SamSome people may think that one book store is the same as the next. Hopefully if you’ve found your way to this blog, then you know that’s not true. Bookstores come in a wonderful array of shapes and sizes. Some specialise in seeking out those antique or rare editions, some compile a collection of books focusing on a specific niche. If you’re lucky, you’ll come across one that has everything you’re looking for. Recently I visited a bookstore whose selection seemed as if it had been specially curated with me in mind, just waiting for the day I walk through the door. This store was Bookland in Kingston, Ontario.
Bookland is a small shop hidden in the midst of a plaza at Bayridge drive and Princess street. For a quaint shop, they carry an amazing variety of both new and used books. I was lucky enough to leave the store with some unique volumes that I haven’t been able to find elsewhere. They have an expansive collection of classic literature and poetry, I myself took home a copy of The Complete Fairy Tales by George MacDonald. Bookland is a safe and accepting environment, and the owner has started to put together a wonderful LGBTQ+ literature section, which I’m sure will continue to grow.
The owner of Bookland is friendly, welcoming and clearly very passionate about books. They’re willing to help you find whatever you’re looking for and place an order for anything they don’t have in stock. Unique for a small business, Bookland offers a loyalty program for its customers. By signing up for either the Bookworm or the Bibliophile packages, you have the chance to receive a decent discount and exclusive offers on new books. If you’re in the Kingston area, this program is definitely worth taking advantage of.
Unfortunately Bookland, like many independent bookstores, felt the effects of the recent pandemic. This is a business full of potential, that was almost wiped out by a few years of low patronage. I hope any readers who love books the way I do take this as a reminder that small businesses rely on us. To paraphrase Lemony Snicket, a bookstore is like an island in a vast sea of ignorance. If we want to hold on to the little slivers of magic that can be brought into our world by a bookshop, then we need to continue to support them as best we can.
