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Bibliophiles know there’s nothing quite like a used book store.
Besides the sweet scent of aged paper, adhesive and ink, there is also that feeling that you’re about to stumble upon something new and exciting–but you don’t know what.
“Books can change your life,” said Hatley Mason, owner of Mermaid Books in Colonial Williamsburg’s Merchant Square. “They’re wonderful that way. They can really open you up to a lot of different ideas you wouldn’t have thought of.”
It might seem surprising given the proliferation of big box stores and the creation of e-books, but used bookstores are still relevant. In fact, the American Booksellers Association reported an increase in the number of independent bookstores from 2011 to 2015.
Mason knows firsthand the draw of a good used bookstore. He was a customer of Mermaid Books for years before buying the 32-year-old business in 2009. A newspaper artist by trade, Mason had never worked in retail before, but he couldn’t imagine Williamsburg without the treasured bookstore.
“This place is full of stories,” he said. “Not only are there millions of stories on these shelves, but people who come in here, they have their own stories and they share them.”
Jackie Mason, Hatley’s wife and co-owner of the store, said William & Mary students make up a good portion of their customer base and they often come in just to talk with Hatley.
“They really love the exchanging of ideas,” she said.
“They think I look like a character out of a movie,” laughed Mason. “They say this store is like something out of Harry Potter–it’s not predictable to them, and they like that.”
Used bookstores like Mermaid Books have thrived in the digital age because they have a well-curated inventory and because they create a sense of community.
“It’s really not about selling a book or selling anything,” said Mason. “It’s about creating an environment and an experience for people, and yeah, if they want to take home something or buy something that’s great, but it’s really about building relationships.”
Kip Mortenson, owner of Oasis Books in Gloucester, agrees.
“There are things that are here that you can’t find—they just aren’t out there,” said Mortenson.
Mortenson is a lifelong bibliophile. His father bought and sold used books through the mail and sold them to used bookstores during the Depression. His family amassed quite a collection, and he’s had a love for used books ever since.
He opened Oasis to share that love of old books with others.
“When you’re shopping online, unless you know exactly what you’re looking for, you’re just surfing,” said Mortenson. “Here you can pick up a book and hold it and see what it’s really about.”
At Oasis, Mortenson has carefully divided his inventory by topics and genres. He carries a healthy collection of maritime, Civil War and Western Americana books, and has several rare book rooms filled with leather-bound 18th and 19th century printings. He laments that people aren’t as into
American literature as they used to be.
In addition to discovering new books to read at reasonable prices, used bookstores also offer customers the opportunity to find something special. Sometimes, that means discovering a favorite author’s first edition, a collector’s edition or an antique book.
“One thing a used bookstore can offer a customer is access to something they haven’t come across before,” said Mortenson.
The flip side of that is customers also have the chance to come across something familiar.
Mason said he often sees customers get excited when they find a book they had as a child like Raggedy Anne, a Dr. Seuss book or an old cookbook they remember their grandmother having.
“Several times I’ve seen women come in who wanted a book to give to their daughter that their mother gave them, and a lot of times they find it,” said Mason. “You don’t get that experience online.”
An avid reader, Amy LOVES American Literature and could spend hours at a used bookstore marveling over first editions and rare books.
Mermaid Books • 757-229-3603 • mermaidbookswilliamsburg.com
Oasis Books • 804-694-0100 • oasisusedbooks.com
