Congratulations to the Bookloft, Enterprise, Ore, which celebrated its 40th anniversary recently with an open house. The Wallowa County Chieftain reported that in a tribute to the bookshop's "reputation as a gathering place, inclement weather didn't keep a steady stream of well-wishers from pouring through the door throughout the day. Owner Mary Swanson went all out with free cake, beverages and conversation for customers, while most of the store's tables were filled with local authors selling copies of their books or chatting with visitors."
Swanson and her husband, Tom, bought the Bookloft more than 28 years ago from Rich and Judy Wandschneider. Swanson had previously been a bookseller in Portland. "Once you work in a bookstore you're always thinking it would be nice to own your own bookstore,” she said, adding: "I consider the Bookloft as part of the community, so it's give and take. If I want the community to support the bookstore, I have to support the community, and I do it whenever it's possible through donations or supporting local authors....
"Local support is just huge, and the tourist population in the summer helps. I pay attention to the business end of business. I think very carefully about what I'm buying, and I think the bookstores that figured that out have survived. I also think the diversity of offerings helps keep it going. When times are tough, we have cheaper books or coffee or whatever. It all seems to work out. After 30-plus years in the bookselling business, you get to know how to pick books and what books to stock."
Her primary goal hasn't changed: "Of course it's wonderful being around books all day long, but the real thrill is putting the right book in a person's hand after they came to you for recommendations, and you find the right thing. That's what it's all about."