New Owner for Womencrafts, Provincetown, Mass.

Kathryn Livelli (l.) and Michelle Axelson at Womencrafts

Kathryn Livelli, owner of Womencrafts, Provincetown, Mass., for the past 16 years, has sold the book and crafts store to staffer Michelle Axelson, who plans to add new product lines, bolster events and reach out to new audiences.

With a mission of promoting the work of female artisans, authors and musicians, Womencrafts has been lesbian-owned and -operated since 1976 and is one of about a dozen remaining feminist bookstores in the country.

Axelson, who has lived in Provincetown for five years, said: "My journey as a women and as a lesbian has been made easier by institutions like Womencrafts and women like Kathryn Livelli. I am inspired by the shop's history and excited to keep it dynamic and relevant for generations to come." Livelli will mentor Axelson and remain involved in the shop.