August 16, 2008
· Filed under General · Tagged middlebury, used books, vermont, vt
The end of a novel, like the end of a children’s dinner-party, must be made up of sweetmeats and sugar-plums. — Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope.
Looking for a new quote to feature on the upstairs chalk board I happened upon this one. What a great quote! I can certainly relate to it. But then I have a miniature tea set display in the store. And helper elves upstairs so what can I say? I have to confess that I have taken most of the fairy books home. I know! Can’t sell what isn’t here. My intent is to create a window display during the spring months along with fairy houses and wanted to feature the books. That started my collection. I always feel bad when someone comes in looking for any books on fairies. I’m sure my face turns all red and I start apologizing…. Why the confession, I wonder to myself. Oh yeah, rambling.
Today I want to start a new page on the blog with titles of new books that have arrived into the shop. I don’t have our stock inventoried unfortunately. One friend suggested that I at least provide some photos and titles to let readers of this blog know what I have. Especially since I’m not selling on line yet. Which brings up a discussion, do I? I feel I need to in order to supplement the store’s income but doesn’t that defeat the purpose of used book shopping? To me it is all about the hunt. The hunt for a long sought after book and the reward of finally finding it! That is what used book shopping is all about. I do admit that there are times when I’ve felt the need to find a book RIGHT NOW and will go online and look for the cheapest version I can find. Need to take into account shipping costs. Sometimes I find out the cheap issue really isn’t so since the seller has tacked on a hefty shipping charge. I suppose they are taking into account their time and costs to prepare the book for mailing. Then there is USPS versus UPS. Hint, UPS tracks. And UPS Stores are individually owned. Yes, they are individually owned. (Confession time: my husband and I own the local UPS Store here in Middlebury. It is family run and operated as opposed to like-Staple stores. Sometimes ‘chains’ or ‘franchises’ need to be fully investigated especially when there is a ’shop local’ campaign going on. Yes, we pay a royalty but we try to live, too. So double-check and shop local. We do. We live, shop, even were educated here. Enough ranting! Phew!)
Oh yes, this is rambling. Sometime in the near future I’ll post about the store’s ghost. Yep, a ghost. Cool. Every used bookstore needs a real ghost. Later!
So as I price books this afternoon I will feature a few books and you can find them on a separate page. We’ll see how that works. And I’ll try to get some images up, too.
Otter Creek Used Books and Green Mountain Shoe & Apprarel
August 12, 2008
· Filed under General
I love this guy and his friend! One or the other is always peeking out somewhere within the store.
Received an awful lot of cookbooks recently. In fact so many that I have run out of room on the shelves. So I have them in boxes on the floor. Really not the best way to showcase them or care for them but what is a used bookstore lady to do? Egads! At least I’ve cleared the aisle and the corner chair that sits nearby. And more Sci Fi has come in including a complete set of L.Ron Hubbard’s series. Also have in paperback many from the Dr. Who series. A number of older farm-related books have come in with more that need to be unboxed. And many more New Age books that I’ve run out of room to shelf.
So that’s what I’ve been up to these days - sorting, pricing, shelving, sorting, pricing shelving. Each and every day for the past month or so. I’m expecting more boxes in Friday so I’m working feverishly to clean out the many boxes I still have in the aisles. I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining because I’m not. It is just the way of a used book store. I’ve been working hard to change the inventory around as well as upgrade to better quality offerings. And to keep the store eclectic - covering many interests and prices - paperback to hardcover. I feel that I’m starting to feel better about what is on the shelves. Also in between everything I’ve been trying to rearrange, paint and add more of a creative touch to the store. I am having so much fun doing it all, too. I know I probably sound like a broken record, as my father would say, but how can I not be happy here? Ok there are a few days where I get overwhelmed with the boxes all over the store but then I remember “one book at a time” and I calm down. I haven’t cleaned as much as I know I should - I do occasionally sweep the floor. Really, I do. And the plants have been noted as attacking me or at the very least shouted not nice things to me for a drink of water! Sorry! Even working on this blog! I had desires to write at least each week but haven’t kept up with it. So I’m trying to get myself into a routine even though I don’t like being in one. For the sake of turning around this store and make it proud for myself and the community it serves I can do it! Yes, siree, I can do it! I am woman! (Rusty is rolling his eyes!)
Rusty hung the screen door in the front though it still doesn’t close/open properly yet. He’ll fix it. He also added the “used books” letters up over the back door and I hung up an open flag to replace the stars and stripes flag I had left out one night and someone took. I just hope they have it hanging properly beside their door.
Well, according to my computer clock - forgot my watch today and I still don’t have a clock in the store because I can’t find one that seems right - it’s time for me to open. Oh yes, and water the plants. Even though I was suppose to do that yesterday - Monday - but I started in ’sorting, pricing, shelving’ and forgot. Hey, there is always the next day like Tuesday! I hear you! I’m coming with your water. Geez!
July 25, 2008
· Filed under General
Fortunately that is what Middlebury, Vermont is experiencing today. Phew! All the rain brought wet floors down here in the bookstore. In case you didn’t know we are located in the basement of the old Lazarus building. Not a good place one would think for used books but generally it is dry. Only when we get the downpours that we recently had. Just had the carpet cleaned and I’m so appreciative of Mr. Allen driving down from Vergennes on such a short notice to help me out. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Now I have to contend with moving boxes of books back as well as contemplating where I want to move the First Editions and Collector’s Corner. They are currently located in ‘that’ corner - the swamp as we have been referring it to. I know that area has had that grand distinction of being a special corner (NO! not for being a swamp, silly, but for hosting the 1st editions and collections). I guess I would feel better if it was moved. But to where? That would mean moving so many books around! Well, guess I talked myself out of that! They are staying put. For now anyways.
Now I have to move the boxes again out of the aisles. So guess I better get moving!
July 15, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized
I was told that generally the July 4th weekend isn’t busy but not true! Very busy. In fact, I just looked at my watch and it is after 4 o’clock. I haven’t even finished my morning coffee. Don’t worry, I won’t. I had hoped that I would be able to get through some of the boxes that have been piling up here but no. In fact some very great friends came in to bring me more. Wow! One woman brought in two big bags. Another two boxes. I get so overwhelmed of the generosity of people who are indeed friends! They want to see the store succeed and to that I am taken back and so humbled. To them and others who have dropped off books since we have owned the store I am indebted to them. The Valley Voice just did a small feature on the store which has brought wonderful attention. Cheryl, Jennifer and the rest of the staff at the weekly countywide paper really do right for small businesses. Though there was a tiny error in the article - I was actually born in (sigh) NY not Middlebury. Hudson, NY.
I brought in my camera to take photos of the store since it was suppose to be slow. Well, that didn’t happen but I’m not complaining. Business was good. I had been waiting for the new sign to be included but that’s going to be a while since I haven’t even ordered it yet! Money has gone into books instead of marketing. Soon though.
July 3, 2008
· Filed under General · Tagged Bill McKibben, craft, fiction, gardening, hard cover, john elder, middlebury, non-fiction, otter creek used books, paperback, ron powers, vermont, vt
That’s what we are! We have been so busy with books that have recently come in - and some great titles, too! I’ve been walking around what has become a maze (and in a daze) of boxes of books maneuvering around the store. The good thing is I’m seeing a dent in the work we have been doing and trying to stay ahead of the holes on the shelves. I’ll have a book in my hand say Kurt Vonnegut for example and put the book up and the next thing someone purchases it. Hard to stay ahead sometimes. But we feel the offerings are starting to improve. And of course, I would much rather see the book go to a good home than sit on the shelf and (I shutter) collect dust! And it also reminds me of what authors we need to keep stock of as best we can.
Receiving boxes is so much fun! It is clearly an adventure opening the box to discover what’s inside. Sometimes it is a let down because it is so full of books that didn’t sell at their yard sale! Pooh! But then there is someone’s collection that they need to part with - cleaning out shelves, moving, etc. - and that is when it is joyful and a tad exciting. You get to almost learn about that person’s life in a small way. Books that were important to them at one stage in their life, reference books to mysteries to fiction.
One night I went home to look at my shelves to see what my books said about me. That was interesting! Mostly first edition or out-of-print craft books, local authors such as John Elder, Bill McKibben and Ron Powers. And gardening books, also first or out-of-print. I’m more of a non-fiction person for some reason. Rusty’s shelves - well, let’s save that for another day! His are more interesting plus he has more shelves than I do.
June 14, 2008
· Filed under General · Tagged cookbooks, middlebury, new age, used books, vermont, vt
It feels like a Vermont summer today and the best part is the Middlebury Farmers Market is open with many people milling about. I stopped over to buy some food and drink before I opened. Well, bought my iced coffee and water at Noonies, a favorite sandwich shop of mine (and don’t forget Otter Creek Bakery and Sama’s! Noonies is closer for me to run to from here). I’m working on the back door entrance to take advantage of the Marbleworks and Farmers Market shoppers. I moved a floor mat from upstairs to the back door, hung up a flag (the stars and stripes), and brought a planter from home which I filled with flowers. It’s starting to show some potential. I know it needs signage which I will be working on once I have it set in my mind how and where it should go. I want to incorporate the new logo on the front and back signage but I will have to wait for awhile. Everything in stages so I can financially handle it. Also have to repair the screen in the back door (this week) and put in the screen door upstairs. Though I do appreciate the flies and bees that make their way in on those slow days! I’m watching a fly work his way downstairs as I’m typing.
I painted the book cart that is used outside. It looks kind of blah - no personality - but it’s done! I’ve been adding mainly book-of-the-months and selling them $1 each. It seems to work pretty well. I give the option of customers paying upstairs. The same with paperbacks also upstairs at 25 cents. It’s nice to take advantage of the wide patio for displays. I’m on the search for a patio set to add. Rusty repaired and I repainted the benches and brought them back for weary shoppers. Found an old friend patiently waiting for his wife on a run upstairs to check the weather awhile ago. Great to see him! And the benches being used!
Just got in a lot of cookbooks and new age books. I’m starting to go through them and getting them on the shelves. Good thing I rearranged both sections! We pulled the oversized paperbacks to reshelve them in the fiction section which are currently waiting to be reshelved and are on the table at the bottom of the stairs. I also have started in the foreign language section - primed and painted one wall with three more to go then the ‘new’ books have to be added. But of course, the area needs to be reorganized desperately! Today marks the day of new arrivals to Middlebury College’s language school. I had hoped to have everything ready before this but that didn’t happen.
Well, must get busy!
June 6, 2008
· Filed under General · Tagged middlebury, otter creek used books, used book sale, vermont
Finally getting to clean out some of the books and start preparing for a book sale out on the patio. I’m hoping tomorrow will be a beautiful day. I thought today was suppose to be but it’s currently cloudy. Cloudy skies wasn’t in my plans but I can adapt.
Shuffling books around is quite the workout. I’m finding muscles I forgot I had. Nothing that a hot bubble bath won’t resolve. I’m losing weight, too! Definite perks from owning a used bookstore! Something to think about…
So I have quite the book pile for the sale. They are starting to line up the stairs. I already have boxes and baskets full upstairs. This will definitely be the summer for reading with high gas prices - why waste money on gas when one can invest on a book or two.
I ran into a friend earlier this week who just discovered I had left my full-time job. When asked if I missed working with people since I am generally alone now I told her I’m working with friends! I’m surrounded with all my friends - the books! Ok, does this make me a pathetic person? I don’t think so but then again…
Stop in and check out the book sale - designated hard covers $1 and designated paperbacks 25 cents.
May 21, 2008
· Filed under General · Tagged jay parini, middlebury, new age, otter creek used books, religion, Robert Frost, vermont, vt
“Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world,” Voltaire.
I just updated the store’s quote board found at the top of the stairs and thought I would post it here as well. It fits how I have been feeling lately especially since I am now working here full-time. It is a new sensation for me to be here surrounded by all these books everyday and not just once a week as I had been. Every day I get to come down the stairs and say “hello” to them. This is contentment.
There is so much I want to get done but I am learning to pace myself. There is no hurry - I have time now. Foreign language section needs to be rearranged and I need to paint the back wall of that section. The children’s section also needs reorganization. Let’s see, physically move around some bookcases but most importantly label! Since moving around sections labeling wasn’t completed so it can be confusing. My mother found the Philosophy section and we did a little dance. We knew we had one but couldn’t find where it ended up. I know, sounds kind of silly and that we are so disorganized. Well, maybe just a tad but we are getting to where we want the store to be.
Added to our collection some self-help, religious as well as new age, general fiction and many young adult books including sci-fi. I picked through a box and found something to read that I’ve been searching for (love the hunt!) - Jay Parini, a local author who wrote “Robert Frost.” I’m also happy to report that we finally have a start of a Robert Frost section. It probably would be better if I brought in my collection from home…hmmm. Not sure how I feel about that but something to think about!
May 12, 2008
· Filed under General · Tagged bookends, middlebury, used books, vermont, vt
So far this month the store has been busy with the influx of ‘new’ books! We are swimming in them and they are slowly getting on the shelves. I’m working on it! Believe me, I am working on sorting, pricing, and moving shelves around. I probably sound like I’m complaining but I’m not! I love it. It is so hard for me to not sit down with them and turn their pages.
We were the gracious receivers of plants that are welcoming all who enter the store. With such a wonderful large window and high ceilings they fit perfectly. I am so overwhelmed by the good friends who gave them to us and I take on their responsibility with delight. We also have started putting up flower boxes outside but those are currently on the patio until Rusty figures out how to secure them safely to the railing. I have a bunch of other flower pots that still have to make their way here.
Just returned from Kentucky where my sister-in-law took me to, I believe, as many ‘funky junky’ places in a 50 mile radius of their house where I found a number of cool bookends. I started to put them up and around the store.
I promise pictures soon. I plan on posting images of some great books, the window display as it changes, bookends, and more. The good news is that I will be down here full-time! I am so excited. It wasn’t what my original plans were but sometimes things work out differently and this will be great! With that said though I’ll be gone for a couple of days returning on Friday. So next week changes will start. I hope on a daily basis until I get the store whipped in shape as to what I dreamed it would be. I have always wanted a job where I could bring my knitting so I look forward to that. Great to have simple goals!
April 3, 2008
· Filed under General · Tagged books, classics, middlebury, sci-fi, used, vermont, vt, westerns
Just got word of a BIG book sale and Rusty and I are making plans to attend. I can’t wait! We went last year and it was our first time ever going to such an event. We thought we were prepared for the number of books and people we would encounter but we weren’t. Not to worry because this year we know exactly what to do! And what to bring! Extra boxes. And be extra early.
Last year while there Rusty went one way and I another with our lists in hand and every time we found ourselves near each other we couldn’t stop smiling! We couldn’t believe how much fun it was! Even with all the people shoving and grabbing. (Remember books=fun!) So, I had this huge (I’m talking HUGE) L.L. Bean bag and I filled it three times and had to drag it to our corner of the dealer’s room - we have a special room where we can store our books until we pay. Up a couple flights of stairs - oh, it wasn’t pretty. That shopping experience helped us get some spark into the store that we felt was desperately need (as well as paint, cleaning, and well, some life) so we are looking forward to this year’s trip. Plus it helps a good cause and I get to see a good friend. She’s the one who told me about the sale in the first place.
If you have a book you would like us to look for let me know. I’ll try my best. We’ll be looking for westerns, classics, quality children’s, elusive sci-fi, horse, Vermont, and whatever suites our fancy. Rusty will be certainly looking for military books - one of his passions. I’ll keep you posted.
