As a librarian in Prince George, I’m always on the lookout for good places to curl up and read! Luckily for me, there are many excellent venues to get lost in a book here.
Finding a good book
First, you’ll have to find an excellent book. I would of course recommend stopping in at one of the Prince George Public Library’s branches, either downtown or in the Hart. As a Prince George resident you have access to a free library card which will give you many benefits and save you tons of money. If you woul
d like to purchase a book feel free to check out Books and Company on 3rd Avenue. In 2015 it was listed number 4 on BuzzFeeds list of “35 Charming Canadian Book Stores you Need to Visit” list. Books and Company is a charming and happy place where you can find a spectacular selection of books and a delightful café. Books and Company also hosts a variety of events and is a great spot to work on group projects. Every Thursday I meet a group of people there for a Spanish language conversation circle. Coles Book store has an outlet at Pine Centre Mall, so depending on where you live, that might be a great option for you.
Outdoor reading spots
Once you have found your book, you will probably enjoy reading outside if it’s a warm day. In 2014 the library opened The Knowledge Garden. The garden is located between the library and the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre. The garden is a space for library staff to have Children’s Story times, and a place for us to teach youth about gardening. In the Knowledge Garden, children and staff have planted and harvested radishes, peas, onions, sunflowers, nasturtiums, zucchinis, swiss chard, kale and tomatoes. The garden offers a peaceful environment to relax and enjoy a good book in right outside the Civic Centre Plaza. We are very fortunate in Prince George to have a variety of different spaces at our disposal. Other great parks you can enjoy while reading include Rainbow Park, Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park and Connaught Hill Park.
Curl up with a book indoors
If the 
weather is cooler, you might want to check out one of my favourite cafes in town: Zoe’s Java House on 4th Avenue, which is also fondly known as specialty avenue by local residents. At Zoe’s you’ll find a bright and cheerful atmosphere with comfy couches and chairs to enjoy a hot beverage and a book in. Ohh Chocolat is a café on George Street that offers decadent treats, healthy meal options and a great place to linger with a book and cup of coffee. As mentioned before, Books and Company also offers a quaint space called Café Voltaire that is right next to the bookstore. In the whimsical setting it provides, you can purchase a variety of delicious things including smoothies, quiche, Italian sodas and healthy salads.
There are many peaceful places in Prince George where you can enjoy a book. I hope you are able to explore some of my favourites!
