I’m no Billy Blackberry; I’m a bookman. And this city isn’t all for pimps and hos.
As a credible bookseller characterized by Michael Toole in the Las Vegas Weekly June 21 article on the demise of Albion Books as “try(ing) to hang on in the reading market,” I take exception to his comments on the subsequent lack of readily available “literature” in the Valley, and the description of our home as not “a city for the literati.”
I’ve been a bookman—a real bookman, not a Billy or Betty Blackberry flogging junk books on the Internet—for about 50 years; I know bookstores. The main reason my wife and I moved our business from Washington, D.C., was the quality of the out-of-print, collectible and antiquarian bookselling community here. Yes, here! If a city has great bookstores, which we do, then it has a great base of readers who value quality writing and quality books. Albion was only one store, and many others with equally worthwhile stock have been here as long.
Albion Books was for a number of years the premier bookstore in the Valley. It had the stock, the rarities, the space, the satisfied customer base. It had the most important thing of all, though: Mike Burdo, a real bookman. When Burdo sold the store, Albion became Amateur-Night-at-the-Folies-Bergere. Every bookseller hears every day from customers who come into the store, “Gee, I’d really like to own a bookstore.” My usual advice is that they start 40 years ago, learn, then start a small store. Each used bookstore is also personality-driven. Such was the case with Mike Burdo’s Albion. Such was the case with Mike Hoover’s Albion. Sic transit gloria mundi.
Both before and after Albion’s demise, there was, and there will continue to be, a very large number of credible bookstores in town. We here at Greyhound’s Books have about 6,000 different titles of hardbound “literature.” And we’re nothing! Plaza Books has twice our square footage with a proportionally large selection of “literature.” Dead Poet Books is huge compared to both Plaza and Greyhound’s Books, and is yet another credible bookstore that caters to the Valley’s discriminating customers. We have a number of stores that specialize in specific genres: Academy Fine Books and Bob’s Americana Collectibles come to mind immediately. Amber Unicorn is one of the premier rare and antiquarian cookbook dealers in the country. Yes, that word has an “r” in it. All here in the Valley. All doing well.
I also take great exception to Mr. Toole’s statement about the increased post-mortem camaraderie in the trade. Real bookstores have always helped customers meet their needs by “calling around” to the other local credible stores. This is not new. It’s what’s done. What is new is that Albion is dead.
Mr. Toole’s statement that “this isn’t a city for the literati” not only insults our customers who are both local and returning visitors, but also belittles people who choose to borrow books rather than own them. The Henderson Library system recently passed the 1 million mark in items of circulation during a fiscal year. Las Vegas is a city for the literati, but in the number and quality of bookstores and their customers, it isn’t a city for the glitterati, or the pimps and hos.
-Phil DeFlumear
Greyhound’s Books
Used bookstores are alive and well in Las Vegas
I am one of the book dealers who has been in Las Vegas a long time. I opened Michael’s Books & Movies in 1995. The only thing I can say about Albion’s closing is that some people who used to make a circuit from Albion to Michael’s to Plaza Books will now have one less place to go.
That’s not so bad, because as bookstores have closed, others have opened. The older stores have seriously increased quality and selection. We won’t miss Albion, especially since in the end it was hardly the place it had once been.
Having lived in Las Vegas a good 20 years, I have always been amazed by newcomers, especially from LA, who come here and suddenly expect Las Vegas to adjust to them. This town don’t work that way. Maybe Michael Toole needs to get out more; he would soon discover that used bookstores are alive and well in Las Vegas.
-Michael Clark
Someone’s watching the watchtower.
Dear Las Vegas Weekly,
Why are judges, attorneys and jailers possibly working four days a week? I have an excellent view of the Clark County Detention Center and the Regional Justice Center. It seems like Friday for the courts, attorneys and jailers must possibly be a nonwork day. The parking garage is empty on Friday compared to Monday through Thursday.
If the jail is so overcrowded with 30 people per module sleeping on cots, how could the legal system be working only four days a week? How can jailers be making money for overtime for a shortened week? If the jail is locked down during the weekend, where is the reason for this expenditure?
Citizens, taxpayers ... something doesn’t add up.
What about the courts? Why are they not having possibly full five-day-a-week schedules, or six days, to alleviate the overcrowded system?
... The lawyers already have been paid thousands of dollars; they need to go enjoy their weekend with it. Remember this the next time you’re sitting in jail, or if you have a family member locked up. Where is that lawyer, judge or jailer?
Sincerely,
-Geoffrey John Wells
#1875984
North Tower
Las Vegas Detention Center
And finally, three love notes from MySpace
June 16, 2007 10:40 p.m.
I enjoy the new graphics! The artist (designer) has got talent. LV Weekly has come a long way.
-Marilyn Manson Murders, Author
June 17, 2007 9:43 a.m.
GREAT MAGAZINE!
-DMTM Sports & Entertainment
June 29, 2007 11:59 a.m.
[Referring to a woman on the June 21 cover] Francine Dee = incredible
-Tom
I love the Bones cover
Dear Art Director Benjamen Purvis,
Regarding the June 14th cover art: Amazing, amazing, amazing!
Are there copies of just the artwork out there for purchase, or do I have to settle for an actual cover from a magazine?
You do amazing work ... keep it up !
Thanks,
-Tom