Nearly 28 years after retired couple Jeff and Laura Otto opened a used bookstore to clear out a growing stack of novels in their garage and keep themselves busy, Books Abound has become a quiet refuge for readers.

The longtime store, sustained by customer trades and occasional donations, now doubles as a lifeline for local avid readers and incarcerated readers.

Staying local

Although Laura Otto officially retired as a computer science professor from Houston Community College in 2008, she continues teaching students remotely while operating Books Abound along with her husband. Jeff Otto, a former Exxon employee, spends most of his time trading and selling books to local readers.

Even as platforms such as Amazon and other digital platforms chip away at business, the Otto’s said they will

See Full Page