Congratulations to Old Harbor Books, Sitka, Alaska, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last Saturday with a party "featuring giveaways, cake, balloons, prize drawings and a special look back at the store's history," Bookselling This Week reported. The store was established in 1976 as a collective by three local couples: Lee and Linda Schmidt, Chuck and Alice Johnstone, and Don Muller and Mary Stensvold. The business is still owned by most of the founders, as well as by the Schmidts' son, Roger, and daughter, Laura.
Ashia Lane, the fourth manager in Old Harbor's history, said she wasn't sure initially if people would take interest in the anniversary, but was pleasantly surprised when she reached out: "I posted a Facebook event (we're pretty reliant on that here), and I already have a ton of people who plan on coming in and people who are asking about it at the store. We're expecting a sizeable crowd."
Don Muller, who oversaw Old Harbor's operations until 2011, when he sold his shares and retired, said, "We hope to have things continue for another 40 years. It's amazing, really. I have no doubt that real paper books will stay around forever."