The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading

All the contributors to this book are successful booksellers or librarians, and their testimony includes a significant amount of information about the personal qualities and key skills that are vital to success in their roles. Certain qualities are shared between practically all of the contributors, regardless of their backgrounds. Foremost is a love of books and literature. Many come from literary households, have fond memories of reading and being read to as young children, and have spent their whole lives deeply enamored with books. Others, such as Sarah Galvin, developed a passion for books later in life. This love of reading is reflected in some of the part headings throughout this book, including Part 2, titled “I could talk about books forever”;  Part 5, titled “Just one more chapter, please, just one more chapter”; and Part 3, titled “I can’t imagine what people do without books in their lives.” A love of books is what pushed many of the contributors into literary industries in the first place, and it is a major source of motivation and job satisfaction for them.

Another shared quality is the desire and drive to share books and a love of reading with other people. At their core, bookseller and librarian are tertiary jobs in the service sector, meaning that a certain level of customer service and people skills are necessary. Booksellers and librarians often build strong relationships with customers and patrons or act as sympathetic ears in times of strife, so empathy and patience are invaluable. Additionally, booksellers and librarians often require robust problem solving and investigative skills, as the title of Part 1 states: “To be a bookseller, you have to play detective.” Basic computer skills are necessary to work effectively in this increasingly digitized era, and a major component of librarians’ services in the modern age involves supporting patrons with technology.

There are many different jobs that fall under the umbrella roles of bookseller and librarian, and each of those jobs consists of many varied tasks. Consequently, the contributors to this book apply a diverse range of skills in different contexts over the course of their workdays, and there is some variation in what skills they present as vital or helpful for the successful accomplishment of their roles. For managers of chain bookstores, owners of independent bookstores, and even public library directors, business management and marketing skills are a necessity in order to attract patrons and engagement. Librarians must have a certain level of industry specific skills and knowledge, which are usually imparted through a master’s degree course in library science. They should be able to serve their patrons impartially and without judgment. Other more specialized skills have helped contributors to flourish in their certain niches. Diego Sandoval Hernandez, for instance, sees his Spanish language skills as a boon, while several former teachers apply their understanding of child development and their ability to engage with children authentically in their new book-based roles. Alexis Sky makes use of her online savvy to run the store’s social media accounts and attract customers that way.

It is difficult for any individual to be entirely objective when reporting on their own abilities and characteristics, much less when reflecting on their journey to success. However, the sheer number of different testimonies brought together in this book, combined with the impartial oversight of the three authors/editors, means that the individual accounts combine into a compelling overview of some of the most important qualities and skills of successful booksellers and librarians.