"A good bookstore is the backbone of a community."
MARSHFIELD – Stacey Toon understands the importance of a good bookstore.
“It’s essential,” said Toon, the owner of the Ocean Village bookstore in Marshfield. “A good bookstore is the backbone of a community.
In the age of Barnes and Noble and online shopping, it seemed unlikely that local bookstores could survive. But secondhand bookstores continue to create unique environments that bring in all kinds of readers.
Independent bookstores have been staging an unexpected comeback. Between 1995 and 2000, the number of bookstores in the country dropped 43%, according to the American Booksellers Association.
But between 2009 and 2015, independent bookstores grew 35%, according to the association. South Shore booksellers say it is because they offer customers something they cannot get elsewhere, like a sense of community or hard-to-find books.
Mary Hurst is the owner of the Yankee Book and Art Gallery in Plymouth. Shelves, brimming with rare or out-of-print books, line the walls of the small North Street shop.
“I have everything. Collectibles, vintage classics, new books, local history, every category you can think of,” said Hurst. “You name it, I have it.”
Hurst said many of the books in her store are unavailable online.
“I have books Amazon doesn’t,” said Hurst.
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That includes books like Dr. Chase’s Third, Last, and Complete Receipt Book and Household Physician. Published in 1888, the book features a collection of old-timey cures, many of them involving gilead bud, opium, or turpentine.
“I sell a lot of these to doctors. Sometimes we get to laughing about the cures,” said Hurst, owner of the Yankee Book and Art Gallery in Plymouth. “It was so different back then.”
With over 20,000 books at her Ocean Street store, Toon said it’s always exciting to come across a special book.
“We had a first edition of To Kill A Mockingbird -- it was so worn out that it was probably worthless. But you look in the back and there’s this photo of Harper Lee. She’s still a little kid, she’s not famous yet, and there’s something really special about that,” said Toon.
The nostalgic factor attracts many customers to used or rare bookstores. Hurst said she finds often customers are trying to recreate their childhood.
“Some of these books bring you back to a simpler time,” said Hurst. “Maybe your mother read to you from an old children’s book and you want to find it again. Or you’re looking for a vintage cookbook your grandmother may have had in her house. These are memories.”
At the Buttonwood Books and Toys store in Cohasset, browsers enjoy a more personal shopping experience than they would online. Bill Grace, the book manager for the store, curates the book selections to match the customer base. It allows for a more specialized customer experience.
“It’s something a 5-star Amazon review can’t relate to,” said Kathy Detwiler, the owner, said.
The store, located on Chief Justice Cushing Highway, also hosts author events, readings, and even dinners. Handwritten reviews from workers are posted near books.
“We know our customers by name, we’ve watched their kids grow up and now we’re watching their grandchildren,” said Detwiler.
On a recent weekday morning, Chelsea Kennedy, from Long Island, N.Y., dropped by the Yankee Book and Art Gallery. Browsing the shelves, she was on the hunt for an old Edith Wharton book.
“They always feel homey and welcoming. I always seek bookstores out when I’m in a new place,” said Kennedy, on why she enjoyed local bookstores. “And while Kindles are great, there’s nothing like a book.”
Listening, Hurst nodded.
“Amen,” said Hurst.
Zane Razzaq may be reached at zrazzaq@ledger.com.