
Books amuse, inform, and inspire. Regardless of size or location, intentionally curated collections are an extension of a reader’s style and tastes. An unexpected splash of color on a coffee table sparks an evening’s conversation. A bookshelf in a meeting room reflects corporate values and grounds employees in empathy and compassion. A casually stacked selection in a lobby or guest room sets the tone for a weekend visit. Whether on a nightstand or in a living room, books surprise, comfort, and delight the human soul.
Curation service
We work directly with individuals or through designers to create a collection that suits any taste or style. Our relationship-based approach assures a selection that complements an existing library or establishes a new one.
- Budget accommodation at all levels
- New or gently used books
- Existing private, corporate, municipal, restaurant, and boutique hotel clients
- Bulk buying for book and social clubs
- Extensive network of publishers, distributors, writers, and bookshops
- Presentation and preservation support
Our wrapped Blind Date with a Book is the perfect shower favor or swag bag gift.
Arlan Hess, City Books Owner

.Arlan Hess is the owner of City Books and directs the City Books Writer-in-Residence program for emerging & marginalized writers. She taught literature & creative writing in southwestern Pennsylvania for 17 years. Her poetry and non-fiction food, music, and travel writing has appeared in The Pittsburgh Quarterly, Thirty-First Bird Review, Connotation Press, The Literary Bohemian, Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, atU2.com, and USA Today. She hosts Shelf Life, a book show broadcast on PCTV21 about Pittsburgh authors & topics and is a regular contributor to The Writer Shed, a podcast hosted by David W. Berner of WBBN Chicago.
Testimonials
We are really excited about providing a library space for our residents. –Kelly W.
None of these are books I’ve seen or heard of, but they seem to fit my tastes really well.-Shannon H.
I’m blown away by how amazing your choices are. –Elizabeth R.
If you or someone you know is interested in custom curation, please contact City Books. We can accommodate any budget.
