Harvard crest– the Coop has it all.
The customer service is always excellent, too; I have been consistently treated with warmth and grace.
Alumni (and others in the Harvard/​MIT community): get– and renew– your Coop number for 10% off.

I was in this store today browsing through what seemed like several well maintained floors of books while Oktoberfest was going on right outside the store. My boyfriend and a friend, both professional photographers, came to retrieve me after photographing the events outside. Their camera equipment was clearly in their bags or at their sides, and no one was taking pictures, as both were speaking to me while I browsed in the fiction section with books in my hand that I clearly intended to purchase. Additionally, my boyfriend was holding a bag from the store with purchases he had already made inside. Without warning, we were approached by a man who did not introduce himself, but appeared to be a manager, along with a man in a black suit, presumably a security guard and accused the my boyfriend and friend of taking pictures. They stated that they were not, and showed their cameras that were strapped on their sides, lens caps in place. I stated that they were with me and I was a customer. This was ignored as the manager continued to state that they received a report from an employee that they were photographing in the store. The manager and other man were incredibly rude. My boyfriend and friend left immediately as to not create trouble, while the two store employees hovered nearby. I continued to browse, intending to purchase my books, but realizing I was being watched without good cause, left the books and exited. I have had excellent experiences in Cambridge businesses thus far, and this was completely contrary to the service level I have come to expect. In fact, the accusatory nature of the event left me unwilling to support this business in any way, and I will likely put I call in to management, as the encounter was entirely offensive to quiet, paying customers who had done nothing wrong. I highly recommend trying another bookstore when you are nearby, and avoiding this poorly run, offensive business altogether. I will certainly be taking my business elsewhere.

I was quite disappointed in the engineering section, especially as it relates to the «old economy». Clearly, there was little interest in populating books within topics involving industrial production and product development. Sorry.

Just the kind of bookstore I like. Variety of books, well located, cool. Smart people to give you advice. I loved my visit there, too bad I couldn’t stay longer.

Very cool shop! I first went after completing executive education at the Kennedy school and needed to replace a coffee mug and upgrade my beach towel.
I found an amazing Tervis cup which is way better than the coffee mug I used to have. The towels were out of stock but hopefully they’ll have them again soon!

Is it any coincidence I ended up buying Very Good Lives by JK Rowling when the place I bought it in looks like it might be a bookstore in Hogsmeade? I’ll let you answer that.
This place was my every dream. Literal tears welling up in my eyes when I walked in. My fascination and taste in books knows no limits. I was perusing the first bookcase when the friend that I was with explored the ground floor, the upstairs floor, and managed to leave before I even noticed. The first bookcase, to the left, is a bookcase that contains books from all of the individuals who teach at Harvard. I had about three books stacked in my arms before I even left that bookcase. So magical.
The other stacks of books and bookcases contained new releases and the such which I was admittedly less interested in than the books from the Harvard professors. I’m really into research, so it was like a dream come true staring at that first bookcase.
I guess what got me though was the spiral staircase. Friends, they have a SPIRAL staircase. I’m twitching with delight just thinking about it.
It felt like it was from a movie or book. Their selection to different types of books was so vast. At the bottom of the staircase they have a list of all the floors with different special interest topics for each floor. Although I didn’t get to see all the floors, my heart was hammering just looking at it. Whatever interests you, you are sure to find it here.

Beautiful book store. Had lots of employees available to help and plenty of chairs and tables to find a quiet spot to read.

Came here yesterday introduced by a friendly Harvard tour student leader. This place is not named bookstore, but I believe it’s the best on campus. There r another place named bookstore and another place only selling shirt and other stuff. But still this is the best.
It has a bunch of books when u walk in. Hanging Harvard flags on the walls making u feel the Harvard culture. There’s also café on the second floor. If u walk through on floor 3, u will get to another building. Walking down to the floor 1, u will find it has all the gifts selling. I bought pens, key-​rings, Harvard bear and a Harvard cup there. Things r mostly made in China with charging a high price. Just say a key-​ring costs almost 16 bucks with tax which is kinda monopoly since Harvard is the best in the world, u either take the bite or walk out with nothing.
Overall, I like this place since it provided all the service I expected.
Still. The restroom is a little bad, it’s one by one mode, u have to wait in like to get in which sometimes may be a long wait, especially if u r female.

I’m curling up in one of the corner chairs right now, surrounded by books in wooden shelves, dimmed lighting and a floor-​length window to my right. Hands down the comfiest spot I have ever been at since I came to Boston/​Cambridge/​Greater Boston Area. And I don’t even go to Harvard.
Ok, what’s there to say about this place? I love it. As a business student with fiery entrepreneurial spirit, I love that they have so many cool-​looking books in the business books section, especially the good stuffs published by Harvard Business School. They just tickle my soft spot for business knowledge! Usually when I’m waiting for my own Bentley University shuttle nearby, I pick a random book and (if I’m lucky) sit in a chair, like what I’m doing right now, to read it.
One thing that kinda irks me a bit is that the free wifi seems to be disconnecting every 15 mins. But no biggie, I can just reconnect and all is well with the world.
Keep in mind though, that they seem to charge books based on the suggested retail price, so I come here to check out titles, maybe sniff some books a bit… but I buy my stuff at Amazon. :P If they charged lower prices for books they would probably pocket all my monthly disposable income.
They have fancy classical music. Wood chairs. Bookstore lighting. Amazing business books selection. Restrooms on 3^rd floor. Attwifi free wi-​fi. Spiral staircase. And no staffs breathing down your neck for reading a book for hours. Harvard Bookstore is simply awesome. Come here for the ultimate bookstore experience!

I’m kind of torn about the Harvard Coop. It’s run by Barnes and Noble, and if I’m going to buy books at a brick-​and-​mortar store I’d prefer to go to a good locally owned business like the Harvard Book Store, Porter Square Books or the Brookline Booksmith. On the other hand, the Coop’s inventory is HUGE. They have what is quite possibly the most comprehensive selection of new books and magazines in the Cambridge/​Boston area: three floors’ worth. They almost always have the book I’m looking for, even if it’s an obscure one. It reminds me of how Borders used to be back in the mid-​90s (when they were still in business) or B&N a decade ago, before they started replacing their book inventory with e-​readers and kids’ toys.
So I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe check an independent bookstore first to see if they have what you’re looking for, and if not try looking for it here. It’s also a great place to browse/​kill an hour – very easy to get lost in the shelves here. Also, note that even though it doesn’t look like your average B&N. It kind of looks like Hogwart’s or something (maybe trying to channel a «Harvard» feel to appeal to tourists). Even if that’s the case, it’s still cool. Not very much seating, though.

With Wordsworth across Brattle Street — my favorite bookstore growing up — long gone, the Harvard Coop and the unrelated Harvard Book Store further down Mass Ave are perhaps the two most comprehensive bookstores in the Boston area these days. Here at the Coop, the large book selection in the main Mass Ave building is complemented by a small café area which is home to a huge selection of magazines, while over in the Brattle/​Palmer annex, which is connected to the main building via footbridge, there’s the biggest selection of Harvard memorabilia of any store in Harvard Square, as well as a large textbook section, which is great to peruse at the beginning of each semester to see what’s being prescribed in Harvard courses.
Although the bookstore is managed by Barnes and Noble these days, the Coop remains exactly that — a member-​based cooperative society open only to students, faculty, and alums of Harvard and MIT. Before Amazon started cutting into the bookselling industry, the membership program was legendary for distributing profits back to members at the end of every year. The rebate has now been replaced by an automatic 10% member discount.
Nevertheless, definitely worth stopping by if you’re already planning to visit Harvard Square and Harvard University.

Came here looking for a Harvard sweatshirt for my brilliant daughter who is most likely to attend. (Not putting down Teen 2, see MIT Coop review…)
Once I found the dang place (its in a different building than the main book part), I was overwhelmed by the selection. All of the different schools had different gear, but there was plenty of generalized gear for those of us who didn’t want to get specific. Yet.
I grabbed an embroidered crew neck sweatshirt and wandered to the register to plunk down the $ 50. Seems to be the going rate for an ivy league champion sweatshirt.
They had so many that I was questioning my selection, until I noticed that most of the young teenaged girls wandering around were wearing the one I picked. Yay me!
Also, they are open until 11pm. Convenient for those of us working during the day.

Easily the best store for new books in Boston… by a lot! The largest selection on 3 floors of books. Even if you’re looking for a semi-​obscure academic book, the chances of them having it are still good.
Secondly, since moving back to MA, it’s been frustrating dealing with how ideologically insulated it is here. Here in this book store located in the heart of American socialism, they still carry even the less major works on the free market side of things. You will not find that diversity in any other store in New England. I’m not exaggerating!

Such a great place to grab a coffee and magazine and just tuck away for a few hours. I love to browse the shop bc they have an amazing selection. It’s a tourist trap though so be prepared. It’s also the bookstore for Harvard students so they have a lot going on. The one side of the store dedicated to students has a lot of great Harvard gear too. I bought a thermos and hoodie here over a year ago and they are both still in excellent condition.
I bought a very nice planner here most recently. It is a great brand and I am very glad I bought it. The people who work here are always nice and helpful.
If you’re in the area and need to kill some time, this is a great spot! Once I spent 3 hours here! It’s just got a great vibe.
Also, they have a cozy upstairs café that serves pretty legit food and coffee.

I found myself here seeking a hat for my father… First I went to the bookstore side and wandered on all the levels before someone was able to help direct me through the connection to the other store that sold the swag I was looking for.
The signage isn’t great here. I looked for a good 10 minutes trying to find proper hats but could only find children’s and packaged items. Finally I discovered a basement full of attire. It’s too bad that they don’t have try on rooms and even staff that are mildly helpful on the floor. I purchased here because I needed to, but given the choice in the future, I’ll avoid.

I love the Coop and it’s selection. I gave them two stars because the cashier was not very nice when the customer in front of me asked him a question. She asked about the sale and he flatly replied «it’s for Harvard students only.» He could have said «Yes we do have a sale for students with Harvard student IDs. Do you have one? If so, I would be happy to give you the sale price.»
It doesn’t cost anything to be nice to customers Mr. Cashier.