Rob Dougherty of Clinton Book Shop in Clinton, N.J., has won the Joe Drabyak Handseller of the Year Award, sponsored by the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association and honoring the former NAIBA president and bookseller at Chester County Book & Music Company.
Customers of Clinton Book Shop praised the one-of-a-kind bookseller. Cara Morris said that Dougherty is able to guide her entire family "in new directions we never would have found but were grateful to be led to." Elizabeth Dilts said, "I feel that he acts as my personal book concierge. Not only does he know what I like to read, but he seems to be constantly on the look-out for titles that he knows that I will enjoy." Sylvia Hart added, "He is a great representative of an independent book store and the personal service they provide."
"Winning the award means so much more because it is in honor of a man I respected and felt proud to say was a very good friend of mine," Dougherty said. "Joe taught me so much about bookselling and about the art of gaining loyal customers (I called them groupies)."
Before joining Clinton Bookshop in 2003, Dougherty worked for 18 years in human services. He was a therapist in prisons, in hospitals and for nonprofits providing assistance to young people in need, and for seven years, ran a drop-in center for people who were homeless.
Harvey Finkel, owner of Clinton Book Shop, commented: "The Clinton Book Shop could not have survived the last few tough years without Rob's handselling and making each and every customer feel special. Rob is a tireless professional, always willing to help customers find that 'perfect' read. Rob joined me at the bookshop after making a living in a very different world from bookselling, but in a world of helping both adults and children work through the problems in their lives. One of the booksellers Rob connected with early on was Joe Drabyak. Rob learned much from Joe's handselling techniques and suggestions over the years."
