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Back row (left to right) Amelia Faulkner and Gary O’Dell; Middle row (left to right) Bree Thuma and Tina Schmidt. Front row (left to right) Alyse Foley and Bob Wolfe photo courtesy: Bob Wolfe |
JOPLIN, Mo. — In Webb City, 10-year-old Bob Wolfe would walk almost every day from his house to the public library.
He couldn’t wait to devour the next set of "The Hardy Boys" books and lucky for him, he lived less than a mile away.
“I didn't read 'The Hardy Boys,' I became the third brother. I lived them, I loved it,” he said.
On the way home, he’d read one book while he carried the rest of the haul stuffed into his shirt.
He was so absorbed in the story that he'd sometimes step off a curve, run into a tree or walk two blocks past his house without even realizing.
Now, 74, he owns a bookstore of his own called Always Buying Books, in Joplin, the birthplace of Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes.
BOB WOLFE'S FAVORITE BOOK:
Wolfe grew up in a family of readers.
“My grandmother, who raised me, managed two bookstores in Joplin,” he said. “I really don't remember those, but I remember hearing about it all my life and my sister went to work for a bookstore for over 20 years. I was just raised around books.”
It’s no surprise that he decided to open one up of his own.
“I told my wife that I want a bookstore or I’m going to die wishing I had one, so I took $6,000 and a foolish dream, and 22 years later we’re doing ok,” he said.
Wolfe said that with luck, grants and the support of friends and loyal customers it became a success.
Alyse Foley, the manager, helped him run the store for 14 years.
Alyse Foley, the manager, helped him run the store for 14 years.
When she first joined Always Buying Books, she worked part time shelving them.
“When Alyse came into the store, she just changed everything,” Wolfe said.
Before Foley joined the team, the store only had about 40 children's books and as a mother, she knew that the store needed more.
Wolfe estimates that they now have 10,000.
“I love books, I love reading. I think education through books is great,” Foley said.
It’s not her first time running a bookstore.
She used to own AJ Foley’s Books in Joplin about 20 years ago and had it for three years before the building was sold.
What makes Joplin a great location is that they get customers from Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Wolfe estimates that his store has around 100,000 books, with one popular genre being classics.
“I don’t like the idea of rewriting or editing a classic. If they do that, I think they should put a footnote in it that is edited and not the original,” Wolfe said.
“When Alyse came into the store, she just changed everything,” Wolfe said.
Before Foley joined the team, the store only had about 40 children's books and as a mother, she knew that the store needed more.
Wolfe estimates that they now have 10,000.
“I love books, I love reading. I think education through books is great,” Foley said.
It’s not her first time running a bookstore.
She used to own AJ Foley’s Books in Joplin about 20 years ago and had it for three years before the building was sold.
What makes Joplin a great location is that they get customers from Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Wolfe estimates that his store has around 100,000 books, with one popular genre being classics.
ALYSE FOLEY'S FAVORITE CLASSIC:
He said that bestselling favorite authors in their store include C.J. Box and John Grisham.
One subject that the community is especially drawn to is homesteading books such as beekeeping, gardening and raising chickens because of Joplin's rural geography.
“Joplin is definitely slower,” Foley said. “People read for enjoyment, they go to ball games, school ball games. It’s just really family-oriented,” she said.
Since the pandemic, they saw a big spike in their sales of homesteading books.
“When that happened, there were so many people looking for gardening books, anything that they can do on their own, because people were in such a panic about life,” she said.
Always Buying Books is also known for giving back to their community, including helping local jails.
“We have an outreach. Any jail —local county, state or federal— that we can get books into, we donate,” Wolfe said. “ We've had jailers tell us that once the inmates get ahold of books, it's safer for everybody, for the jailers and the inmates. The place is a lot quieter, people sit down and read and it's just a better atmosphere in the jail.”
One subject that the community is especially drawn to is homesteading books such as beekeeping, gardening and raising chickens because of Joplin's rural geography.
“Joplin is definitely slower,” Foley said. “People read for enjoyment, they go to ball games, school ball games. It’s just really family-oriented,” she said.
Since the pandemic, they saw a big spike in their sales of homesteading books.
“When that happened, there were so many people looking for gardening books, anything that they can do on their own, because people were in such a panic about life,” she said.
Always Buying Books is also known for giving back to their community, including helping local jails.
“We have an outreach. Any jail —local county, state or federal— that we can get books into, we donate,” Wolfe said. “ We've had jailers tell us that once the inmates get ahold of books, it's safer for everybody, for the jailers and the inmates. The place is a lot quieter, people sit down and read and it's just a better atmosphere in the jail.”
ALSYE FOLEY'S NEXT READ:
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“I love Janet Evanovitch and I haven't read number 29 yet that I've gotten for my birthday last year.”BOOK BANS IN MISSOURI |
As for the book ban situation happening in Missouri, the American Civil liberties Union, Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association, are suing over a state law that mandates librarians to remove any material that they find is “sexually explicit.”
According to PEN America, Missouri banned “nearly 300 books in at least 11 school districts,” since the law came into effect in August 2022.
Many of the books that were targeted center on the LGBTQ+ community and people of color.
“I don’t like them pulling books off the shelf. We don’t censor books,” Foley said.
“I don’t necessarily agree with everything that is in the schools, but I think that it should be up to the local school district,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe also touched on his thoughts of the recent editing of classics, such as Roald Dahl and Agatha Christie’s novels, by publishers in an attempt to remove offensive language.
According to PEN America, Missouri banned “nearly 300 books in at least 11 school districts,” since the law came into effect in August 2022.
Many of the books that were targeted center on the LGBTQ+ community and people of color.
“I don’t like them pulling books off the shelf. We don’t censor books,” Foley said.
“I don’t necessarily agree with everything that is in the schools, but I think that it should be up to the local school district,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe also touched on his thoughts of the recent editing of classics, such as Roald Dahl and Agatha Christie’s novels, by publishers in an attempt to remove offensive language.
“I don’t like the idea of rewriting or editing a classic. If they do that, I think they should put a footnote in it that is edited and not the original,” Wolfe said.
There have been mixed feelings among the reading community when it comes to editing literature.
Some say that by removing offensive language, it erases its historical context, while others argue that readers must keep up with the times.
What are your thoughts on the book ban situation happening across the U.S.? How about editing classics?
What are your thoughts on the book ban situation happening across the U.S.? How about editing classics?
Those interested in learning more about Always Buying Books can follow their Instagram @alwaysbuyingbooks1 or check out their website.
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