My Davidson | A Student Blog Chasing Childhood Dreams: Adventures of a Davidsonian Bookseller

For as long as I can remember, I have dreamt of becoming an independent bookstore owner. 

When I close my eyes, I can vividly picture what that might look like: rustic shelves filled to the brim with books of all ages and character, some with unfortunate tea stains; a little child and their mother reading Love You Forever while curled up on the burly couch.

When people seek out an independent bookstore, they are not solely concerned with the act of purchasing books. Rather, people find themselves in these spaces because they love the idea of an independent bookstore: carefully curated collections of titles furnished by booksellers; the presence of others, both familiar and unfamiliar, walking about the shop with animated curiosity; book clubs, philosophy cafés and community events on Saturday afternoons.

Independent bookstores are essentially civic institutions — a modern town hall. They are not concerned so much with individualistic narratives and economic growth; rather, they foster dialogue through in-person gatherings and books that carry a myriad of ideas, leading to a strong sense of community. Democracy thrives in independent bookstores, and people flock to them to quench their thirst for community.

But enough daydreaming—Davidson is where dreams come true.

Through its incredible resources, Davidson has allowed me to chase my childhood dreams across three continents and more than 200 bookstores. Here’s how:

Thanks to the generous support of the Matthews Center’s Professional Development Grant, I attended the Heartland Fall Forum, the annual conference for independent bookstores throughout the Midwest. I had the opportunity to meet and establish meaningful relationships with bookselling heroes like Danny Caine (Author of How to Protect Bookstores and Why) and Janet Jones (Source Booksellers), who have become dear mentors.