Opened two years ago by published poet, and Oakville resident, Robert Whiteley, the store features up to 15,000 titles in more than 36 categories, and carries everything from romance novels to the rare and unique.

"I think I have everything," said Whiteley. "People see the sign and think I sell only poetry. If I sold only poetry I'd have gone out of business a long time ago. It's suicide to specialize. You have to appeal to a broader readership."

Whiteley has a keen interest in Canadian literature and poetry and in 2004 his Poet''s Pulpit Press published his first book of poems, entitled A Moment in Time.

Three poems from the book appeared in The Oakville Beaver in 2004 and he's had other poems published in magazines in Hamilton.

Standing near the door of the store is an actual pulpit made by his brother (hence the store's name) holding (what else) poetry books. Hanging on the walls are original works of art by Canadian author, Bill Bisset, and Charles Bukowski and signed broadsides by Earle Birney and Al Purdy. On display is a brick salvaged from the last Manhattan residence of Edgar Allan Poe and a collection of more than 29 vintage typewriters, many of them given to him by customers.

The most expensive book he has ever sold went for $500 -- a Mordecai Richler book, Jacob Two Two Meets the Dinosaur, with a letter signed by the author.

(He's quick to point out that 90 per cent of his children's books sell for $3 for paperbacks and $4 for hardcovers).

"I've sold a couple of signed letters by different authors, including Robertson Davies," Whiteley said.

Among the most rare books in the store is a Latin edition of a Harry Potter novel, a copy of The Wild Frontier by Pierre Berton signed by the author and a book of A.J. Casson paintings signed by the artist. He also has a signed first edition of A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry and a first edition Ezra Pound.

"I have a lot of signed Canadian authors, including Margaret Atwood, Margaret Laurence, Mordecai Richler, W.O. Mitchell, Morley Callaghan and Timothy Findley," Whiteley said.

The oldest book in the store was published in 1797 and is entitled Ecclesiastical Law by Richard Burn which he bought from a customer.

"People give me books all the time," said Whiteley, who is also constantly buying new stock. He does 20 per cent of his business on the Internet. "I sell the more expensive books online. It's a collector's market," he said.

Whiteley also does book searches for customers and appraises books and private libraries. He also does book buying for school boards in the GTA.

Before opening the store Whiteley, 35, and a native of Burlington, worked in museums, the publishing industry and grocery stores.

"Writing wasn't paying the bills," said Whiteley, who has also written short stories, a screenplay and worked on novels. "I love books, so what better kind of job than opening a bookstore? I worked at opening the store for about four years, saving money and buying and collecting books. It took a lot of time. I owe everything to my wife Deanna, really. I wouldn't have been able to do this without her support."

Whiteley said the role of a good used bookstore is "to provide books people can't find anywhere else. When someone walks out the door with a book he couldn't find anywhere else it makes me happy."

Whiteley has learned that Oakville residents like to read books that are current. "People want to read what everyone else is reading," he said.

In the future he has plans for Poet's Pulpit Press to publish more books, including books of poetry planned for later this year by Henry Moscovitch, a deceased Montreal poet and friend of Leonard Cohen.

He plans to republish Moscovitch's first book, which came out in 1956 and which is no longer in print. "If it's successful I plan to do others like that," he said.

He'd also like to teach poetry and perhaps run a workshop on the history of Canadian poetry.

"Something I'd like to do is open a Canadian poetry museum," he said. "Writing and publishing are my ultimate goals and teaching is an option. I have all these ideas. It just takes time and money."