about us
The Dusty Cover is a non-profit used bookstore started in early 2008 in Winnipeg's historic West End neighbourhood and is dedicated to serving and investing into our community. In addition to being a good source of used books at great prices, our comfortable lounge is an excellent place to enjoy a hot cup of fair-trade coffee.
The bookstore is an ideal place to relax, chat with friends or take advantage of our high-speed wireless internet access available with any purchase. Enjoy a hot cup of our fair trade and organic coffee, complimentary (though donations welcomed). Read more about our products here.
As members of the community, we truly care about the neighbourhood. While the West End faces the challenges of poverty and other high-risk issues, we are committed to supporting and celebrating the best our community has to offer. To that end, we provide interactive children and young adult programs to encourage literacy, safety and cross-cultural understanding. We are also actively developing other programs and services as the need arises.
What is a third place?
Urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg says that “third places” are the roots of community life and help establish diverse and healthy interaction with people outside of our homes (our first place) and our jobs (our second place). North America has experienced an unfortunate loss of these informal meeting places. Oldenburg says:
“In the absence of informal public life, living becomes more expensive. Where the means and facilities for relaxation and leisure are not publicly shared, they become the objects of private ownership and consumption.”
Third places provide for communities many important dynamics, such as a friendly environment that promotes diverse relationships across cultures, race and socio-economic boundaries. Our hope is that The Dusty Cover will become such a place in our neighbourhood and for our city.
For more information about third places, see Oldenburg's book “The Great Good Place” (Marlowe & Company, 1991)
A Community Initiative of YWAM Urban Ministires Winnipeg