Don't Forget The Books....

A New York Times article that came out today speaks of the struggle of The Open Book against the newer, bigger bookstore down the street. While it has been a challenge and we have worked hard to come up with many ways to draw people just around the corner, what is really important is what happens when you walk in the door of our cozy little shop.

For me and for the employees of The Open Book, what has always been important is matching readers with books. We are readers and we take great joy in that activity. To be able to share that joy with others is what made me want to be a bookseller over 11 years ago. Jessica, the manager of The Open Book, takes the publisher's catalogs with her on vacation. She is always looking for that book that people will fall in love with. Rachel, Sara, Danielle, Vincent, Bret, L.J. and Richard all work hard to make sure that the adults and children who walk in our door find a book that will make their day a little more entertaining or interesting.

We are proud of the work we do. We know that The Open Book is a bit of an anachronism in a world of big box stores that have a million titles. We are a little store and we do not always have every book. But if you tell us what kind of books you like, we will do our best to find you something new that you will enjoy. Or if you have your heart set on that book that is not in stock, we will get it for you as quickly as possible and drop it off at your door if you live nearby.

I do not think any of us would fight so hard to protect the store if we sold screwdrivers or hats. Books are not just a product to us. We know that a book can bring comfort or make someone laugh or sometimes even change a life. Putting the right book in the right hand is what we strive to do and what we love to do. After all the talk of author appearances, story times, balloons, and sandwich boards, what really matters is connecting people with books.