Didn’t Joni Mitchell sing “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone?"
Many Ottawa book lovers are singing that tune after Shirley Leishman Books, a long-lived Ottawa independent bookstore, closed earlier this month. With the recent uprooting of Centretown’s leftist bookstore Exile Books (“We currently do not have a space,” reads a July 31 posting on the collective’s website) and the takeover by Chapters of Prospero Books, it becomes clearer that Leishman’s closure was not an isolated incident, but rather part of a disturbing trend.
Downtown Ottawa’s remaining independent bookstores are an endangered species worth saving. They support local authors, stock unique products and, perhaps most importantly, create a literary community.
In particular, Perfect Books on Elgin Street is a real jewel. Step inside and you know you’re not in Chapters. First of all, there’s a sign saying “Fiercely Independent” and a copy of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” in the window display, and a bowl of water out front “for our canine readers,” as the sign says.
There is a community events board by the entrance. Signs proudly display detailed staff recommendations of both classics and obscure works by local authors, with whole shelves devoted to books by Ottawa authors.
A cashier and a customer chat like old friends – “See you next week!” she says as he steps out.
“I really like the personal recommendations and details like that,” the saleswoman says. “We actually have a knowledge of the books and box stores don’t have the same interest.”
At Nicholas Hoare books in the market, the vibe is much the same.
“The service is much more personalized here; they know my first name,” says a customer And I get things here that I can’t get anywhere else, especially books from Britain.”
Customers inspect the shelves, which are lined with art books and anglophile treasures like London Lore – right next to airplane fare like Stieg Larsson and the latest Stephenie Meyer. A manager chats with customers while a dog on a leash saunters though the aisles and the resident cat lounges about, oblivious to all .
Perhaps the best example of a bookstore creating a literary community is Le Librarie du Soleil, the French-language bookstore in the market. It’s a hub for francophones, francophiles and students of French on both sides of the river. Le Librarie has been in the Market for 20 years, selling language-learning books and a wide range of novels and nonfiction. In September, it’s packed with students taking advantage of its generous student discounts. Even so, co-owner Caro Boivin takes time to explain what makes her store tick.
Boivin says her store is closer to authors, readers and employees than box stores are, and employees back her up. Le Librarie is also a little store on a mission.
“We’re all about francophone culture,”Boivin explains.
To that end, Librarie employees travel to schools in often-isolated francophone towns in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, placing ideals over profit margins and introducing the kids to their own culture.
Le Librairie may be packed with the student rush, but in general times are tough for independent booksellers. Nicholas Hoare and Perfect Books are quiet for a reason. Nicholas Hoare manager Connie Delahanty is even more concerned, because customers now have to stumble through blocks of construction on Sussex Drive to get to the store.
With the rise of online buying and chain stores and the deep discounts they offer, Boivin and Delahanty are concerned.
“You can’t help but worry,” Delahanty says.
We should all be worried. Independent bookstores are a cornerstone of our Ottawa literary community.
Why are so many people choosing big out-of-town chains over our friends, our neighbours, and the nice lady who gives discounts to starving students?
We won’t know what we’ve got till it’s gone.