*footnotes

The dog days of August are usually a good time to catch up on your summer reading plans. Everybody knows where their local Borders, Barnes & Noble, Bookstar and Crown megastores are, but the Valley is also home to a good variety of independent specialty bookstores.

* Fans of sci-fi, fantasy and horror have a choice of two places that specialize in those genres: Dangerous Visions, 13563 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 986-6963; and Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank, (818) 556-6660.

* Two Valley Book and Bible stores--6502 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, (818) 782-6101, and 20936 Roscoe Blvd., Canoga Park, (818) 709-5610--offer Christian-themed gifts, music, church supplies and software, in addition to books and bibles.

* Contractors Book Center, 8001 Canoga Ave., Canoga Park, (818) 887-7828, touts itself as the biggest construction bookstore in California, offering books, forms, study guides and other titles. Continental Art Supplies, 7041 Reseda Blvd., Reseda, (818) 345-1044, boasts one of the largest selections of art books in Los Angeles.

* Geographia Map & Travel Bookstore, 4000 Riverside Drive, Burbank, (818) 848-1414, features travel guides, atlases, language tapes and other travel-related items.

* Psychic Eye Bookstores offer new age books, music and videos, plus occult and metaphysical paraphernalia. Three stores: 21800 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, (818) 340-0033; 13435 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 906-8263; and 1011 W. Olive Ave., Burbank, (818) 845-8831.

* Dutton’s Books, 5146 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood, (818) 769-3866, and 3806 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, (818) 840-8003, deals in rare as well as new and used books.

* Theodore Front Musical Literature Inc., 16122 Cohasset St., Van Nuys, (818) 994-1902, deals in hard-to-find music books and scores.