BookPeople was moving! It was going across the street, where the Spruce was-- no, the Vandal Café–no, the Spruce–no, the Vandal–well, Stepping Stones was there. And may be a church. The details get vague over coffee.

On one visit to BookPeople, I found Betsy & Bob pouring over carpet swatches, and they asked my input. Now, I can’t say if I made the deciding vote but the carpet selected WAS one of my choices.

My coffee klatch spent the days before December 28 discussing the Move. Relocating 30,000 titles would be no mean task. We virtually transported the store 20 times.

That night, the wailing of bagpipes hailed the start of the move. Barricades closed a section of Main Street. Patrons formed a growing line from old BookPeople to new BookPeople.

We were welcomed into the line. Books came from the stranger on my left and I handed them to the woman on my right who I hadn’t seen in years.

“Hey! How are you doing?” The question echoed through the line as others experienced similar encounters.

Our numbers overwhelmed the shelvers. We slowed to a book at a time and on occasion came to a complete halt. Cries would go down the line. “Hey! Who’s reading?” Intriguing book titles were called out. People danced jigs, linking arms and twirling to cheers & laughter. Around two hundred volunteers shared in the fun.

Betsy thanked everyone. “Now, if you get cold, trade places with a volunteer inside. And don’t forget about Mikey’s.”

Mikey’s served soups and coffee to keep us from freezing. When the bagpipers concluded their performance, local musicians took their places.

Bob called a halt around 10:30 p.m. The line followed the last book in. We filled the coffee shop and browsed the stacks, admiring the new store. Laura brought thermoses from her Tea Room.

People stayed and chatted. Some went to Mikey’s for more soup. The musicians continued playing there. Even an exhausted Tim picked up a harmonica and join in.

In the morning, I found BookPeople still stuffed with volunteers. People alphabetized. Others carried the last books across the street. Customers wandered the store.

Six people entered and asked to help. Tim grabbed tools. The volunteers organized themselves and cleared a corner for shelves.

Seeing people give their time and effort still amazes me, but I remember Bob once said, “That’s what community is about.”

by Ariana Burns originally published in the Moscow Food Co-Op Community News.

The BookPeople Move Continued