Intellectual Property

It is gone! :(

I will echo the sentiments of others who wish this place had some comfortable places to sit, a coffee bar and, ummm, public restrooms. But regardless — I was BLOWN AWAY at their film section. I found a book on Oscar Micheaux that I had been procrastinating getting from Amazon. I could not believe it was on their shelves.
It was eerily quiet when I was there Saturday, which is a good and a bad thing. If you’re trying to read, people blabbing and kids screaming is a bad thing. I just hope the quiet doesn’t mean they are having a hard time attracting customers. I bought 3 books, having walked in with the intention to buy zero. And I probably would have browsed and bought more but. .. they have no public restroom and I couldn’t concentrate on my browsing, if yaknowwhatImean. I was not in the mood to walk to the Union and then walk back.
Other than that — loved it. This place is a gem.

One of my favorite places to stop, shop and browse on The Drag. It isn’t just your typical bookstore, it’s actually more than that! Unlike typical chain stores, Intellectual Property still maintains a little of that independent feel. Granted it’s not Elliot Bay Books in Seattle but it is a one of the best places to shop on The Drag.
They have a massive selection of magazine, books, calendars and paper goods. If they don’t have what you want, they can order it for you. The book prices are very fair and you can get some great deals here when they have stuff on sale or on clearance.
They also sell DVD’s, Video Games, and CD’s. While the selection isn’t as large and the prices are certainly higher than some other options, the convenience of being able to pick up a video on The Drag is worth it.
The staff is also very knowledgeable and can help you find what they are looking for and if they don’t know where it is, they will do what they have to in order to find it or order it.

I really enjoy swinging by here to see what kind of funny and interesting books the staff has managed to dig up. It is here that I discovered The Alphabet of Manliness which is quite simply the most hilarious book I have ever read. I also discovered The Game which is a very interesting book about a writer who takes classes from Master pickup artist and tells all the interesting stories from that. Incidentally there is now a reality show called «The Pickup Artist» on VH1 and the same pickup artist whos name is Mystery is the main star. The show is based in Austin too which is pretty cool. You get to see these socially awkward guys try to learn how to pickup chics from the «master» at a bunch of local austin bars/​clubs.

I am a bookworm, and I love to hang out at bookstores, this one included. The people are always nice and very helpful, and I really love the atmosphere — they have blackboards throughout the store on the walls and dividers, and they hire local artists come in and do sketchings, often cartoons, to show their specials and their featured books. It’s a really neat way to convey the same information as bigger bookstores do, except with an Austin flare.
They always have the magazines I am looking for, and when I couldn’t find a copy of the weekly financial newspaper Barron’s, I requested it and they immediately began ordering a few copies every week.
However, the few times I’ve come there looking for a specific book (usually a novel), they don’t have it. I know they pride themselves in having an eclectic, obscure selection of books, and I also realize that they’re too small to carry «everythin» — it just seems like it’s going to be difficult to stay in business. I go as often as possible to support them, but the Drag is notorious for having quick turn-​over…

I was sooo excited when Intellectual Property opened, as it’s the only bookstore within walking distance of where I live.
IP is a great addition to the collection of stores along the Drag and near UT campus. It has a good selection of books on a wide variety of topics, and computer accessories upstairs. It is very, very easy to spend a lot of time in IP just browsing, and I can almost always find something as a gift or just for myself.
IP has a good language section (I’m majoring in two languages) — I’ve found a whole stack of Latin books and workbooks there, and I’ve recommended them to others. I also like the «local interest» section. IP doesn’t stock much other than books, but they do have good book-​related items for sale.
The Reader’s Choice card is an amazing deal (don’t lose the card, though!). After you buy 10 books, they average the price of those books and you get that much off on the 11^th book. It only took me a few months to fill a card and a half! Also a great deal are the bargain books — their «cheap» section is large and has some interesting titles.

I am now starting to believe again in love at first sight. Wasn’t sure before, thought I in it was a couple of times, and I’m starting to lean toward it again with Follett’s Intellectual Property.
This is the store you want to check out if you really want to learn something, and they have wonderful sections of biography, philosophy and quality fiction. The bargain section rocks, I found a Grove Dictionary of French Art and a fine anthology of Native American Poetry.
The staff was super friendly and gave me complete answers to my questions. They also have a second level of computer supplies and music.
This store wonderfully complements our beloved BookPeople and gives our community two outstanding bookstores. I can’t wait to see Intellectual Property again…
P. S. I give this place even extra cool points for this place because they kept the great murals of Bob Dylan, the Clash and Johnny Cash from Tower Records.

I’ll have to agree with the consensus… I enjoy Intellectual Property as well.
Definitely not the cozy feel of your local book shop, but warm and inviting nonetheless. IP is clean, organized, and well-​stocked with a hip layout that blends an open floor plan with the get-​lost-​in-​the-​aisles feel of a Barnes & Noble. No coffee shop here, but a second floor room that’s ideal for group meetings and launch parties.
Bookstores can be expensive, and Intellectual Property doesn’t boast bargain prices, but you’ll pay for convenience as it sits on a corner lot on Guadalupe. They do, however, have the token «bargain bins» and discounted shelves where you’re sure to score a deal.
IP houses a decent selection of titles and makes room for book accessories, gifts, music, movies and some minimal UT paraphernalia. Free parking behind the store in a garage.
I probably won’t become a regular, but Intellectual Property outperforms many of its neighbors on the Drag.

If none of the other reviews have convinced you to check out Follett’s Intellectual Property, I have four words for you: Reader’s Choice Book Club. While other bookstores make you pay a yearly fee to access their discount programs, Intellectual Property’s is free and easy to join. You don’t even have to give them your contact information, simply pick up a card and present it to the associate every time you buy a book. The associate will record your book price, and, after you’ve bought ten books, your purchases will be averaged and credited toward your eleventh book.
While Intellectual Property may not have an extensive selection, it does have a better specialty selection. Periodicals (especially literary journals) and regional works abound here.

Definitely suggest stopping by IP. I am an editor of a grad student run journal at UT, and IP hosted our launch party. They provided a great space, food, drinks, cookies, and friendly faces. What more could we ask for? Well, they also offered to sell our journal!
I would suggest popping your head in to browse your favorite topical section. They’re open to suggestions, let them know if they’re missing anything of importance in your area of interest.
Since the drag is notorious for quick turn over, help these folks stick around and buy your next book/​cd/​trinket at IP.

Looking for that particular nerdy book that nobody else has, and need it in matter of days, not weeks? Come here! This place has all those books to supplement the required reading list in your courses. They also have a huge selection of magazines, as well as funny, arty, obscure publications I never thought of.

No coffee shop.
No time-​worn couches.
Intellectual Property is not perfect… yet. However, The Drag’s newest bookstore boasts 1,500+ periodical titles, a nice number of bargain books (including some National Book Finalist titles and selected titles from the McDuff series), an expanding local authors section, and a desk where you can place special orders. The IP’s fresh, uncluttered feel separates itself from many of its competitors by keeping sales of peripherals like candy, toys, and college gear to a minimum. Instead, IP keeps its stock as simple as its interior style: a clean mix of renovated warehouse and a one-​room schoolhouse.
As for the coffee issue… caffeine addicts can get their fill at the Einstein’s (next door), the Student Union’s caf (across the street), or Starbucks (directly behind IP) and carry it into the surprisingly laid-​back bookstore. The lack of couches struck me as a bit sacrilegious; however, the couchless environment didn’t seem to deter anyone from sitting on a stool or plopping down on the carpeted floor to read a book during the busy lunch hour.
For a store that touts its focus on scholarly books, IP lacks some key academic titles. For the purposes of this review, I’m going to take time into consideration and cut IP some slack. Why? Two Reasons:
1. They just opened their doors to the public on Thursday, September 21, 2006.
2. Since IP is a pilot store, it was not built on a preprogrammed structure for success.
Perhaps, the second point could explain Intellectual Property’s decision to keep the exterior graffiti of the former Tower Records building. On the increasingly corporate landscape of The Drag, one must question how a pilot store can succeed sans proven success. Not any pilot store would fly, but it seems to me that Intellectual Property is taking the right steps to being a lasting part of the city through its willingness to change, adapt, and be a malleable form in the hands of the Austin community.