There’s not much to the town of Alberton. With a population of 429, it’s the definition of small-town living. But it does have something every bibliophile can appreciate: one of the largest bookstores in Western Montana. And with over 100,000 titles to choose from, it’s safe to say you’ll always find your next good read here.
Montana Valley Bookstore is a beloved local treasure.
Montana Valley Book Store Facebook Family owned and independently operated, it’s quirky and eccentric in the best way.
Inside the unassuming space, you’ll find shelves, carts, and tables piled high with books… and that’s about it.
Montana Valley Book Store Facebook There are no modern amenities like an espresso bar or oversized reading chairs, but that just leaves room for more reading material.
So, what kinds of books will you find here?
Montana Valley Book Store Facebook A little bit of everything: science fiction, non-fiction, poetry, science, history, cookbooks, and so much more.
Many of the books you’ll see here are either tough to find or out of print entirely.
Montana Valley Book Store Facebook That’s the beauty of being a privately owned business.
The bookstore was founded in 1978 by Kenneth S. Wales, Jr.
lifeasipictured / TripAdvisor Kenneth made the claim of having 100,000 books from the start, so he always kept the shelves well-stocked. His daughter, Keren, took over the store after her father’s death and she still runs it to this day, along with the help of her family.
Here’s the best part: while nothing compares to actually being inside the store, you don’t have to be here to buy books.
Montana Valley Book Store Facebook The store will ship your order to you if you call. And since they’re known for obscure titles, people are always welcome to call to ask about hard-to-find books.
Keren Wales has said her goal is to get as many books as possible into the hands of the people who will love them the most, which think is a beautiful concept.
rshay / TripAdvisor Montana Valley Bookstore is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you can’t make it into the shop, just call (406) 722-4950 to see if they have what you need.
Learn more about this one-of-a-kind bookstore here. It’s safe to say Alberton has more books than people. Livingston can make the same claim.
Montana Valley Book Store Facebook
Family owned and independently operated, it’s quirky and eccentric in the best way.
There are no modern amenities like an espresso bar or oversized reading chairs, but that just leaves room for more reading material.
A little bit of everything: science fiction, non-fiction, poetry, science, history, cookbooks, and so much more.
That’s the beauty of being a privately owned business.
lifeasipictured / TripAdvisor
Kenneth made the claim of having 100,000 books from the start, so he always kept the shelves well-stocked. His daughter, Keren, took over the store after her father’s death and she still runs it to this day, along with the help of her family.
The store will ship your order to you if you call. And since they’re known for obscure titles, people are always welcome to call to ask about hard-to-find books.
rshay / TripAdvisor
Montana Valley Bookstore is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you can’t make it into the shop, just call (406) 722-4950 to see if they have what you need.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: 512 Railroad Ave, Alberton, MT 59820, USA
