Behind The Curtain

Rachel Pastiva from the Ann Arbor Book Society on Supporting Local Booksellers and Self-Care

• Rosanita Ratcliff • Season 1 • Episode 8

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Behind the Curtain: Rachel Pastiva on Supporting Local Booksellers and Self-Care

In this episode of Behind the Curtain, host Rosanita Ratcliff continues her conversation with Rachel Pastiva. They discuss the legacy of the Binc Foundation, the critical support for local booksellers, and Rachel's involvement with the Ann Arbor Book Society and the Friends of the Library. Rachel shares insights on balancing her work, the importance of self-care, and the vibrant book community in Ann Arbor. Tune in to learn more about how you can support local bookstores and get involved in the Ann Arbor book community.

To support the Ann Arbor Book Society, visit them at their website.

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Rosanita:

Welcome back to another episode of Behind the Curtain. I'm your host, Rosanita Ratcliff and today we're diving into part two of our conversation with Rachel Pastiva. In this episode, we'll explore the legacy of the Binc Foundation, the importance of supporting local booksellers and how Rachel balances her work with the Ann Arbor Book Society and the Friends of the Library. We'll also touch on the vital role of self care and the vibrant book community in Ann Arbor. So grab a cup of tea, sit back and join us as we continue this insightful discussion with Rachel Pastiva. Hey, Rachel. Welcome back. One thing I also had wanted to touch on, though, was I saw on the website that there was Binc and it was set up by Borders, right? It was a book foundation. Is that right?

Rachel:

Yeah. So, so Binc originally was Borders Inc. The Binc Foundation was for Borders employees who maybe there was someone in their family who was diagnosed with a terminal illness or they had a fire at their house or they can't make their car payments, you know, just Something that, well, maybe back then, probably not so much a car pain is thing, what was more so, you know, health related and, and people really needing assistance and when borders closed, Bink stuck around and what a wonderful legacy because now it's actually a national organization. It's a nonprofit right out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, out of borders that actually exists to support booksellers in their times of need. So, yeah. So if. I do remember reading an article on, on their website once about a fire, one of the bookstores had a fire in it, and so they were able to give them funds or people who, you know, their spouse had lost their job and they couldn't pay their, their heating bill. You know, there's all kinds of ways that they help booksellers. And to me, this is like another manifestation of Ann Arbor being a booktown, right? Is that there's this amazing organization that exists to help booksellers they understand the value of booksellers in our community.

Rosanita:

I think it's amazing that even though borders itself closed, that they kept the foundation and didn't sunset that as well. They were like, no, this is still such an important part of our ethos that we're just going to keep it and continue, continue on with that tradition.

Rachel:

Yeah, yeah. And honestly, I mentioned to them recently that if, if I wasn't. On charge of my own nonprofit organization, I would love to volunteer my time for theirs because I think the work they do is so important.

Rosanita:

It really is. I was just thinking when I read it on the website, right? And I was thinking about how sales slumped for a lot of people. Well, yes, you had a lot of people who were reading and it did help shine a light on some of the independent booksellers and people didn't have, you know, places to spend some of their money. So they were spending it on bookstores during the pandemic, but it wasn't every bookstore that had an influx of of new buyers. Right? And so for the ones who didn't, I just think about how important A foundation, like, bank is to be able to help them stay afloat until they can get people to, you know, to come back in or to help out the employees who worked at those stores. Right as well. I don't know. I just feel like thinking community as a whole. Yeah, because people who work at those stores live within their own, either within that same community or in nearby community, and they still need the assistance. Especially when a disaster strikes. I also know that you are with the friends of the library.

Rachel:

Yes.

Rosanita:

How do you find time for all of this?

Rachel:

Well, that's my paying job. This, you know, the Ann Arbor Book Society is definitely 100 percent volunteer run. So, that's how I help to pay the bills. I left Crazy Wisdom in the winter of 2017 and part of it was because I really needed to have, you know, I worked full time there, I was the only full time employee. So, that was a lot of fun. Stress, you know, having to be responsible for that. So I really wanted to find a job that I could work part time that would allow me to devote time to the Ann Arbor book society, but I think it's such a beautiful fit and I feel so grateful for that job because I feel uniquely suited to it because I was the only full time employee at this small, independent, dynamic business, crazy wisdom. And now I get to, to be the only employee at this incredible nonprofit that exists to raise money for the library. And, you know, it's funny cause I got my master's in library science and I always used to joke that I could. Wallpaper my walls with the rejection letters I got from the Ann Arbor District Library. The thing is, there are 2 universities within 45 minutes with the, you know, master's program. So, unless you really want to move, it's it's a lot of competition. But, but I feel like it's. Kind of poetic justice. I get to, I still, I work at the library, you know, and I, I work for an organization that exists to support the library. So that feels almost like a better fit for me. And I really get to put my bookseller experience to use. And it's so much fun because we get books donated every day. And you see things that have been out of print and are worth a lot of money or just really fun and interesting things. And, and I also get to work with, you know, retired. People who love books that were lawyers and librarians and business owners and professors at U of M. So it's just a really, and in long time, Ann Arborites, you know, people who remember, like you said, like you remember when borders was in its original location, people who were going to school in the seventies and remember going to center core. So it's, it's really fun to be able to like, talk to them about. What the Ann Arbor book culture was when they were going to school. It's a fun experience.

Rosanita:

One thing that I do is I talk a little bit about self care on here, because I know that whether you're an artist or. You're supporting artists, and I firmly believe that authors are artists what they put on paper and what the illustrators put in there. It draws us into this world. They're creating. Right? And sometimes when you're that person, who's providing the supports to them, or. In your case, the books, the booksellers, right? It's a lot it's because, like you said, for yourself, you have your full time job and you have your love. Right? Yeah. Yeah. If you love something, is it I mean, it's work, but is it a job?

Rachel:

Right? Right.

Rosanita:

And so how do you find the time to still take some time to take care of yourself and to. Not focusing on what has to be done next,

Rachel:

right? Right. Gosh, in this day and age, I think that's such a challenge for all of us where there's always things showing up in your inbox and people can reach you through text. You know, you just don't have your personal time. Like, you know, we used to, I think, honestly, 1 of the things I've really started committing myself to, believe it or not, is, you know, more time to read. It's so funny because I mean, I am always, I am always reading. I'm always reading four or five books at a time, but I, I created a little reading book in my house, you know, we're with a comfy chair and a light and there's no devices allowed. And just to really, Okay, Rachel, you put in an hour's worth of time, a couple hours worth of time on Book Society, just go, go and sit down and read. And because that's really the basis for all of it, you know, and it can get lost in that when you are so concerned about all these ways to keep this sustainable and to grow it. So it's just something I'm like, Rachel, you have to get back to the root of what this is about and connect with it because it's, to me, it's just such a, you know, Really calming, you know, self nourishing thing to do is to let yourself. And really I try to let myself read a, I read a lot of nonfiction, but I just want to, like you said, those books earlier, like I just want to read a light mystery or something. That's the kind of stuff I want to make time for, because you just want to be able to enjoy, you know, shut your brain off and just follow a story. Right. And not have to think too much.

Rosanita:

Just just a whole other tangent here, because he brought up mysteries. How did those authors do it? I just think, because they're always setting these little clues throughout the book that if you're not really paying attention and you're, you know, like me, like, I'm just I'm going to solve this before before I get to the end. How did I just I'm always fascinated. Like, how did they do that?

Rachel:

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I think writing a book is 1 of the most fascinating things. That people do, you know, in, in any kind of book, not even just the mystery, but writing a story about your own life, you know, how do you, how do you start? How do you create that structure? And it's just, yeah, it's, it's, it's fascinating to me, really.

Rosanita:

Well, you said that you had your original degree, your bachelor's was in creative writing. Do you do any of that for fun? Just for yourself,

Rachel:

you know, it's funny you ask because I feel like I keep getting this like this internal nudge that I need to start going back to that. I haven't in a long time when I worked at crazy wisdom. I, I got to write for the journal sometimes. So that was, you know, at least getting to scratch that writing itch, but I haven't really done anything creative with it for myself in a long time. And I do think it's something I'd like to go back to. Yeah. Now we're in retirement. Who knows? Someday.

Rosanita:

I mean, you're definitely using your degree, but yeah, I was just curious on the aspect of it for you. Like, you know, because sometimes you just feel that creative juice. Right? Right. Right. Yeah. Yeah. As we near the end of the the conversation here. I was wondering, is there anything coming up with the Ann Arbor book society that you'd like to promote, including how people can get involved as volunteers or donors.

Rachel:

Yeah. So right before the pandemic hits that actually that April, we were supposed to do our first like real programming event, which we were going to do a scavenger hunt for independent bookstore day. And we'd really love to get back to that again. We can't do that this year because actually we're. A couple of our board members are terming out and our real focus right now has to be on rebuilding that board. So, so right now I think we're just focused on strengthening our internal foundation, you know, before we can actually go out and start doing programming again, the other thing too, is. You know, there's so many things related to books in Ann Arbor that we would love to let people know about, but we're only limited by having volunteers who want to contribute and write about it. You know, we really saw, like I said, I saw our website being are the go to place for book news in Ann Arbor kind of like, people might go to, like. the Ann Arbor News website or Detroit Free Press. Like, I'd love them to be going to the Ann Arbor Book Society for book news, but we're just not there yet because we have limited volunteers who can contribute regular writing. So, so really, I think we're, we're still in that process of inviting people to become part of, of the book society. And like I said, we're also expanding, trying to get some sponsors for the Booktown Map. And one level of sponsorship, Sponsorship at a 500 level gets you your company logo on the back of our map, which, like I said, we're hoping to distribute 10, 000 in the community this year. So I feel like for the right kinds of businesses that believe in books, it could be a really good way to advertise your business and support a community that I think is really valuable to Ann Arbor. But in addition to that, Ann Arbor. Independent bookstore day is coming up in April. And, you know, just in general, one of the things I wanted to point out is I'm often saddened every year. It seems to happen just about every year when there was an article on the news saying that Ann Arbor was voted one of the best red cities in the country. And it's based on Amazon book sales. And I always feel so heartbroken by that because we have such a vibrant book community, and I feel like. We just happen to live in a culture now where people think. That they have the right to be able to purchase something at the most deeply discounted price it could possibly be, you know, and, and so they might get some affordable books, but I don't think they realize, like, the ripple effects of what that does to the community. When I first moved to Ann Arbor, there were 17 independent bookstores downtown, and there's, you have Mott Bailey. And Don Treader, Literati, Third Mind Books, which just opened, and Westside Bookshop, and five downtown right now. So people, if they want to live in a community that's vibrant like this, I hope that they will start to think about where they're getting their books, you know, that they'll start supporting the more local places. And if they like to buy books online, they can go to bookshop. org, which is a lot of the independent bookstores. have affiliations with. So if you buy books online, they will still get a percentage of the revenue from it. So I just hope that people will think about, you know, putting their money into the book community so that it stays around for a long time.

Rosanita:

I'm really glad you brought that up because when I was speaking with an independent bookseller, one of the things that they told me is that with Bookshop. They didn't make as much as if they were selling the books themselves. And so for them, yes, you can still go through bookshop, but they also have their own online bookstore directly through through them through their website as well, which also gives people who like to shop online that option to do some of the other bookstores probably have that as well.

Rachel:

I think I think most of them. Yeah, do as well. That's right. And I, by the way, I want to go back. I feel bad. I forgot about Volt of Midnight when I was counting the bookstores downtown, but Volt of Midnight is an incredible book comic bookshop that we should very, very much be proud of.'cause they have multiple locations now in Michigan, so not to be missed. And there's a lot of people who like comics. Oh yes. Volt of Midnight has an online shop. Most places do or, or they'll do curbside pickup. Even still, one of the things that came out of the Pandemic was I think bookstores found really creative ways to be able to get books to people. And so some of those ways aren't going away. Now, if you're somebody who doesn't wanna be going into the shop, you can just. Pull up front and go in and grab it or people will bring it out. So definitely they're trying to be flexible.

Rosanita:

Which I think is, is great because yeah, you, you, because yeah, you mentioned the books for us downtown. We have, was it Nicola's? Oh, Nicholas

Rachel:

now books. Yeah, yeah.

Rosanita:

As we have Booksweet, which used to be Book Bound. If you're closer to Ypsi, then they have Blackstone. And then you mentioned the other booksellers that you can Sign up for food book shop. They have their own online stores. Yes. Yes. And also, I like to plug them as an audible alternative is libro.fm

Rachel:

oh, yes. Yes.

Rosanita:

And how, when you buy a monthly subscription to them, you can. Then you can select a bookstore and a percentage of your monthly subscription will go to that independent bookstore. Yes. And I have that and that's what I do. So I get my monthly audio book and I have a few books on there that I'm like, yeah, you would never see me buy this in a bookstore because I don't want people to know that I would read this.

Rachel:

Yes, that's when you go online, there are some times that you want your book purchase to remain anonymous.

Rosanita:

Because not everyone needs to know, I mean, now I'm saying it out loud, but not everyone needs to know that yes, I like a good celebrity memoir, okay?

Rachel:

We all have our guilty pleasures,

Rosanita:

although I do have to say, one of the ones that I got just won a Grammy for Viola Davis, so, you know, they have a very wide selection on Libro. Hey, that got her her EGOT, but they have a very wide selection on Libro. fm, and it really is one of the easiest ways to support if you're going to have an audio book, especially for some people who just reading print isn't possible.

Rachel:

Yeah, yeah.

Rosanita:

So, Independent Booksellers Day, right?

Rachel:

It's usually right in the middle of April. But it's just, it's just the day of the year. It's a national thing where it's just trying to get people to, to go support local independent bookstores.

Rosanita:

Do the bookstores around here typically have special programming for that?

Rachel:

I know some of them do. And that was one of the things that If and when we get back to the scavenger hunt, you know, it was going to be tied into that getting certain prizes or treats from the different bookstores, like there'd be a passport or something you would get stamped and you would collect things at the different stores.

Rosanita:

Okay. So is there something else to put on the list? Because we have, you know, we have giving Tuesday, we have small business Saturday, right. And that's more towards the Christmas time, right. But this gives a really great opportunity to make sure that we're supporting a local business. And another part of the year.

Rachel:

Yes. Yes. Yeah. In the spring, whenever hopefully the earth is thawing and you actually want to leave your house, right? You actually want to go outside.

Rosanita:

Yes, because I do hibernate it's funny. I, I used to call myself a penguin because I would come back every winter, but I would stay. But I would, you know, kind of stay indoors. If, if people want to, to volunteer, then is the best way to just go through the website?

Rachel:

So yeah, our website is a2books. org and they can go to our website. There is a volunteer Washtenaw website through the United Way that if people are just looking for volunteer opportunities in all kinds of way, they can go there and look for things. But we also list what our current volunteer opportunities are there. And then the other thing I would like to point out is our monthly email newsletter. We send out on the first of every month and it has information highlighting some of the big book events taking place that month in the community. We always do a snapshot of the past. So something. Book history related and we always have some noteworthy new releases coming out that month to encourage you to want to go shopping the bookstores and news to keep you in the know about what's going on in Ann Arbor's book community. So I, I do encourage people to find us on our website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Rosanita:

Well, thank you so much for joining me here today. Is there anything else that you'd like to share?

Rachel:

No, I think we had a really great conversation and I, I really enjoyed myself Rosanita. Thank you so much for having me.

Rosanita:

Oh, thank you for coming and I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. That wraps up part two of our enlightening conversation with Rachel Pastiva. I hope you enjoyed learning more about the Binc Foundation's impactful work, the significance of supporting local bookstores, and Rachel's dedication to fostering a thriving book community in Ann Arbor. Remember supporting our local bookstores and engaging in self care are essential for a vibrant and healthy community. If you want to get involved or stay updated on Ann Arbor's book events, visit a2books.org and subscribe to their monthly newsletter. Thank you for tuning in to Behind the Curtain. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and your local community.

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Rosanita Ratcliff

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