Library Express: Turning the Page from Bookselling to Public Service 

Library Express: Turning the Page from Bookselling to Public Service 

In Jorge Carrión’s “Bookshops,” Carrión suggests there exists a strong difference between the bookshop and the library. The bookshop is characterized as a temporary yet progressive seller of books, one who deals with a light inventory and exists to move material to work out a limited existence. On the other hand, the library is much more permanent, an extension of “the powers-that-be” stuck “looking towards the past” (40). The library is a place where the hectic movement of ideas ceases and enters a preservation or sanctuary. Thanks to its ties to the government and its power, the library’s existence will always be ensured. This is perhaps to the detriment of bookstores, for Carrión suggests that the library is so powerful it even “erase[s]” the booksellers that nurtured its collection of books (37).   

Putting aside complaints about how Carrión takes the library for granted, there’s a fundamental flaw in his framework. If the library and the bookstore are such incompatible opposites, a combination of the two would prove that the bookstore and library are not so rigid in their constructs. Perhaps the bookstore does not have to be temporary or forgotten, constantly struggling for its own existence. Perhaps the library is not the place where knowledge comes to rest, stuck permanently looking at the past. Perhaps the two can coexist in a powerful, mutually beneficial service model that furthers their combined goals. 

It should be obvious what we’re hinting at: this paradoxical fusion already exists. We’re looking at Library Express, a one-stop bookshop/library hybrid in the Pennsylvania Rust Belt that functions as a small-scale commercial offshoot of the Scranton library network. 

Library Express challenges our fundamental understanding of both the library and the bookstore. How can a place attempting to sell books lend them away for free? How can the end-stop for knowledge traffic its wares for survival? How can a public service become a business? Yet, in its opposing existence, Library Express redefines both and offers a possible path towards a middle ground. 

A map of the area surrounding Library Express showing the various stores and historical sites in industrial Scranton.

Located in the center of downtown Scranton, Library Express’s dual purpose as a bookstore/library hybrid serves its working-class community well. In this neighborhood, about 35% of household incomes are less than $15K a year. It allows people of all demographics to find what they’re looking for, whether they’re looking to buy a bestseller or borrow a book that interests them. The variety of purchasing and lending options at Library Express similarly reflects this urge to cater to those from different economic backgrounds who might have less of a disposable income. There are options to have a book mailed to your home for those unable to travel and online options for in-store pickup. Having these different options allows people of modest economic backgrounds to use the bookstore in the way that feels most comfortable to them. 

Another unique thing about Library Express is its location in Scranton’s local mall, the Marketplace at Steamtown. A mall is usually the place for big chain stores like Barnes and Noble, but Library Express anchors itself there just as well as these larger stores.  

As a mall, the Marketplace reflects a sense of business and constant activity. However, in 2016, the Marketplace at Steamtown was rebranded as a community center with an emphasis on providing community resources and supporting the local economy, both of which directly align with Library Express’s goals. 

Library Express is found on the second floor of the mall, a place where many of the neighboring stores are locally owned small businesses that you can’t find anywhere else. For example, Library Express’s direct neighbor is Dress for Success, a second-hand clothing store that specializes in providing professional clothing in addition to career services for women hoping to enter or reenter the workforce. The mall also hosts several businesses that support and provide opportunities for creators in the community, like Phyl Your Bags, a co-op of local artisans, and What the Wick, which sells homemade candles (see the complete directory here). Both of these businesses are examples of the value Scranton places on support for local entrepreneurs in its working-class environment. On the first floor of the mall, there’s even a branch of the Luzerne County Community College, which adds an atmosphere of learning and accessibility to the mall. 

Laura J. Miller’s Reluctant Capitalists: Bookselling and the Culture of Consumption describes how the right kind of businesses are “nourished by their vital connections to a locality” and that they can “rise above the profit considerations to provide community service as well as customer service” (122). This is exactly what Library Express Bookstore does; it provides a much-needed public space where one might wander through the shelves of books, free from commercial obligation but confident that any money spent will directly benefit the Lackawanna County Library System. The way Library Express is designed makes you feel like an insider in the community, even if you’re only stopping in for a brief visit. 

In “The Science and Recent History of Bookstore Design,” Lyndsie Manusos meditates on “how a bookstore should ‘reflect the style and traditions of its surroundings’” when forming its culture, design, and function within its community. In this manner, Library Express shows the influence of traditional mall shopping culture and organization, presenting its wares in straight, orderly lines and small, contained U-shapes of similarly coded books: classics and classic-adjacents, adult and YA, nonfiction and special interest, etc. Library Express seems to mirror the days when bookstores operated on practical commercial business models, though the store also provides a crucial emphasis on community care and engagement through its creative features and dual nature as a bookstore and public library. 

Library Express exudes the same straightforward, entrepreneurial atmosphere that characterizes the rest of Scranton. You quickly recognize where to find the books you’re interested in, and while the layout encourages browsing and free movement, it’s perfectly suited to stopping in after work to pick up a new volume or borrow a book you’ve checked the availability of at the Lackawanna County Library System’s website lclshome.org. In this vein, the store “buys into” that consumer culture, meeting the needs of its working-class customers while still operating as a business. 

Library Express’s floor design and allocation of space also show its desire to put their customers’ needs first. In Reluctant Capitalists, Miller argues that “aside from any personal attachment to a locale, the [book]store proprietor knows that the fate of her entire business is tied to the future of that community” (226). In other words, booksellers are invested in their community’s well-being and must cater to their customers’ interests and values to stay afloat. Library Express does this by prioritizing certain genres or categories over others. For example, the cheapest books are the first things customers from the lower-income community of Downtown Scranton interact with, through book carts positioned outside the storefront. These carts convey a homey, casual atmosphere and a low-stakes first impression that invites people in because they know they can spend as much or as little as they want to once, they enter the space. 

In terms of relative section size, Library Express’s ‘mainstream’ definition of literature is also indicative of its working-class climate in its stocking of mostly popular books that appeal to a broad section of the population, with less of an emphasis on highbrow intellectualism (though they still do carry a large collection of loosely defined classics). 

A floorplan of Library Express showing the store’s commitment to community through its design. Color key: library spaces (purple), non-book items for sale (orange), books for sale (green).

The library collection of the hybrid bookstore is smaller than its neighbor the merch section, constituting less than a quarter of the store’s floor space. Despite this, it contains a huge assortment of large print texts and hundreds of DVDs that library card holders can borrow and enjoy for a quiet evening’s entertainment without having to spend hard-earned money. Given that approximately 33% of the population in downtown Scranton is 65 years or older (Claritas), this specialized selection of large print titles is a testament to Library Express’s dedication to serving all groups in the community, no matter their age group or socioeconomic background. It’s a place where anyone can go enjoy literature and library programming together, which lines up with the store’s emphasis on community engagement and activities. 

By prioritizing its customers, Library Express brings a lot of life to the Marketplace at Steamtown with its colorful arrays, creative art displays, and emphasis on community involvement. It’s committed to positively impacting anyone who enters the store through its library resources and bookstore design and has been doing so ever since its introduction in 2012. 

A timeline of important community events during Library Express’s history, from the origin of the store until the present.

The way that Library Express has formed a community is one that requires interaction from the consumers as well, though the initial formation of smaller communities is done by the store itself. For example, while there have been many diverse events hosted in the bookstore itself, the longest running have been the monthly book signings and readings. These began just 17 days after the store’s opening on January 11, 2012, with the signing of Nancy McDonald’s book If You Can Play Scranton. Since then, Library Express has hosted dozens of book signings, which often support the work of local writers. This tradition groups people of all ages in one place to give them a common interest and purpose with others. Library Express is perfect for such events because of how it serves the needs of an economically and generationally diverse community, especially since the initial goal of all libraries is to bring people together and strengthen bonds between different groups.  

Other events are targeted towards more specific audiences, however. For example, community events include Teen Tuesdays, Seasoned Citizen Movie Matinees, children’s craft times, and specialized interest groups that meet in the back of the store. In Place, a Short Introduction by Tim Cresswell, places are defined both as “spaces which people have made meaningful” and “spaces people are attached to” (7), which soundly resonates with the groups in Library Express. Most of the recurring events have lasted for years, like the Open Mic Nights (since 2017) and the Seasoned Citizen Movie Matinees (since 2018). The smaller groups at these events form a community, and each group creates their own individual meaning in Library Express’s event space based on the types of programming targeted for them. Being with a group of like-minded people with similar interests creates relationships, both between the people at such events and the places they’re hosted in.  

As a library/bookstore hybrid, it’s clear that the patrons and proprietors of the store truly care for books and their importance in the world. In his article, “Bookstores, Communist and Capitalist,” Jack Perry laments that bookstores haven’t been as mindful of this feeling in recent years: “No one in these places seems to love books, or even like them, except as money makers” (109). While this quote might apply to some other bookstores, it doesn’t apply to Library Express. The bookstore/library hybrid’s position as a nonprofit gives it a unique ability to counteract those tones and promote good literature without the pall of making a profit hanging over their business model. Library Express has adapted many times over the years to create deeper connections with people in the area and bridge the gap between bookselling and public service.  

The function of Library Express is to serve the community, which they have done by creating meaning and community in a single place for the last decade. By combining the ethos of business with a legitimate need and drive to serve the community, Library Express has proven that it can survive the turbulence that shutters many other small businesses, and more impressively, does so as a hybrid bookstore in the working-class Rust Belt. It’s proof that Carrión might be wrong—the Library and the Bookstore do not have to be separate. When their goals of nurturing their community align, they can quite literally work as one to reap great success.  

Thus, Library Express exists as a collection of opposites; the store emulates traditional consumer culture as more of a transactional retailer than an intellectual gatekeeper, but its design and curation still showcases its community-centric organization through the genres it prioritizes and its creative features. These features are perfectly aligned with creating a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere for Scranton’s working-class community, which has contributed significantly to the formation of relationships and community in Scranton. 

The authors of this post pictured in front of Library Express’s 2023 Halloween display: (left to right) Brooke Nelson, Amelia Alexander, Janina Reynolds, and Gavin Knouse.

Citations

Texts

Carrión, Jorge. Bookshops: A Reader’s History. Translated by Peter Bush, Biblioasis, 2017, pp. 37-40. 

Cresswell, Tim. Place: A Short Introduction. Blackwell, 2011.    

“Library Express Calendar.” Lackawanna County Library System, lclshome.org/library-express-calendar/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023. 

Manusos, Lyndsie. “The Science and Recent History of Bookstore Design.” BOOK RIOT, 22 Feb. 2022, bookriot.com/the-science-and-recent-history-of-bookstore-design/. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023. 

Miller, Laura J. Reluctant Capitalists: Bookselling and the Culture of Consumption. University of Chicago Press, 2007. pp. 122-226.

Perry, Jack. “Bibliophilia: Bookstores, Communist and Capitalist.” The American Scholar, vol. 55, no. 1, 1986, pp. 107–11. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41211294. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023. 

Images

All photos of Library Express taken by Amelia Alexander, Brooke Nelson, and Janina Reynolds on October 28, 2023 at Library Express Bookstore, Scranton, PA. 

“Calendar of Events October 2023” from https://lclshome.org/b/library-express/. Accessed October 2023.

Graphics and Statistics

Floorplan drawn by Amelia Alexander in October 2023; floorplan annotations added using https://www.thinglink.com/. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023. 

Google Map created by Janina Reynolds using https://mymaps.google.com/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023. 

Households by Income. Claritas, https://claritas360.claritas.com/mybestsegments/#zipLookup. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023. 

Population by Age. Claritas, https://claritas360.claritas.com/mybestsegments/#zipLookup. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023. 

Scranton, PA. Data USA. (n.d.). https://datausa.io/profile/geo/scranton-pa#demographics Accessed 1 Dec. 2023. 

Timeline created by Brooke Nelson using Free Online Timeline Maker, https://time.graphics/. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023. 

Welcome Home: Molly’s Books & Records

Welcome Home: Molly’s Books & Records

By Ella Baker, Natalie Chamberlain, Kendall Reif, Lexie Kauffman, and Liann Quinones Melendez

In the heart of Philadelphia’s historic Italian Marketplace, Molly Russakoff invites wanderers into her home, Molly’s Books & Records. By sharing the unique culture of its surroundings, this personal bookstore blurs the line between business and family. 

The mosaic storefront // Photo credit: Molly’s Books & Records Facebook

The eye-catching mosaic storefront coaxes guests off the streets and draws them to the boxes of bargain books, records, and movies that frame the front door. Russakoff’s touch is evident from the start; a hand-painted sandwich board sits alongside the curb and gems from her collection are featured in the window. It feels inviting and familiar, like returning home after a long day. Even before they take a step inside, Russakoff considers everyone guests rather than customers. 

“It’s our home,” Russakoff said when asked about the atmosphere of her store. “We like to keep that feeling, where you’re coming into our home. [It’s] bright [and] organized. We like things to be easy to find and we like to be helpful and friendly.”

As the glass door opens, 600 square-feet of paradise is revealed where hand-painted signs hang proudly from the ceiling and colorful tile covers the floor. Russakoff knows that navigating a literary landscape can be daunting, and that’s why she meticulously crafted hand-painted signs for each section. They guide guests through the literary genres and authors, ensuring everyone can easily find their next great read. The signs point to different CD’s and records that line the wall to the right with the poetry section next to it. These shelves are symbolic of the owners themselves: Molly Russakoff and Joe Ankenbrand, a poet and musician.

Handmade greeting cards made by Molly Russakoff // Photo credit: Abigail Weil

Books and records are not the only items that reside within Russakoff’s place. Like many bookstores, Molly’s Books & Records sells non-book items around the store. According to Lydia Pyne, a historian and writer, “Putting not-books on a shelf in addition to actual books is a way of declaring one’s identity and individuality” (Pyne 25); Molly’s fully embodies Pyne’s ideas on expression through objects.

This is evident in the mugs and trinkets, adorned with beloved store motifs, that are thoughtfully placed, serving as a reminder that this is more than just a business; it’s a labor of love. Even more, scattered along the endcaps are notecards, featuring art from children’s books, a reminder that this is a space where the young and old come together to explore the loveliness of literature. The handmade nature of their not-books and the homey-feel of the mugs all point towards the larger theme of Molly’s Books & Records: home.

The checkout counter // Photo Credit: Marietta C

Inside this home, the check-out counter functions as a foyer. It’s directly to the left, usually staffed by Russakoff’s son, Johnny, or Russakoff and Ankenbrand themselves. The store cat, Mrs. Stevenson, roams the store and the apartment above, where Russakoff and her family live, effectively bridging the business and the family home. Even the family cat treats customers like they’re part of the family, choosing a lucky guest to tag-along with on their journey through the shelves.

The store is split into three general sections. The first section is the busiest and functions most like a family room, the hub of all household activity. Here, at the front of the store, Russakoff and Ankenbrand’s passions—poetry and music—are most on display. Past the checkout counter is a long wall of fiction. The shelves of books amass the space, from floor to ceiling. Pyne hypothesizes that bookshelves control how one interacts with a space. She states, “Bookshelves serve as powerful symbols” (Pyne 81). They “immediately cue us to how we ought to interact with a room and how much importance or power we assign it” (Pyne 81). Molly’s bookshelves welcome guests into the store and keep the space warm and homey. There is no social prejudice or hierarchy in the shelves that overflow with books. The lighter wood—oak, maybe pine—is inviting and approachable. This is an affordable wood that makes a bookshelf that doesn’t judge its customers or its contents. It’s not fancy; it’s simple, like it’s there for everyone to enjoy.

Fiction Wall (wall furthest from the entrance) // Photo Credit: Kirstie Ellen

In addition to these bookshelves, Russakoff intentionally chooses the lighting for her store to curate a sense of comfort and ease. The fluorescent lights are chosen for their brightness, allowing customers to easily read titles on the shelves. However, Russakoff ensures that the lighting is not too harsh; it’s bright enough to facilitate browsing but soft enough to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. In this subtle way, she makes the space accessible, not just physically but also aesthetically.

Russakoff’s commitment to creating an accessible space is reflected by the content she sells. All of the books are used—in other words, they’ve been loved before—and reasonably priced. They’re arranged with their spines out, and ordered alphabetically by the authors’ last names. Filled-to the brim and charmingly unpredictable, the shelves create a lived-in and happy atmosphere. The inventory is updated, relevant, and carefully organized. Russakoff’s curated selection of fiction is a testament to her own literary preferences, featuring titles by renowned authors like Atwood, Hemingway and Faulkner, among many others. Her wish is to share what she loves, whilst still having something for everyone who comes in. 

The next section of Molly’s operates as a sitting room—a place of conversation, community and culture. It begins with two categories: Local and Philosophy/Religion. This section forms a rectangular alcove that has general nonfiction books to the right and art to the left. The other literature sections reflect different facets of personal life, each item handpicked. These things can all hold stories, memories, and meanings. On the top of the shelves, Russakoff displays her collection of rare and valuable books. She doesn’t cross paths with items like these frequently, but when she does, she ensures they are priced fairly while still receiving the return they deserve. The store is truly Russakoff’s personal library, as seen in the floor plan below. 

A comprehensive floor plan of Molly’s Books & Records, originally drawn by Molly Russakoff. Please note that this is not drawn fully to scale.

Molly’s Books & Records leans into this personal aspect in every detail. This is evident when entering the heart of the home, the metaphorical kitchen. The cookbook room is signaled by a white and blue hand-painted sign that hangs above the narrow wooden doorway. Within the room, shelves overflow with cookbooks from an amalgamation of cuisines and cultures.

Molly Russakoff standing in the Cookbook Room, under a hand-painted sign that marks the entrance to the room. // Photo Credit: Natalie Piserchio

About seven years ago, Russakoff decided to bring her love of food and cooking into the bookstore via an extensive culinary collection. In this section, guests can find anything from general cookbooks to chef biographies. The selection is diverse and flexible because Molly’s Books & Records has a loose definition of food writing. Their stock includes “biographies and memoirs, essay collections by writers like MFK Fisher, and reference works” (Weil) as well as what one would expect. This space provides an important connection between Molly’s and the surrounding community, perpetuating the intentions of the Italian Market. 

For over 40 years, Russakoff has lived and loved in The Italian Marketplace, a place of preserved culture and cuisine. The distinctive culture of the area reflects itself in a strong literary community, in which Russakoff is acutely connected. 

Russakoff’s father, Jerome Russakoff, opened his own indie bookstore—Russakoff’s Books and Records—sometime between 1982 and 1986 on 259 South 10th Street. Eventually, in 1997 Jerome handed down ownership of the shop to Molly Russakoff’s brother, Joe Russakoff. Since then, Russakoff’s Books and Records has officially been known as Mostly Books and has relocated to 529 Bainbridge Street in the early 2000s. Considering this familial history of bookselling, it should not have come to any surprise that Molly Russakoff would continue the tradition and open up her own bookshop. 

Around 2000, Russakoff purchased the property that Molly’s Books & Records currently operates on. Since then, she has opened and subsequently closed various businesses on this property: Molly’s Cafe, Bella Vista Natural Foods, and Molly’s Cafe and Bookstore. Russakoff raised her kids—Karla and Johnny—above the transformative space. This building is a part of the family, and she was determined to keep a business going in the community she loved. 

This timeline tracks the history of Molly Russakoff, the owner of the independent bookstore Molly’s Books & Records in Philly, PA. It focuses on the idea of Molly’s shop as a homestead that has a long series of preceding events leading to its creation. By connecting each event to this idea of forming a ‘home’ within a bookstore, the development of Molly’s mindset toward her business is visible as well as the factors that have led to the success/resilience of Molly’s Books & Records.


In the late 2000’s, she partnered with her now-husband, Joe Ankenbrand. The two met after Rusakoff had just closed her store, and was planning to reopen once again as a bookstore. She was in possession of records that she didn’t know how to price. Ankenbrand, who knew Rusakoff’s brother, had been a vinyl record collector since 1964, so she went to him for advice. The two combined forces and the rest, as they say, was history. 

Molly’s Books & Records opened in 2010, and a few years later, Russakoff and Ankenbrand were married in the bookstore, their home, surrounded by all the things they loved. They briefly ran an outlet for excess merchandise that did not fit the original store’s identity on Passyunk Avenue, a street away from the central location, but it was only open for a year and a half before the couple made the decision to close it. This experience made them realize that they’d rather focus their attention on one place and develop a single dedicated location for their guests: Molly’s Books & Records.

Every business venture Russakoff made in South Philadelphia was an attempt to create place, which according to human geographer Tim Cresswell is essentially defined as “a space invested with meaning” (Cresswell 12). Time and time again, Russakoff invested meaning into the building on 1010 South 9th Street. Every business she operated connected with the community and established relationships with the people of Bella Vista. Russakoff’s focus on home coincides perfectly with the history of the Italian Marketplace because South Philadelphia has been a haven for Italian immigration since the late 18th century. The map below works to further depict the way that Molly’s Books & Records functions within the surrounding Bella Vista neighborhood. It highlights the emphasis on food in the community and the businesses of various origins that call the neighborhood their home. Some markers work to show the emphasis on community in the area.

This map of Bella Vista features the locations of Molly Russakoff’s former businesses, showing us just how close together they have all been, and how Molly has repeatedly searched to establish her ‘home’ in the Italian Marketplace. Some markers on the map work to show the emphasis of community in the area.

Historically, Bella Vista was the core for Italian-immigrant life, and it was here that they attempted to preserve Italian identity in a Western culture. They moved into this neighborhood and worked hard to make it a multifunctional home. For example, when Italian immigrants settled in the neighborhood, they were able to adapt their housing to supply goods and services for Italian households. They would transform the first floor to be their shop, while using the rest of the building as a homestead, blurring the line between business and home even then. This historical architecture is still visible today in shops like Molly’s Books & Records. The bottom floor remains a commercial space to share cultures and passions, while the upper floor is Russakoff’s home where she raised her kids and lives a life of love.   

9th Street’s Italian Market thrives on love, like Russakoff. Its retailers are beyond passionate, and its beauty comes from the rich individuality of every single place. In his work Defining Place, Cresswell goes on to assert that the idea of place is “…not so much a quality of things in the world but an aspect of the way we choose to think about it – what we decide to emphasize and what we decide to designate as unimportant” (Cresswell 11). Evidently, the neighborhood of Bella Vista has chosen to emphasize one thing in particular: food. Food is something that can be almost perfectly translated across place and time: with the same recipes and ingredients, food can be timeless. In fact, over one hundred years later, many of the original vendors and businesses remain in the area. However, the food market itself has diversified as new waves of immigration entered Philadelphia. In 1983, the first Korean-owned establishment joined the many businesses within the Italian Marketplace (Tangires). From then on, different cuisines—from Mexican, to Chinese, to Vietnamese—can now be found alongside the Italian classics. Currently, the Bella Vista neighborhood houses many different ethnicities, with 17.7% Italian descendants, 16.5% Irish descendants, and 11.7% of German descendants, according to the United States Census Bureau. The diversity in the community is manifested in rich history and a mutual love of food. The neighborhood’s vast population of restaurants and stores with food-related wares communicates a desire to preserve its residents’ culture.

A snapshot of the extensive cookbook collection at Molly’s Books & Records // Photo Credit: Abigail Weil

The store symbolizes a genuine melting pot, as it serves the diverse community with culturally-enriched literature. Russakoff’s focus on cookbooks assists the neighborhood’s mission to define a sense of community and helps Molly’s Books & Records solidify their position in the culture of Bella Vista. In her book Reluctant Capitalists, sociologist Laura J. Miller explains that independent bookstores, such as Molly’s Books & Records, “assume position as cultural authorities” (Miller 84).

Molly’s Books & Records pursued this task of representing the culinary cultures of Bella Vista through a carefully curated cookbook collection. Considering Bella Vista’s history with immigration and cultural diversity, the cookbook collection extends its range far beyond the neighborhood’s Italian population with books “devoted to Pennsylvania Dutch, African American, Native American, Jewish, Scandinavian, Indian, and Middle Eastern cuisines, among others” (Weil). In their pursuit of diverse cultural representation through cookbooks, Molly’s Books & Records became the intersection of culinary and literary cultures in South Philadelphia.

This intersection creates a new and unique function of the store. It seems less like a commercial endeavor, and more like a place of learning. Russakoff invites guests into her home to share the history of the surrounding community as well as her own, almost like pulling old family photo albums out from the attic. She seems to make reading—and the exploration of lifestyles that comes with reading—approachable with her low prices, well-loved stock, and personally curated selection. Her store appears to be a convergence point of culture, providing knowledge for all.

Each book on her shelves is a lesson plan for the community. Russakoff’s definition of literature seems didactic—something that’s intended to teach life-lessons and broaden perspectives. The store may be a place of learning, but the books on the shelves provide the physical teaching materials. Some stock, like the cookbooks, are literal step-by-step instructions. The literature serves the guests and teaches the community, just waiting to be discovered and appreciated.

From the shelves, books and trinkets, to the host herself, this place welcomes everyone home. Molly’s Books & Records is a source of love—love for knowledge, love for oneself, love for community, love for culture, and love for food. 

Works Cited

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Cresswell, Tim. “Defining Place.” Place: An Introduction, 2013, pp. 10-12.

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—. “Italian Market Q and A: Joe Ankenbrand, Co-Owner of Molly’s Books and Records on 9th Street.” The 9th Street Beat, 3 Mar. 2015, 9thstreetbeat.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/italian-market-q-a-joe-ankenbrand-co-owner-of-mollys-books-and-records-on-9th-street/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

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Kov, Daniel. “Molly’s Books and Records.” The Secondhand Beat, 12 Mar. 2011, thesecondhandbeat.wordpress.com/2011/03/12/mollys-books-records-part-ii/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

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Luconi, Stefano. “Italians and Italy.” The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, 2017, philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/italians-and-italy/#:~:text=It%20was%2C%20therefore%2C%20no%20surprise,and%20Leghorn%20in%20their%20homeland. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

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Miller, Laura J. “Providing for the Sovereign Consumer: Selecting and Recommending Books.” Reluctant Capitalists: Bookselling and the Culture of Consumption, Chicago, 2007, pp. 55-85.

Prihar, Asha. “A Poet, a Doctor, a Muse: Meet the Bookstore Cats of Philadelphia.” Billy Penn at Whyy, 10 Oct. 2022, billypenn.com/2022/10/10/bookstore-cats-philadelphia-mollys-book-trader-pets/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

Pyne, Lydia. “Bookshelves as Signs and Symbols.” Bookshelf, London, Bloomsbury Academic, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020.

—. “The Things That Go on a Bookshelf.” Bookshelf, London, Bloomsbury Academic, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020.

Russakoff, Molly. Personal interview with the author. 25 Oct. 2023.

The South 9th Street Italian Market Philadelphia. www.italianmarketphilly.org/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

Tangires, Helen. “Italian Market.” The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/italian-market/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

United States Census Bureau. data.census.gov/profile/ZCTA5_19147?g=860XX00US19147#employment. Accessed 19 Sept. 2023.

Weil, Abigail. “There’s No Place in Philly Quite like Molly’s Books & Records.” Eater Philadelphia, 13 Dec. 2021, philly.eater.com/2021/12/13/22820597/mollys-books-records-italian-market-bookstore-cookbooks. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

Images Used

C., Bri. _Yelp_, 31 July 2022, https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mollys-books-and-records-philadelphia?select=_hDaBMI9RDKwfe0JXcbr9A. 30 Nov. 2023.

C, Marietta. Arts and Sciences Section. 9 Dec. 2018, www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mollys-books-and-records-philadelphia?select=DpAPgT-ccTo6H4jLpuNVGw. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

—. Checkout Counter. 9 Dec. 2018, www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mollys-books-and-records-philadelphia?select=DpAPgT-ccTo6H4jLpuNVGw. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

—. Jazz Records. 9 Dec. 2018, www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mollys-books-and-records-philadelphia?select=DpAPgT-ccTo6H4jLpuNVGw. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

—. Rock and Pop Records. 9 Dec. 2018, www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mollys-books-and-records-philadelphia?select=DpAPgT-ccTo6H4jLpuNVGw. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

DeMuro, Catherine. Ankenbrand. The 9th Street Beat, 3 Mar. 2015, 9thstreetbeat.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/italian-market-q-a-joe-ankenbrand-co-owner-of-mollys-books-and-records-on-9th-street/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

Ellen, Kirstie. Molly’s Books and Records. 2 Apr. 2018, ozbooksnail.com/2018/04/02/bookstores-to-visit-in-philadelphia-for-book-lovers/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Kauffman, Lexie. “Molly’s Books and Records.” 30 Oct. 2023, www.thinglink.com/scene/1775744508353315302. Map.

Molly’s Books and Records. 3 Nov. 2018, www.tangfamily.me/italian-market/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Molly’s Books and Records, _FaceBook_, 1 June 2017, https://www.facebook.com/mollysbooksandrecords/photos/pb.100066605814222.-2207520000/1489619537762206/?type=3. 30 Nov. 2023.

Molly’s Books & Records Family: “Married Couple Shares Their Love of Books, Music at Molly’s Books and Records in South Philly.” 6abc Philadelphia, 3 Mar. 2022, 6abc.com/mollys-books-and-records-italian-market-south-philadelphia-art-of-aging/11617396/.

Piserchio, Natalie. Shelves. Eater Philadelphia, 13 Dec. 2021, https://philly.eater.com/2021/12/13/22820597/mollys-books-records-italian-market-bookstore-cookbooks. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Piserchio, Natalie. Molly Russakoff. Eater Philadelphia, 13 Dec. 2021, philly.eater.com/2021/12/13/22820597/mollys-books-records-italian-market-bookstore-cookbooks. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

Piserchio, Natalie. End Cap. Eater Philadelphia, 13 Dec. 2021, philly.eater.com/2021/12/13/22820597/mollys-books-records-italian-market-bookstore-cookbooks. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

Records for Sale. Map Quest, www.mapquest.com/us/pennsylvania/mollys-books-and-records-2345352. Accessed 15 Sept. 2023.

Storefront. Eater Philly, 13 Dec. 2021, philly.eater.com/2021/12/13/22820597/mollys-books-records-italian-market-bookstore-cookbooks. Accessed 15 Sept. 2023.

TK. Molly’s Fiction Wall. Foursquare City Guide, 5 Sept. 2016, foursquare.com/v/mollys-books–records/4b98037df964a520142635e3?openPhotoId=57cdc4a4498e532c6a207b36. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.

Weil, Abigail. Cookbooks. Eater Philadelphia, 13 Dec. 2021, philly.eater.com/2021/12/13/22820597/mollys-books-records-italian-market-bookstore-cookbooks. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

Midtown Scholar: An Enticing Maze

Midtown Scholar: An Enticing Maze

When you walk into a bookstore, the immediate focus should always be the books and the numerous forms of shelving that hold them. The layout of these shelves and the books they contain show the priorities the bookseller places on certain titles and genres over others. It shows how they want their customers to move through the store, and the way they mean for them to interact with the books and the store itself. In a Book Riot article titled “The Science and Recent History of Bookstore Design” and written by Lyndsie Manusos, a bookseller they interviewed stated, “The modern bookstore is about an intellectual browsing environment throughout the store… Our job, when you come into our stores, it’s just fun, it’s exciting, you walk out with books you had no idea that you needed, wanted, and feel really good about it.”

Filled with around 200,000 titles, the bookshelves of Midtown Scholar Bookstore span six floors over two buildings along with the numerous metal, library carts holding used books that customers can browse before even getting to the front door. It is a store full of wonder and gives people a chance to walk out with things they may not have expected including a desire to return and continue exploring again later.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore was founded by Eric Papenfuse and Catherine Lawerence. Both were proud book collectors from long before they even met, as they explain in an interview from April of 2023. Both have backgrounds in history and teaching that led to their specialty in academic, used, and antique texts.

The main floor of the Scholar has a multitude of tables upon walking in that they adorn with mostly new titles to fit adjusted themes for whatever is going on at the time (The Harrisburg Book Festival, holidays, signed recently, etc.). The standing shelves against the wall closest to the door hold staff picks/ blind dates with books and bestsellers. Other tables on this floor feature a multitude of categories displaying what books the booksellers believe would be of most interest to the clientele, like a table specifically for books written by women or the newest paperback releases. These tables can be found placed on the staging area as well when the store is not hosting an event. They also have a display for the merchandise of the store itself and the brand they push on a small standing shelf with shelving on all four sides, so customers walk around the whole thing to see all the merch.

Midtown Scholar’s checkout counter is part of their coffee bar, one of the first things a visitor sees when they come in, which gives people the chance to get a drink right when they arrive, or when they go to ask a question. People are more than welcome to walk around with their beverages, but if they’d like to sit they can go to the mezzanine level of the store. As a mainly academic bookstore, Midtown Scholar makes a point to place their books in a way that best displays their niche. The reflection of these things is vividly portrayed in the layout and flow of the shelves and titles around the Scholar, including on the mezzanine. There are two ways to go up, either straight into Art History, where rolling ladders are attached to the shelves to allow access to the upper levels, giving very much Beauty & the Beast vibes, and where a Pop Culture section hides in an alcove behind it. Or you can go straight to the highest level where Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Sci-fi, and Poetry sit. This places these less academic categories in a more out of the way place, potentially in hopes that customers will wander about before making their way to those shelves.

The majority of the shelves on the main floor level are “Famous Authors” shelves, adorned with classic and canon titles in alphabetical order by author’s last name, with tags showing where each new author’s section begins and no concept of genre separation. The “Famous Authors” shelves are fully wooden and fixed, meaning the shelves do not readjust to fit differing sizes of books. Movable shelves provide a larger variety of options for their usage, because “A mobile bookshelf is one where shelves could be adjusted to fit either very tall or very short books and where shelves could move across the floor,” (Pyne p. 51-52). These bookshelves being stagnant shows a deliberate choice. The shelves create a unified look to the space, encircling the majority of the wall space on the main floor, and the titles that go on them give the effect of being as stagnant as the shelves themselves. These shelves even feature photos/ paintings of some of these famous authors on the edges that stick into the rest of the main area. This is a not-so-subtle way of showing the store’s inclination towards academic writing that leads customers further into the store.

If you walk down, into the deep, seemingly endless academic texts that flow throughout the depths of the store, you find a whole world of books that goes far beyond what anyone would expect when they first walk into the Scholar. Beginning with American History, the shelves ripple down into nonfiction texts of all kinds, surrounding the antique books room where the books are all displayed in cabinet shelves that require associate assistance to open. All throughout this maze of levels there are locked cabinets due to the titles’ exclusivity or price, and there’s a desk where an appraiser works to buy used books or accept donations, creating an endearingly cluttered look to the space with the boxes of books that are thrown in with the part wood, part metal shelves. An assumption that can be made from this shelving type is that they kept the uniformity of the wood, but the metal shelves allow for adjustment, and strength to handle the many tomes.

The underground of the Scholar (depicted within the floorplan above) encompasses the feeling of clandestine bookshelves, especially as one keeps going further down. “The idea of secret libraries full of clandestine bookshelves with books holding surreptitious knowledge is practically a trope that writes itself,” (Pyne p. 69). To reach the antique books in their locked cabinets and the lithography prints that grace tables in the same room, customers from the upper levels must first walk through a slightly elevated hallway that pays homage to the building’s past as The Boston Store. Photos of the old store, news clipping, and the old sign grace the walls that lead you to the antique works, showing the reverence being held for the things of the past. However, that’s not the end. Walking further in, visitors pass the sciences and gender studies to reach the Book Barn, filled with antique used books that are not valued high fiscally, but its placement secreted away in the basement gives it an intrinsic sense of value. “The secrecy that surrounds hidden bookshelves speaks to a sense that knowledge itself is a guarded thing,” (Pyne p. 74). The hidden gems of Midtown Scholar seem never ending when visitors find themselves exploring these underground shelves.

Given how much space is dedicated to the academic titles as compared to the general audience titles, one can clearly see the priority of Midtown Scholar is in its role as a scholarly bookstore. It gives reverence to its academic texts by placing them in spaces and on shelves that reflect their value. This is all just the main building, too. In giving customers an incentive to roam the store and find all the alcoves and little treasures they may have never expected, Midtown Scholar Bookstore adds to its likelihood for continuous visitation and sales.

Citations

Texts

Cheney, Jim. “Visiting Midtown Scholar Bookstore: Harrisburg’s Best Destination for Literary Lovers.” Uncovering PA, 6 Sept. 2023, uncoveringpa.com/midtown-scholar-bookstore.

Manusos, Lyndsie. “The Science and Recent History of Bookstore Design.” BOOK RIOT, 22 Feb. 2022, https://bookriot.com/the-science-and-recent-history-of-bookstore-design/.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore. “Live | the Story of an Independent Bookstore with Catherine Lawrence and Eric Papenfuse.” YouTube, YouTube, 27 Apr. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpdFCTpNQj4&ab_channel=MidtownScholarBookstore.

Pyne, Lydia. Bookshelf. Bloomsbury Academic, 2019.

Images & Video

All images and video were taken by Olivia Neumyer on 10/29/2023.

Thing Link floorplan was created by Olivia Neumyer on 11/1/2023.

Library Express: Creating a Library Feeling in a Consumer-Based World

Library Express: Creating a Library Feeling in a Consumer-Based World

The setup of Library Express is reminiscent of both the typical bookstore layout and the library it is modeled after. It intertwines aspects of a library that you would picture in any place with the distinct setup of a bookstore. Both aspects, while separate in theory, are tied together through the layout of the store. There is significance behind the placement and appearance of each section and decoration of Library Express. The setup of the front of the store, the purchasing area, is cluttered and full of books and book-related items that tempt customers into spending both their time and money in the store. The back of the store is a condensed version of a typical library, enough so that it is easy to forget you are also in a bookstore. This progression from store to library is well-paced and flows as it should. The overall layout of the store is clearly intended for independence. The calming music and general quiet of Library Express give everyone who enters a sense of solitude and peace that is much welcomed in the bustling world of today.

Despite this, the layout was more reminiscent of a bookstore than a library. There were only two sections with library-specific items, while the rest of the store was dedicated to purchasing items. The back end of the store was distinctly more library-centered than the front, which fits with the ideal library image. Libraries are typically quiet, private places where you can be alone in your thoughts. The placement of the community library areas at the back of Library Express allows more privacy. While there, you can feel as if you are in a different area than elsewhere in the store. If this area were at the front, the large windows would give a sense of being watched and exposed. You would never get the private sense that community requires.

Image taken by Brooke Nelson

The individual niches along the sides of the store were set up in a way that naturally progressed throughout. Each niche, though focused on a different subject, paired well with the surrounding niches. For example, the section on Scranton was next to the section on general history and reference books, which paired nicely with the facing artistic and poetry sections. This arrangement shows the great thought put into the set-up of the store. The designers thought about how people would progress while creating the layout. The entrance of the store, with bargain carts of books, suggests a feeling of intrigue in potential consumers. They see a variety of inexpensive books and themed window displays, which brings them into the store itself to encounter other temptations inside.

Image taken by Brooke Nelson

Though the library section was small, it was arranged in an almost exact match as the purchasing section of Library Express, making it easy to find books in either section. The two niches were separated by a container for returned library items, allowing it to be accessible to people on either side. In addition to this, the two niches on library materials were in the most isolated and private area of the store: the back corner. This mimics many other library setups in their separation from the rest of the world, which allows the customers to have a distinct idea of where they are. Allowing people to clearly know what the purpose of each section is allows them to find their way around without much outside assistance from employees. Their location next to the checkout, as well, lets the customers feel as if they are in a confined library. It eliminates the need to walk across the store through a different section with a different purpose.

Most items sold near the checkout area were book-themed, or at least book-adjacent. This perfectly reflects Lydia Pyne’s statement that “… the books and not-books a person puts on their shelves become a declaration of their identity” (41). The purpose of the store is to cater to bookish individuals and bring together a community. This is reflected in the specificity of books as a subject of most of the store. When you are next to the checkout area of any store, the small trinkets surrounding the register are meant to tempt you into spending just a bit more money. However, there was no pressure felt from the employees to purchase any of the items. The focus of the employees on creating an individual experience rather than spending money allows the store to mimic a library checkout experience.

The books themselves are shelved in a typical way, side by side with their spines out. The sales tables in the center of each niche are set up to maximize the space each book has. Each book on these tables is set apart from one another, propped up with their covers out, and arranged artfully on the shelves. This clear distinction forces the books on the tables to feel special, which tempts customers into purchasing them. The bookshelves themselves are wooden, with adjustable levels for each shelf. They do not have backing, which makes customers able to see through to the other side. This clarity between sections creates a small sense of community. You can see others participating in the same activity as you, which brings people together. Pyne states that “For some bookshelves, mobility involves arranging space for visitors. This arrangement of space is like creating spatial holes around the bookshelves” (64). The bookshelves, like Pyne’s idea of mobility, create individual spaces for customers to feel comfortingly confined in.

The sense of the store was one of isolated comfort, with a community available at any time. The employees never made their way around the store or even spoke with you beyond a greeting as you walked in the door. This action is reminiscent of a library, differentiating it from an otherwise consumer-based area, the mall. In libraries, the librarians do not walk around, and you are left to your own devices for the most part. However, in stores, you are forced to interact with employees and are asked if you require help at least once. This act, while innocuous, gives a distinct air that you are simply a customer rather than a member of a community, as opposed to the library sense.

It is obvious that Library Express caters itself toward community, especially in the wide variety of community-oriented sections. As Clifford says on page 221, “The critical history of collecting is concerned with what from the material world specific groups and individuals choose to preserve, value, and exchange.” Library Express collects books in a way that values their accessibility and wide audience, particularly shown in the clear and easy distinctions between areas. There are activity sections, book and stuffed animal pairs for children to peruse, a seating area, and an open activity for customers to color themselves. With the confined area of the back of the store, people in those areas are more likely to feel a sense of community with others, as they are all in the same space participating in the same activity. Though this activity is not always the exact same, the location and similarities in activities are enough. Library Express and its setup tie together into a close-knit community welcoming to all.

Images

Nelson, Brooke. Images of Library Express. 28 Oct. 2023.

Sources

Clifford, James. “On Collecting Art and Culture.” Harvard University Press, 1988, pp. 215–251. Twentieth-Century Ethnography, Literature, and Art, Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.

Pyne, Lydia V. Bookshelf. Bloomsbury Academic, an Imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Inc., 2016.

Midtown Scholar: More Than a Bookstore, More Than an Experience

Midtown Scholar: More Than a Bookstore, More Than an Experience

Midtown Scholar is more than a bookstore, it’s an experience. But that’s almost still too derivative, to just call it one experience. Midtown Scholar is a different experience on every floor, from the main floor brimming with bestsellers, to their balcony full of used and new fiction, to their underground scholarly levels stacked with rare books. Every floor in the building is perfectly placed, some appealing to the masses while others appease those who reject the mainstream. As said in On the Front Counter and the Store Window, “out on the floor, it’s all possibility, what a customer might choose to purchase, but at the counter, once the register starts ringing, that’s where the revelations are” (Buzbe 106). Between their expanded collection of new, used, rare, and scholarly books, you can go to Midtown Scholar and get any blend of experiences and take home any number of different novels, perfectly tailoring the bookstore to your needs as a consumer. 

For instance, I could never leave the ground floor and have a full indie bookstore experience. To my immediate left as I enter lies the Midtown Scholar cafe, where one can step up and order a coffee to drink while you browse. I personally recommend their iced chai latte, as I’ve found that the drink pairs nicely with browsing paperback books and chatting about popular authors.

The lighting on this floor is warm, spotlights reminiscent of the building’s roots as a theater beaming down on me from the high ceiling and illuminating neutral-toned murals, light wood, and black metal banisters. The look is cohesive, but incomplete without reference to the tall, unmoving bookshelves that reach almost to the ceiling of the floor, and the more movable ones in the center of the room, filled with BookTok hot picks and new paperbacks. For the average consumer, those looking for a bestseller or greatest hit, this first floor fulfills every need they could possibly have. For me, I am merely delighted to discover one of many facets of this bookstore.

As Pyne states in her novel, “Bookshelves act as the mediating object between a person and a book; how the book is met depends on the mobility of the shelf,” (Pyne, 52). The “shelves” on this floor are easily movable for new configurations, events, or other needs, perfect for the high turnover world of popular sellers and for community experiences. This is where the majority of the new books in store are kept, face up on every table, easily spotted from a distance. If merch is more your style, you can pick up some Out-of-print shirts and paraphernalia next to the stage. The ease with which I can pick up and flip through novels and merchandise here is most comparable to a chain bookstore, with ease of access to as many books as possible taking priority. It’s familiar and effortless, but I much prefer other areas of the store.

A photo taken of the Mural on the wall of Midtown Scholar. As referenced on the map, this image can be viewed from either the ground floor or from the balcony across from the poetry section. Photo courtesy of myself.

Rather than focusing on the ground floor first, I like to make a beeline for the balcony, breezing past the cafe area and making a right up the stairs to settle upstairs among the YA, new adult, fantasy, and sci-fi novels. The color pallet of the store remains the same, but the balcony area carries a quieter sort of feel. Looking down over the ground floor of Midtown Scholar, this section is where I feel most at home.

Reminiscent of the years of my youth spent wrapped in books at local libraries, his section feels comfortably all-encompassing. The shelves of alphabetized fiction rise high over my head, to the point that I feel small, but not uncomfortably so. It’s quieter up here, the buzz of those below feels far away and I can relax as I peruse cheesy romance novels and over-the-top fantasy epics. This is where more used books are stored as well, perfect for a college student on a budget. These books are mostly faced in, appealing to those like me who enjoy the hunt of browsing, though the rare eye-catcher is propped on a thin wire stand.

While the lighting on the first floor is traditional to that of an indie bookstore, the upper balcony includes some natural lighting while still benefitting from the store’s overhead lighting, giving the balcony and ground level a sense of similarity. I feel like I can stay here longer and browse at my own pace. Not like the fast, open nature of the ground floor. As Manusos states, “The difference [between indies and chain stores] is the location in which the book is found” (Manusos). Whereas the ground floor felt similar to Barnes and Noble with tables of themed books at every turn, this upper level only includes bookshelves and glass cases. The ability that Midtown Scholar has to switch between a more mainstream feel and a more independent feel while remaining cohesive is impressive, and it all comes down to these tiny details: the wooden texture of the bookshelves, the warm lighting, and the metal banisters.

For those who prefer scholarly or rare books, you may step beyond the ground floor and instead head to the lower levels. The air is cooler here, the air smells like old books and concrete. The lighting is colder, and the clientele keeps to themselves. Same as the balcony, it’s quieter down here, and carries an air of curation rather than consumerism. These books speak to the “scholar” part of Midtown Scholar’s name, and as Pyne points out, ‘authority, advantage, and social status […] is most easily symbolized by the presence of bookshelves, particularly in a social space’ (Pyne 75). Gone are the flashy covers of the books on the ground floor, and these books sit mostly face out on the same wooden shelves, spaced further apart. Nothing else sits on these shelves. Each book, each shelf, is given the room to breathe, and a certain sense of respect that you don’t find on the ground floor, with stacks of mass-produced, perfect-bound novels. Yet the other people in this section keep the same joy in their eyes that I see in the eyes of the 14-year-old girl who picked up a bestseller upstairs. The worn wood of the shelves and the signage above are familiar, and I feel compelled to learn enough about this place to understand it, rather than feeling like I’m not supposed to be here.

Yet at the end of the day, everyone must return to the register, arms heavy with books. Some of them you were probably looking for, some of them you never realized that you needed. Midtown Scholar has that effect on people. In an interview with James Daunt, the Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble, he stated that “the modern bookstore is about an intellectual browsing environment throughout the store. […] Our job, when you come into our stores, it’s just fun, it’s exciting, you walk out with books you had no idea that you needed, wanted, and feel really good about it” (Manusos). I find that this holds true. When I last stepped to the register, I found my arms full of books that were rich and varied in genre, length, and form. However, much like the entirety of Midtown Scholar, these novels are linked together by commonalities. The used book I found on Celtic mythology includes mention of a species strikingly similar to the vampiric love interest in the romance novel I grabbed off the bestseller table. Another book I picked up because I recognized the author’s name includes ties to the folklore that inspired a fairytale retelling I found tucked away in a corner. 

One of the commonalities between the ground floor and balcony area of Midtown Scholar is the lighting. While there is a lot of overhead lighting on the ground floor, one of the most beautiful ways that Midtown Scholar lets in natural light while keeping a warm feeling is through this beautiful stained glass window, found by the section on the arts. Photo courtesy of myself.

Despite the differences between floors, Midtown Scholar still manages to present an experience that feels natural. If you’re like me, and enjoy spending time flitting between floors, feeling the difference in atmosphere, consumer, and content, you’ll notice ties between the woods and metals, the art on the walls, and the font on the signage that directs you. Midtown Scholar executes varied experiences while still tying them together. You can step inside and travel through a cafe, an independent bookstore, a library, and a scholar’s space all within the square footage of one building. In a way, walking through this building is just like reading a book.

Citations

Buzbee, L. (2008). The yellow-lighted bookshop: A memoir, A history. Graywolf Press. 

Manusos, L. (2022, February 22). The science and recent history of bookstore design. BOOK RIOT. https://bookriot.com/the-science-and-recent-history-of-bookstore-design/ 

Midtown Scholar. (2012). Traced Map of Midtown Scholar Layout, minor artistic edits made. Facebook. Midtown Scholar. Retrieved October 27, 2023, from https://www.facebook.com/MidtownScholar/photos/a.10150580590017724/10150580597522724/?type=3. 

Pyne, L. (2019). Bookshelf. Bloomsbury Academic.

Investigating the Inner-Mechanisms of the Library Express

Investigating the Inner-Mechanisms of the Library Express

Space and place are separated from one another by the qualifier in activity. According the definition laid out in Tim Cresswell’s “Defining Place” (p. 7), a place is a location that has been given meaning. In other words, it is not so much that it exists, but that it has a deeper human purpose attached to it.

That meaning of any given place is, of course, shaped largely by its contents: this is essentially the thesis for Lydia Pyne’s “Bookshelf”, as well as the whole ObjectLessons series at large.

If we consider the mall the Space – after all, it is a vast empty medium for operating shops – then a store like the Library Express would undoubtedly one of the Places that makes the Space worth noting.

The Library Express is unique among the other stores in the Marketplace@Steamtown for its wood-paneled windowed frontwalls; it quite literally makes the business stand out, characterizing it apart from other run-of-the-mill mall stores rather than fitting in with its surroundings (as Manusos would argue bookstores should). Helping this task would be the eye-catching artistic displays, which must have been made with love and care given their detail. As objects of book mutilation, one can only assume that they don’t directly help sell books like other store displays, but they do communicate to passersby that you’re in the right place if you’re looking for books or culture.

To put it bluntly, the Library Express is a small store. While its art pieces out front might be award-winning, especially for the late-capitalist minimalist decadence that characterizes the mall, you’re not going to catch it on a list of the most beautiful bookstores in the world anytime soon. Many of its shelves look like they were pulled out of a library basement and repurposed. Some books are literally stored in milk-crates under brown-paper-wrapped tables. Black-and-yellow-striped cables run from the heart of the store to the back, alerting you so you don’t step on them and ruin tonight’s movie night.

Checkout at the desk is equally rustic: there’s no fancy card-reader, not even a Square reader that so many small stores now use to utilize cards, but the old-fashioned method where they take your card and run the numbers behind the desk.

This rustic, one-foot-in-the-now and one-foot-fifteen-years-in-the-past environment is no weakness, though: the store is polished enough to be fittingly up-to-date from a Rust Belt perspective, with nothing new that might alienate its working-class audience. It’s not going to enthrall any architects, technocrats, or socialites, but for many workers in greater Appalachia, it’s going to be more welcoming and cozy than many other places they inhabit over the day. It’s generally much more in-touch with the modest working class history of Scranton than any of the other shiny, glassy boutique-esque stores in the mall. Ultimately, it’s a library – there really isn’t any pressure to spend any hard-earned cash, since it quite literally offers free wares, but there’s always the option if you’re looking to spoil yourself with a nice, flashy object of intellectualism.

It’s compact, too – you could reasonably head in, run to the back, and U-turn it out of there in about a minute, even with a leisurely pace. After about ten minutes in-store, you should have visited each little enclave, unless a particular section has particularly captivated you.

If we continue with our assertion that the Library Express is geared toward the working man, then it might not be too odd to call the Library Express model the “mullet” of bookstores: the business (bookselling) is in the front, the party (library and community planning) is in the back.

The Library half hones in on the Express nature inherited from the title. My co-passengers aboard the Express were quick to point out the relatively small selection of borrowed books were. However, a little inside information about libraries is their interconnectedness: the best way to get a good selection from the Library Express would be to order the books there from the website, and pick them up from there, meaning there are many more books within the Library’s catalog than are on the shelves. There are still enough books (and other traditional library media) that one could spend just as much time browsing these shelves as they might any other section of the store, though.

Quick library pitstop! It’s important to note the sheer number of large-print novels stored by the Library section of the Express. Pennsylvania does have an aging geriatric population (PASDC), and this seems like a good-faith attempt to cater to their interests as well as the interests of other visually-impaired peoples. One naturally has to ask how accessible it must be for them to get to the second floor of the mall, through the city and the parking garage, to which the Library Express would answer with their Bookmobile program. It must be intensely refreshing to see so many books for free: with bigger text comes more pages, and thus a higher cost, and such a niche market that many stores won’t think to cater to.

Of course, to get to the Library, you will have to make it through the bookstore, so on the way back you’re likely going to pass up something that at least stops you and catches your interest. While the Express might betray traditional capitalist sensibilities from the outside, on the inside, its front-facing two-thirds are a traditional trip into retail hell. While so many bookstore chains are looking to subvert expectations and/or invert this old model into “business outside, cozy inside” (O’Connor), the Library Express sticks to what works for selling product, as if it’s a business necessity more than an area of interest.

With the promise of free access to intellectualism imbued into the DNA of the store, though, this classic setup somehow doesn’t seem as predatory as it should. While I was checking out, I even chatted with the clerks about the paradoxical business model, remarking that I could get request any of the books at a library free of cost, anyways, and they agreed (of course, I was also patronizing them with a triple-figure sum of “could I really get this anywhere else?” “is this plausibly homemade/small-business?” bibliophilic merch, so they might have been a little inclined to smile and chat with me, but I have naïve hopeful faith in the workers of Scranton like Powederley might have hoped for).

As you enter and leave the store, having taken your quick little journey on the Library Express, whether it be to explore each little U-shaped nook-or-cubby of the store, to check out the frequently sold-out yet incredibly topical new releases, browse the bargain carts, or even to simply drop off library books at the hastily home-made return box, you are reminded of the Library’s programming: bus tickets, movie nights, community-builders, kids’ arts and crafts, and even free computer access at the back if you are truly in need.

Many bookstores claim to be a home away from home but when they’re really looking to gut you at every price point or point-of-sale, are they really that much more cozy-academic than, say, any predatory private university? On the other hand is the Library Express, wholeheartedly here to support its community, whether they be customers or simply card-holding “friends”, the freest ticket to ride one could ask for.

Citations (Theory and Data)

Cresswell, Tim. “Place: a short introduction”. Blackwell, n.d..

McLaughlin, Katherine. “The 9 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World.” Architectural Digest, 23 June 2023, https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/most-beautiful-bookstores-slideshow. Accessed 1 November 2023.

O’Connor, Maureen. “Barnes & Noble Sets Itself Free.” New York Times, 18 October 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/17/style/barnes-noble-redesign.html. Accessed 1 November 2023.

Pennsylvania State Data Center. “POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS AND CHANGE: 2010 TO 2017.” 10 July 2018, https://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/Data/Research-Briefs/PA-Population-Estimates. Accessed 1 November 2023.

Pyne, Lydia. bookshelf. Bloomsbury, 2016.

Media Credits

Alexander, Amelia, Gavin Knouse, Brooke Nelson, and Janina Reynolds. Various photos of Library Express, 28 Oct 2023.

Knouse, Gavin. “Library Express.” Thinglink, 1 November 2023, https://www.thinglink.com/scene/1776434116347036134. Accessed 1 November 2023.

L, Derek. “Library Express”. Foursquare, 14 June 2022, https://foursquare.com/v/library-express/4e98550ff9f413b04cd4d0f8?openPhotoId=62a8fa26bdc8db3bd5a99005. Accessed 1 November 2023.

Library Express Interior Design

Strolling Through Library Express

Now picture this… It is a Saturday morning, and you decide you want to take a stroll through the Marketplace at Steamtown. You start by parking your car in the parking garage then you take the escalator up to the first floor of the mall. As you are strolling through the first floor you see different types of stores. You see a dentist’s office, an aquarium, Geisinger, a Starbucks, etc. Since there is a Starbucks you may grab a cup of coffee before you decide to continue your stroll through the mall.

After getting your Starbucks coffee you make your way up to the second floor of the mall and almost immediately your eye catches the wooden panels that border a store. Out of curiosity, you make your way toward it and discover that it is a bookstore called Library Express.

Not only is the Library Express a bookstore, but it is also a public library that is connected with the Lackawanna Country Library System. This is just one way that makes the bookstore stand out compared to other bookstores.

A look at the Library Express exterior from the left side of the bookstore. Photo by Janina Reynolds.

Before even entering the bookstore, you will find three carts full of books that they keep outside of the store to attract customers to their store. Keeping book carts outside of a bookstore allows customers to browse through the books on the outside of the store before they decide to continue their way into the store.

The book carts at the very entrance of the doorway allow customers to start book browsing before they are even fully in the store. Photo by Amelia Alexander.

Along with the carts full of books, they also have signs that help advertise their store more. The sign that is at the far left of the front of the bookstore shows what sales and programs they have going on during the month. As you make your way to the entrance there is another sign that has flyers on it that promote the different events the bookstore holds during that month. As you pass the sign there is a cart full of books and another one right after it.

Book decoration hanging from the lights by the Library Express entrance. Photo by Janina Reynolds.

Lighting

In Lyndsie Manusos’s article, “The Science and Recent History of Bookstore Design,” she talks about how “lighting and space have always been important” which remains to be true it is the first thing a customer notices when they enter Library Express or any bookstore. Manusos also mentioned how “Bright lighting is important… but natural light was and still is a priority” which is not the case for Library Express. Since the bookstore is inside of a mall, it has no natural lighting. Instead, they have artificial lighting that helps brighten the store up so their customers can read better while they are browsing. At the entrance of the store, you can see the light source right away. Along with it are books used as decorations that are hanging from the ceiling right by the lights.

Entering Library Express

Then when you finally make it past the doorway you will see a book display that holds books that fall under the “NY Times Bestsellers” category. On this book display, you can find Walter Isaacson’s book on Elon Musk. A regular customer would have to purchase the book for its full price, but if a customer happened to have a Lackawanna County Library System Library Card (usually labeled as an LCLS Library Card) then they get a 25% discount if they buy the book. Another book you can find is Daniel Stashower’s American Demon which is 25% off for anyone who has an LCLS Library Card.

Library Express Floor Plan

The floor plan was created by Amelia Alexander and then modified by Janina Reynolds via Thinglink. A little key for the color of the icons: the icons in blue are part of the bookstore. They are typically books, but two of them are also just window displays. The green icons are other items that customers can purchase that are not books. Then the black icons have to do with the library part of Library Express.

The Right Side of Library Express

The front right side of the Library Express bookstore has a table full of calendars and planners then has bookcases that each hold different genres. Photo by Janina Reynolds.

From the “NY Times Bestseller” display you may head towards the right side of the store. The first thing you will see is a table full of calendars and planners that were 10% off. Behind the table is a U-shaped space for customers to walk behind and look at the bookshelves that surround the table. Going from the right side of the table you see a section full of Cookbooks so if you want to learn a new style of cooking and want to get a book on it then this is exactly where you need to look. As you continue walking the U-shape space you will see a section for Wellness, References, Religion, and two bookcases full of books that are part of the Social Science/History genres. Then at the very end of the pathway, you will find a bookcase full of Journals. As you continue walking straight you will find a small table that is a mix of Nonfiction and Fiction New Releases.

A section of the bookstore is dedicated full of Dunder Mifflin Merchandise. Photo by Janina Reynolds

Also on the right side of the store as you head further in you will see a whole section dedicated to the television series, The Office. In this section, they have Dunder Mifflin merch and they even have some Scranton merch as well.

In Scranton, The Office is something that gets recognized by many people because the show was set in Scranton. A section of their bookstore dedicated to it ties the store into its community. It also brings in people who may be visiting and have watched the show.

Placing it right next to the check-out desk also allows customers to get their books first and then potentially stop by and grab Dunder Mifflin merch as well.

The Left Side of Library Express

Mainly a Classics Genre Section, but the front of the table is full of art. Photo by Brooke Nelson.

Heading towards the left side you will see a bookcase with two tables behind it. The items on the table closest to the “NY Times Bestseller” display are Art items that are facing toward the walkway so that customers can look at them. On the other table, it is full of books that are part of the Classics Genre. Behind that table are bookcases that are against the wall full of books that are also part of the Classics Genre.

A bookcase full of Classics that can only be accessed by a worker. Photo by Janina Reynolds

The bookcase that the tables are behind also holds Classic novels. However, to look at the books in this case a customer must go to the check-out desk and ask for assistance so that they can look at one of the books. A locked bookcase where you can see what books are in it, but can only access them if you ask for assistance gives customers a different feeling than bookcases where they can just pick up a book and look through it at their own free will. In Lydia Pyne’s novel, bookshelf, she talks about a practice known as chaining. She describes chaining as “a practice that reinforced a relationship of power and access between those who curated the books and those who read them” (Pyne 11). Seeing a locked bookcase may make customers feel this way. They may look at the display and want a book that is in it but still want to have the bare minimum interaction with a worker and decide to look at other books instead. The novel also mentioned that “libraries acted as gatekeepers… determining how access to its books would be granted” (Pyne 15). This can be applied well in this case since Library Express is not only a bookstore but also a public library.

Circle deal table where everything on it is Buy One Get One 50% Off. Photo by Janina Reynolds.

Making your way towards the back through the left side of the store. You will find there are several bookcases full of books in the Fiction genre then get into the Young Adult genre. In this area, there is a bookcase that holds novels that fall under the “Books to Film” category and novels that are Biographies.

In this specific area, Library Express also has a circle table at the center of it making it easy to move around it. Another plus to the circle table is that everything that was on the table was “Buy One Get One 50% Off.” Including a table that is full of books that are part of a deal is a good move because book lovers also love a good book deal.

Activities table in the library part of the bookstore. Photo by Janina Reynolds

The Library Part of Library Express

Towards the back of the bookstore is where the library part of more noticeable. They have a sign hanging from the ceiling at the right side of the back of the store that says: “Lackawanna County Library System.” At the back right of the store, they have three bookshelves full of books. The way they categorize the books on these shelves is considered “Large Print.” All of these books you can borrow if you have an LCLS Library Card. In the middle of this area, there is an activities table where library members and customers can rate the last book they read and kids are even able to do some coloring as well.

Bookshelves that are categorized by “Large Print” books.
Photo by Janina Reynolds.

The Center of Library Express

Rack of Tote Bags for customers to purchase. Photo by Janina Reynolds

At the center of Library Express is where they keep their non-book items. Close to the check-out desk, they have tables that are full of socks and another table that is full of cards and mugs. Between the table of socks and the table with the Fiction New Releases, they have racks full of tote bags.

Having non-book items at the center of the store near the check-out desk is a smart design because even though someone may have found all the books that they wanted they will still look at the items on the center table and the chances are they may purchase something. Especially if someone is buying a bunch of books they may buy a tote bag so that they can carry their new books in it.

Text Citations

Manusos, Lyndsie. “The Science and Recent History of Bookstore Design.” BOOK RIOT, 23 Feb. 2022, bookriot.com/the-science-and-recent-history-of-bookstore-design/.  

Pyne, Lydia. Bookshelf. Bloomsbury Academic, 2019. 

Photo Citations

Alexander, Amelia: Book carts at the entrance

Nelson, Brooke: Classic Genre Section

Reynolds, Janina: Exterior of Library Express, Book Hanging Decorations, Front Right Side of Library Express, the Dunder Mifflin Merch, Locked Bookcase, BOGO Circle Table, Activities Table

Floor Plan Citation

Created by Amelia Alexander and modified by Janina Reynolds using Thinglink

Midtown Scholar: A Space in History

Midtown Scholar: A Space in History

Many booklovers, including myself, dream of being locked in a bookstore overnight. The prospect of spending a night surrounded by literature with no responsibilities or rules is so enticing to me that I find myself looking for hiding spots every time I go to a new bookstore. As I entered Midtown Scholar Bookstore, I felt the familiar urge to lock myself within its book infused walls. However, the store itself fuels this desire by being set up as an almost “book maze” with its sprawling shelves.

The store itself spreads across three floors: the main level, the lower levels, and the balcony level. 

Image of the main floor, photo courtesy of Jess Branche

Main Level

The entire layout of the first floor invites customers to stay and make themselves comfortable. Instead of focusing on sales and profit, the setup fosters a sense of community and gives locals a place to gather. This is exhibited heavily through the constant cycle of events held within the space. Since the store’s mission is provide the Harrisburg community with “a welcoming space for the discussion and exchange of ideas about books, politics, arts and culture, and history,” it’s no wonder the main floor is designed to be a gathering place (“Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Cafe”). 

The entrance to Midtown Scholar deposits visitors directly to the front counter, which doubles as a check-out counter and café counter. The café portion of Midtown Scholar sells an assortment of coffees, teas, and pastries. By offering food and drink, the store is asking their customers to extend their visit to enjoy a treat. This is just one way the main level is a gathering place. Another example of this is the large stage that rests on the right wall of the main floor. Therefore, there is a lot of empty space directly in front of the stage to accommodate the need to set up chairs for author events. Another small gathering space present is their children’s room that is also on the main level. 

Aside from the main floor acting as a gathering space, it is also where all the brand-new books are displayed. These books are organized into various sections. Near the entrance, there are two tables showcasing new bestsellers in fiction and nonfiction. To the left of these tables, are bookshelves that feature different kinds of specialty books. During my visit, they held books written by the authors who were scheduled to speak at the Harrisburg Book Festival. Another shelf held a display for “Blind Date with a Book.” Besides these shelves, there are small alcoves of books throughout the remainder of the floor. What’s interesting about these sections is that they are labeled by author. For example, there are placards marking where Mark Twain books begin and end. This makes the shopping experience convenient if you know what author wrote the book you want. Personally, when I browse a bookstore, I usually focus on the titles of the books, but this setup forced me to browse by author instead, which I found to be refreshing.

Overall, the main floor of Midtown Scholar can be described as the “commercial floor” since it is full of new books that are currently popular while also supplying a space for the public to gather. 

Visitors can then decide whether to take the stairs up to the balcony or down to the lower levels. 

Lower Levels

Customers can take one of two sets of staircases to visit the lower levels of Midtown Scholar which are packed with academic books. Initially, you will be greeted by the sections dedicated to history books, with American history towards the front and world history behind that. Once you’ve explored this area, you can either go to a room dedicated to rare artifacts, or you can go down another set of stairs to visit Scholar Underground. This portion of the store focuses on academic books ranging from the humanities, social sciences, religion, and culture.  

Floor plan of the original Boston Store, located in the rare artifacts room, photo courtesy of Emily Costantino

The lower levels feel like a nod to Midtown Scholar’s roots as a used academic book seller. The bookshelves are jam-packed with merchandise, whether it be collectable books or historical art prints, and they are so high that it feels as if you’re in a tunnel of books. This maze of manuscripts invites visitors to lose themselves in the rich history of the store. This is obvious by how much they have preserved previous artifacts from when the space was a department store known as the Boston Store. The space blends both structural history with historical content to transport the visitor to an area that transcends time. 

Balcony Level

View off the balcony level, photo courtesy of Emily Costantino

As you ascend the stairs back to the main level, you can take one of two staircases up to the balcony level, which is devoted entirely to used books. If you decide to take the stairs to the area directly above the lower levels, you will find all things art history. As you follow the balcony along a narrow catwalk, you can browse a selection of popular fiction and poetry books that are categorized by author. Some famous people I noticed were Sylvia Plath and Rupi Kaur. This catwalk is also lined with public seating so guests can further enjoy the space. If you chose to take the other staircase behind the sales counter, you will be led to the side with all the used fiction. This area is also separated by author and all young adult books are lined along the back wall. As you continue further through this section, the collection morphs from fiction to literary criticism and eventually ends with sci-fi/fantasy books along the opposing wall. The balcony level showcases how the store has attempted to use their space as efficiently as possible. Most people would not expect to find mainstream fiction next to literary criticism, so it shows how the owners aim to jam as much material into the store as possible. 

Midtown Scholar as an Accessible Space

Throughout the entirety of Pyne’s writing in “Bookshelf,” she stresses the historical importance of bookshelves by describing their history from medieval chained bookshelves all the way up to e-bookshelves (Pyne). Midtown Scholar is clearly dedicated to preserving and honoring the history of books and bookstores, while also preserving the history of the space they inhabit. This is accomplished by offering an abundance of used and rare books, while also preserving the original structure from the Boston Store.

However, by doing that, I noticed that the store itself is not as ADA-accessible as it could be. For instance, by saving the original building structure, there are no elevators, so wheelchair-users are unable to travel to the lower levels or the balcony. Therefore, limiting their shopping experience to the newer books, which are oftentimes higher priced than used options. 

The article “How Bookstores are Bringing Books Within Reach,” tackles this issue head on by presenting an example of a store whose basement was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The store owner expresses the dilemma of wanting to preserve its rich history, while also making it accessible for disabled customers. Some stores have tried to combat this issue by creating add-ons like height-adjustable computer monitors and foam standing mats (op de Beeck). Therefore, I ask Midtown Scholar, are you willing to alter your history to make your store more accessible? 

Text Citations

“Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Cafe.” Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Cafe, www.midtownscholar.com/. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023. 

Op de Beeck, Nathalie. “How Bookstores Are Bringing Books within Reach.” Publishers Weekly, 21 July 2023. 

Pyne, Lydia. Bookshelf. Bloomsbury Academic, 2019. 

Photo Citations

Branche, Jessica. Main Floor. 20 Oct. 2023. Harrisburg. 

Costantino, Emily. Balcony Level. 20 Oct. 2023. Harrisburg. 

Costantino, Emily. Boston Store Floor Plan . 20 Oct. 2023. Harrisburg. 

Floor Plan Citations

Floor plan created by Emily Costantino

Midtown Scholar: A Maze of Knowledge and History

Midtown Scholar: A Maze of Knowledge and History

Image of the Midtown Scholar sign, photo courtesy of Jess Branche

Growing up in my snobby hometown on Long Island, there was only one bookstore near me. My town fondly nicknamed “The Playground of the Rich and Famous,” does not allow chain stores (besides a Starbucks conveniently placed right next to the only bookstore) so we had a local chain, Book Hampton. It had one other location, but that location has since closed its doors. I was an avid reader when I was young, gobbling up books and always asking for more. So, my mother, also an avid reader, would go down to the bookstore and get me books about fairies and magic tree houses. However, it never felt like a place where I was welcome. The vacationers would always look at me like I wasn’t supposed to be there. The employees tried their best but could never overshadow the feeling of being looked down upon by people who could probably buy my existence. When I traveled down to Harrisburg a week ago, however, I felt the complete opposite of what I felt when I still had a bowl haircut.  

Before I even walked in, I noticed all of the books that lined the street leading into Midtown Scholar. It felt like the store was taking these books and thrusting them at the people walking by as if to say, “Come! Read our books! Gain some knowledge!” Walking in, I was hit with the smell of coffee and pastries and greeted with a massive space filled with more books than anyone could read in a lifetime. To my right was the counter where you order your café items and check out your books, prints, or merchandise. The decision to combine both lines was a smart move by Midtown Scholar, as while you’re checking out, why not order a coffee or tea to go?  

The space in front of me was occupied by tables full of books facing up, so that the customer could see the covers of the book. To my left were bookshelves that formed enclaves, which was very interesting and a good way to utilize space. Along the right wall was a stage. I traveled to the bookstore during the Harrisburg Book Festival, so the staff were running around like busy bees setting up chairs in front of the stage for a reading done by an author. Along the stage, they had a table themed with thrillers and horror stories for the Halloween season. Next to the stage and above the café checkout area was a staircase that went to the fiction section upstairs. Towards the back of the store was another, bigger staircase that led upstairs to the veranda and two smaller staircases on either side of it that led downstairs.  

Up the stairs were columns upon columns of art history in the mediums of both books and prints. This is also where they had the majority of their wearable merchandise like shirts, zip-up hoodies, and hats. The books had varying sections from actual art history like biographies of artists and their pieces of works, to theater history dating back to Greek comedies and tragedies. While I personally was not interested in art history, just the sheer size of the collection was impressive on its own.

Image of the main floor, photo courtesy of Jess Branche

To the left of the stairs was a catwalk-like structure that had a bunch of tables to sit at and observe the store below. On the wall was a bookshelf that featured famous authors. It was a mix of traditional bookshelf with the books facing in and upright and books facing out. A lot of the books facing out were very popular writers and their most famous books, like Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and J.D. Sallinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. This space with the tables next to the bookshelves reminded me of our reading Bookshelf by Lydia Pyne. While the tables and the shelves are separated by a walkway, it made me think about how libraries used to chain books to the shelf so that a reader could only read the book in that spot. I thought about how far bookstores and libraries have come since then. In a store that big and bustling with people, someone could nick a book off the shelf, bring it over to the table to read, and then just put it in their bag and walk out of the store. However, the freedom to be able to read a book at those tables was a touch that was not available in my buttoned-up hometown bookstore, and I appreciated that.  

At the end of the walkway was a section for literary criticism. I also was super interested in it, but my groupmate was. I was more interested in the section next to it, the fiction section. They had almost every book imaginable in those rows. Along the railing was also another section, science fiction. The best part of the upstairs part of the store was the fact that every book there was used. Most of them, especially the fiction books, looked brand new. Benjamin wrote in Unpacking My Library, “I am not exaggerating when I say that to a true collector the acquisition of an old book is its rebirth.” Midtown Scholar is a collector’s heaven. Some of the books were older than my parents, and their parent’s parents. It was fascinating and if I ever develop a collection of antique books, Midtown Scholar will be my first stop. 

Going down the stairs from the main level to go to the basement area, the room is rows of American history. This was impressive alone until My friend and I turned around to see yet another staircase that led even lower, with sections of world history. I loved the layout of the world history section; it was divided into different parts of the world. I was browsing through when I saw a section labeled “British history” and then furiously looked down the long aisle to make sure that Irish history was separate, (it was) because it often is lumped in with British literature, which I, as a person with Irish descent, hates. This goes to show how thorough Midtown Scholar is with their categorization and care. You can tell that the owners care about the precise details of their books and customers like me, or they wouldn’t have so meticulously put these books into the order they are.  

Midtown Scholar is a place that I was already excited to visit, but I never expected to like the experience that much. It was very welcoming and inviting, the opposite of what I am used to. They use the massive space in a way that is so efficient for both the customer and the staff. The sense of place is so strong at Midtown Scholar. They know who they are and who they will always be. They will always be passionate about bookkeeping, history, and keeping both of those arts alive. Harrisburg is lucky to have such a rich environment where all are welcome.  

Citations

Benjamin, Walter. Unpacking My Library. Shocken Books, 1931.

Pyne, Lydia. Bookshelf. Bloomsbury Academic, 2016.

Photo Citations

Branche, Jessica. Main Floor. 20 Oct. 2023. Harrisburg.

Branche, Jessica. Midtown Scholar Sign, 20 Oct. 2023. Harrisburg

Molly’s Books and Records: The Essence of a Home in a Store

Molly’s Books and Records: The Essence of a Home in a Store

Nestled in the heart of Little Italy, Philadelphia, Molly’s Books and Records blurs the line between business and home. When a customer steps inside Molly’s Books and Records, they are made to feel as though they are stepping into the living room of someone else’s home—in this case, Molly Russakoff and her family’s home. So, how does Molly’s Books and Records create a relationship with its customers guests that transcends standard customer experience and standard business transactions? The answer to this question is weaved in the subtle details of the store’s home’s floor plan, interior design, and book and non-book item displays. 


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Note: Superscript numbers in text correspond to numbers on map.

To the left is the floor plan of Molly’s Books and Records, courtesy of Molly Russakoff. Notably, this floor plan is not limited to the 600 square feet of space provided within the four walls of this building. In fact, Molly’s Books and Records extends its home outward onto the sidewalk with a hand-painted green, wooden shelf that displays a variety of bargain books and records1. These bargain books and records—organized in their respective cedar shelving and colorful bins—create a first impression that is vital to understanding the essence of Molly’s Books and Records. Like the text explains in Lydia Pyne’s Bookshelf, “‘…[a] display of books must at all times convey its message and be inviting’” (33). Similar to the function of an entryway, this display of bargain books and records is a quiet welcome and an invitation for potential guests. Considering the weathered condition of the shelf and the worn quality of the bargain books and records, the message this display sends becomes quite clear: Molly’s Books and Records is a home for used loved products, and these treasures have been salvaged for the chance to be re-homed and loved again.

This metaphorical entryway continues into the building, where guests are promptly greeted by Molly Russakoff, her husband and co-business owner Joe Ankenbrand, and her son and store-manager Johnny Russakoff. At a glance, guests may notice several hand-painted signs2 hanging from the ceiling that signal the different sections in the space, such as Art & Sciences, Local Interests, and Cookbooks just to name a few. Additionally, they may take notice of the lighting, which is a bright fluorescence that emits from a variety of overhead lights, like LED strip-lights and paper-shade pendant lights. While bright fluorescence can potentially make environments feel cold and unnatural, the variety of lights and shades in the space helps create dimension where mood lighting is absent. Also, the colorful flooring contributes to a more positive atmosphere in the store; it also neutralizes the coolness of the bright fluorescent lighting. 

Taking a few steps inside of the space, guests brush-up against a wall that displays three different media: CDs, records, and poetry books. Again, consider one of Pyne’s fundamentals for book displays, in which displays must convey meaning (33). According to Molly Russakoff, CDs and records are displayed towards the front of the store because customers are most interested in them. Still, why include poetry in this mix? What kind of message does Russakoff convey with this display? In my interpretation, these poetry books belong with these CDs and records. Why? For the simple fact that poetry is considered the intersection of music and books, and this store is also an intersection of ideas and different media. Thus, this display of CDs, records, and poetry books helps shape the intersectional identity of Molly’s Books and Records.

Walking further past the entryway, guests step into a metaphorical living room, in which records fill the center space3 and fiction books line the wall4 furthest from the entrance. For many households, the core of a home is the living room, as it often is a place for sharing conversation and space. Similarly, this metaphorical living room where fiction books and records face one another creates a sense of shared conversation and space. Nevertheless, I cannot claim that the core of Molly’s Books and Records is this metaphorical living room, as the heart of this home is reserved elsewhere within these four walls. In between this living room and the heart of this home, Russakoff dedicates an alcove to local and non-fiction books, as well as art, philosophy, and religious books. Here, Molly’s Books and Records connects with its guests and builds community through books related to human experiences and diverse perspectives. 

Past this alcove, guests step into the heart of this home, which is a room dedicated to gastronomy like kitchens5. To understand why this room is the heart of Molly’s Books and Records, it is important to acknowledge the Italian roots of this home’s location in Little Italy, Philadelphia. According to Pamela Forsythe in the Broad Street Review’s “The Italian Legacy in Philadelphia: History, Culture, People, and Ideas” article, gastronomy was the core for Italian-immigrant culture and identity. Even decades later, the significance of foodways in Italian culture and identity perseveres today, as Little Italy is one of the most cherished outdoor-marketplaces in Philadelphia. Inspired by this location’s relationship with foodways, Russakoff began collecting cookbooks and food writings. Currently, as Abigail Weils notes in “There’s No Place in Philly Quite Like Molly’s Books and Records,” this collection is dense and vast, and the books on the shelves seem to almost overflow in their untidy condition. This abundance of books loudly echoes the history and gastronomic-identity of the neighborhood.

Photography by Natalie Piserchio details untidy books crammed in the shelving of the Cookbook and global culinary section of the store. This demonstrates the informality of the store and the abundant cookbook collection it has.

When a guest feels satisfied with their stay and they begin to retreat back towards the front door, they may once more encounter Molly Russakoff, Joe Ankenbrand, and Johnny Russakoff at the check-out booth6. Here, one might notice that the special-edition books are placed out-of-reach on tall shelves behind the counter. This accessibility distinction between general books and valuable books is comparable to fine China often displayed in exclusive, out-of-reach storage. Additionally, guests may observe that there are several non-book items displayed, such as community-news flyers, superstitious or religious decorations, and store merchandise. Although these books and non-books may appear unrelated, Peter Miller in “How Objects Speak” reminds us to view “things and practices as exquisite bearers of identity, not simply as tools or products; not ‘outputs’ but as essences” (11).

This blog post represents Miller’s metaphysical philosophy, in which objects become active participants in the essence of concepts, such as business and home. For example, we examined how displays and organizations contributed to the perceived identity of Molly’s Books and Records; specifically, one that is an intersection of different media. Moreover, interpreting the store’s floor plan as rooms in a home allows us to analyze how consumers experience and interact with the space around them. With this newfound insight, we can now understand how Molly’s Books and Records blurs the threshold between a business and a home.

Works Cited

C., Bri. Yelp, 31 July 2022, https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mollys-books-and-records-philadelphia?select=_hDaBMI9RDKwfe0JXcbr9A. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.

C., Marietta. Yelp, 9 Dec. 2018, https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mollys-books-and-records-philadelphia?select=D-jiokMHHKwAYQDjXvGa7g. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.

C., Marietta. Yelp, 9 Dec. 2018, https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mollys-books-and-records-philadelphia?select=tLDlhJZg8WT6iadnvXTxBw. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.

 C., Marietta. Yelp, 9 Dec. 2018, https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mollys-books-and-records-philadelphia?select=zTBHSMZ-7Vieey3kxUYwgQ. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.

Forsythe, Pamela J. “The Italian Legacy in Philadelphia: History, Culture, People, and Ideas.” Broad Street Review, 18 Jan. 2022, www.broadstreetreview.com/reviews/the-italian-legacy-in-philadelphia-history-culture-people-and-ideas-edited-by-andrea-canepari-and-judith-goode. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

Miller, Peter N. “How Objects Speak.” The Chronicle Review. Accessed 11 Aug. 2014.

Molly’s Books and Records, FaceBook, 1 June 2017, https://www.facebook.com/mollysbooksandrecords/photos/pb.100066605814222.-2207520000/1489619537762206/?type=3. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.

Piserchio, Natalie. Eater Philadelphia, 13 Dec. 2021, https://philly.eater.com/2021/12/13/22820597/mollys-books-records-italian-market-bookstore-cookbooks. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.

Pyne, Lydia. Bookshelf. Bloomsbury, 2016.

Russakoff, Molly. Video Conference interview. Conducted by Lexie Kauffman et al., 28 Oct. 2023.

V., Linda, Yelp, 4 June 2019, https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mollys-books-and-records-philadelphia?select=RXR6vhdIZTh75M-ASHMPFA. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.

Weil, Abigail. “There’s No Place in Philly Quite Like Molly’s Books & Records.” Eater Philadelphia, 13 Dec. 2021, philly.eater.com/2021/12/13/22820597/mollys-books-records-italian-market-bookstore-cookbooks. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.