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.
April 2, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged books, byrne, dyer, gregory, middlebury, vermont, vt
Yes, it is so close! I was greeted by a Robin when I entered the store today. Of course, I have been seeing Robins, geese flying north and other signs of spring but it just seemed so delightful to see the Robin here. More books arrived over the weekend. Books on relationships, New Age, religion, older fiction, western (hard cover and paperback) and children’s books. Authors include Dr. Wayne Dyer, Rhonda Byrne, William Patterson White, Jackson Gregory, and then some. Eclectic! And our ‘funky junky’ items are increasing. Stop in!
March 27, 2008
· Filed under General · Tagged books, children's books, middlebury, otter creek used books, used books, vermont
Jessica outdid herself again! You just have to come to see her creativity on display in the store’s window. The theme this time is around children’s books: Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and more. Very ingenious. It makes me smile! Jessica has her college degree in Fashion Design from Pratt and while she is living in the Middlebury area she has offered to decorate the window. Last month the window was designed around different types of crafts with books and projects on display from woodworking, quilting, sewing, painting, etc. Of course, her Halloween display was awesome. Who can forget that dripping eye! (Actually it was kind of gross…) All trying to have some fun in this little used bookstore, to show the diversity of what we have here as well as create some interest in downtown Middlebury - to step away from the norm. Hope we achieve some interest! Speaking of which, looking forward to working some more on the outside so hoping for some warmer weather soon. Painting, carpentry, and some fun. Books=Fun!
