Word play: southwest residents address their myriad literary options
What many people think of Las Vegas doesn't go hand-in-hand with a rich literary scene, but perhaps it should.
The city has some of the country's most active libraries, a large selection of used bookstores and its own literary festival.
The 10th annual Vegas Valley Book Festival is scheduled Thursday through Sunday at various libraries and community centers. More than 100 authors will participate in readings, panels, workshops, book signings and art exhibitions. For a complete schedule, visit vegasvalley
bookfestival.org.
The valley's 14 library branches' circulation is second in the country per registered borrower and third per capita for districts that serve more than 1 million residents.
Libraries have become especially busy since 2008, according to Jeanne Goodrich, executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.
"Recession is the time when people come streaming to their libraries," Goodrich said.
The southwest-area Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane, is the newest addition and has become the second-busiest location behind the Sahara West location, with a circulation of about 90,000 books in August. The Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd., had a circulation of 77,000 books.
The fastest-growing collection in the libraries is electronic, downloadable books for e-readers such as Kindle, Nook and iPad. Goodrich said studies indicate that more than 40 percent of active readers will have an e-reader by the end of the year, so the demand is only going to increase.
Lisa Woodson and her 5-year-old son T.J. visit the Windmill branch about every other week and enjoy the story time readings.
"I remember when I was little, I used to love going to the library and getting books," Woodson said. "It fostered a love of reading in me as a child, and I want him to have that same love of reading."
Why does T.J. enjoy coming to the library?
"Because I like to get movies," he said.
For a listing of library locations, visit lvccld.org.
Woodson said she has not been to any of the valley's used bookstores but used to frequent them while traveling. She says the used bookstore in Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport is the best in the world.
The Spring Valley area's several stores include Greyhound's Books, 1539 W. Oakey Blvd.; Westgate Books, 3957 W. Charleston Blvd.; CSN's West Charleston Bookstore, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd.; Book Magician, 2202 W. Charleston Blvd.; and Amber Unicorn Books, 2101 S. Decatur Blvd., Suite 14.
Amber Unicorn owners Myrna and Lou Donato opened their store in 2008. They also owned a used bookstore from 1981 to 1997 where Book Magician is now.
Myrna Donato said the success of her bookstore and others in town is proof that literature is valued in the area.
"I get very upset when people say that people in Vegas don't read," Donato added.
The store gets a good number of tourists and regulars, she said. One regular customer buys more than 500 books at a time for his personal collection.
"Books are still selling, and they always will," Donato said.
And why not? Used books are often available for about half the retail price.
"A lot of people don't know about used bookstores," Donato said. "They think they're little paperback, dirty, grimy little stores. The comments we hear most are, 'Wow, this is a real bookstore.' "
A few miles a way at Book Magician, Vicki Higgins is checking out the science fiction and fantasy sections.
"My addiction is reading," Higgins said, "and I have a hard time paying full price for books."
Higgins also was trying to sell several boxes of books that she's run out of space for at home. She reads about four books a week, she said, and goes to bookstores about twice a month.
In most cases, it is cheaper and better entertainment than a movie, she said.
Pete Malick of Book Magician said science fiction and fantasy are big sellers, as are inspirational and religious books, due to the store's proximity to the University Medical Center.
Malick moved to Las Vegas after living in Portland, Ore., for the past three years. Las Vegas, he said, has plenty to offer in terms of literature.
"For the city being what it is, I've always thought it's surprisingly good," Malick said. "There's a wealth of culture and nature in this city that's glossed over and untapped by a large part of the population. There's all these little pockets of coolness. Get out there and look."
Like the giant music and movie stores that diminished when people started ordering most of their media on the Internet, he anticipates the same thing happening with bookstores.
"I feel like it's one of those things where some will survive," Malick said. "There's still little record shops around town. There's always going to be those people who want to get their fingers dusty."
Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 224-5524.
