The Diary - June 21

A New Direction

Kinga Lapinska visited the Reading Room for the June First Friday event. Kinga recently moved to the Peoria area from Chicago.  In Chicago, she founded The Prairie Review, an online poetry magazine, and built a community of 2,000 people who write, read, recite, and deeply appreciate poetry. 

I have always enjoyed poetry, but I have not read widely or deeply. When I opened the shop, the Reading Room had a few volumes of poetry scattered amongst the general fiction books. Once I discovered Kinga’s poetry vocation, I asked her to help me build a poetry section. She readily agreed. 

When Kinga returned to the shop this week, she recommended some poets and anthologies.  Armed with her recommendations, I placed orders on Friday.  In the next week or so, visitors to River City Reading Room will see a new poetry shelf.   

Kinga also shared some exciting programming ideas.  On July 23rd from 5 to 7 pm, River City Reading Room will host a “Poetry Circle.”  People are invited to bring their favorite poems to the Reading Room.  We will read the poems out loud and discuss them. I am curious to see what people choose –  and what moves and inspires them.

Return to Sender

On Friday, a retired Bradley professor came through the front door of the shop pushing a dolly stacked with boxes of books.  We unloaded the books in the backroom and had a nice chat.  While I wasn’t expecting his visit, I had received emails asking if I accepted donations.  I thought the professor might have been one of these contacts. 

After he left, I began unpacking the treasures.  The phone rang and a man named Nick asked me if I had received a donation of books from a Bradley professor.  I said yes.  He explained that the books were intended for the bookstore he is opening in the Warehouse District.  Within ten minutes Nick pulled up in his car, and we loaded ten boxes of books into his trunk and backseat. It was an unusual way to meet but I had heard about the new store and was very happy to meet Nick. His store, which will focus on the humanities, is scheduled to open in July.  We agreed to refer customers to each other.  I am looking forward to having a nice bookseller down the street.