White River Books

Read on to learn about the new book store opening soon in downtown Carbondale and the owner Izzy Stringham.

I studied Literature during university with the hopes of working in publishing. But my love of the mountains and skiing took me here in 2002, and I never left. I did a lot of industry work: writing for a magazine, running an online bookshop, copy editing, working in bookstores, before deciding to really go for it and open a shop of my own.

This valley can feel a bit like a book desert. There are not many bookstores nearby. I feel so strongly that stories, and the books that carry them, are what bind us together, and having a place to actually browse, buy and read is essential for any town. It's also a way to find and meet so many interesting people. Bookshops are never a boring place.

White River Books will be open the first week of March. I'm stocking a variety of new books, as well as a small used section. I'll have the latest releases from fiction to philosophy to thrillers, as well as a large children's section, in the hopes that I can provide that perfect book for everyone who comes in. My focus is on great storytelling, so I'm leaning away from current events, finance, business and text books. It's a small store, just 550 square feet, so if it's not on the shelf, I am happy to order any titles people are looking for. I have access to a warehousing system with millions of titles. And all of this is completely independent of Amazon. There will also be a variety of art supplies, journals, puzzles, stationary and cards.

This project stems from my huge passion for literacy and books. No one goes into bookselling to make millions. It's a labor of love, for both books and the community. My hope is that White River Books adds to the vibrancy that is Carbondale and becomes a place for the town to shop, browse, slow down, and gather.