On June 20, Village Books, Bellingham, Wash., celebrates its 30th anniversary, which co-owner Chuck Robinson is celebrating with a memoir. It Takes a Village Books: 30 Years of Building Community, One Book at a Time, is being published June 10 by Chuckanut Editions, Village Books's press, and will be printed on the store's Espresso Book Machine.
Robinson writes just as he acts in person: he's unfailingly good natured, very funny, gregarious, impassioned and modest, much of the time telling stories with good or thoughtful punch lines. As might be expected, in the whole book, we found just one truly snarky comment. (And it was well deserved.)
In It Takes a Village Books, the bookseller turned author and publisher tells the story of how he and his wife, Dee, went from teaching special education in Illinois in the late 1970s to founding a bookstore in the Pacific Northwest (they were restless and wanted to try something new); how they built the store into one of the premier independents in the country; how bookselling and the book business have changed in the past three decades. Along the way, Robinson tells entertaining tales of meeting and befriending all kinds of authors, including politicians and celebrities. Typical stories:
When walking onto the stage with Jimmy Carter before introducing him to a 1992 ABA Book & Author breakfast, the crowd gave a standing ovation. Carter grinned and said to Robinson, who had just taken the helm of the ABA: "You're a very popular president."
Just before introducing Alice Walker to another large breakfast audience, he asked if she had gotten used to public speaking. "No," she responded. "Just as I think I'm really relaxed, I realize my thighs have totally tightened up on me."
Robinson outlines the principles of what makes a solid independent bookstore. First, there are the matters of what the store offers: for many years, Village Books has had a cafe and a sidelines store; it's added used and remainder books; it puts on enough events so that people don't ask if an event will be held but what the event is; it sells off-site; it hosts the monthly radio show The Chuckanut Hour; and most recently it has installed an Espresso Book Machine. There were a few failures along the way: a short-lived second location and a bookmobile, for example. But throughout their time in the business, the Robinsons have innovated, always trying new things and continually putting an emphasis on providing what customers want and need.
Just as important are the many ties that the Robinsons have made with the community and with a range of community organizations that include local businesses, environmental, literacy and educational groups and more. They're also been deeply involved in the industry and industry issues, serving on the boards of the American Booksellers Association, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. (One significant censorship battle started in Village Books in 1989, when an anti-pornography activist ripped up four copies of Esquire magazine and was arrested.)
The book also chronicles the day-to-day challenges and joys of being a bookseller. As expected, the Robinsons seem to have reacted to any potential setbacks or delays with a good-natured shrug of the shoulders. They also have a knack for good relations with the staff and stand out among employers in any industry for such things as thanking long-time employees by giving them free trips to places that interest the employees. (These have included trips to the Galapagos, England and Hawaii.)
Especially for those in the business, It Takes a Village Books is a great way to catch up and be reminded of all that has changed in the world of books the past few decades but where several very important things remain constant: the wonderful people the book world tends to attract and the joy of being around authors and books, good writing and smart people.
For an interview with Robinson about the book, go to the store's website.--John Mutter
