Preserving Optimism : The San Fernando Valley

How does the analog world fit in with the fast pace growth of the technological era?

Independently owned bookstores hold a key; the perfect mixture of analog information and human interaction within communities. The amount of attention and personable experience that independently owned bookstores provide becomes apparent after spending time wandering through isles or inquiring with an owner.

David Kaye’s Books & Memorabilia, on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills, has many regulars, who all frequent the store for various interests. An online database cannot beat the kinds of interactions that customers and owners share in a bookstore. In real-time, customers observe and share recommendations with each other, suggestions that may not appear on a digital web search.

Bill Wirt walks to the back of the store, in search of a book that a customer has inquired about. Wurt first searches for a book, before asking his neice to check the stockroom. Bargain Books in Van Nuys, California. September 3, 2021 (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

David Kaye (left) opens another locked book case for Reza Asgari (cq) (right), who asks about signed books of actor autobiographies. Asgari visits the store alone, since he is looking for a gift for his girlfriend. David Kaye Bookstore and Memorabilia in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California on November 26, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Holding the keys to his locked cases, David Kaye begins to close the door to the collection of books he has finished showing a customer. David Kaye Bookstore and Memorabilia in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California on November 26, 2021.(Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair))

Barry Lancet (cq) visits from Tokyo and stops by David Kaye’s book store to have the owner price a selection that he has collected. Lancet himself is an author, and regular of David Kaye’s bookstore whenever he visits Los Angles. David Kaye Bookstore and Memorabilia in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California on November 26, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

In conversation with a customer who is almost ready to check out their items, David Kaye points out a section that he suggests they should check out. He sits in his chair behind the desk that is surrounded by a vast amount of books. David Kaye Bookstore and Memorabilia in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California on November 24, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Behind a glass, in a locked book case sit the most rare and expensive books of the store. Featured in this shelf is a Marvel comic book, Prince Namor, The Sub Mariner, which is in mint condition. Next to the comic are novels by Stephen King and Dan Simmons. David Kaye Bookstore and Memorabilia in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California on December 4, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

William A. Milano (cq) is a decade plus regular of David’s bookstore. Milano buys and sells rare first edition and signed books as an investment, and owns a signed Stanley Kubrick book as well as two signed Albert Einstein books. David Kaye Bookstore and Memorabilia in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California on December 4, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

As owner David Kaye searches for a book, he continues conversation with his customer. They exchange information on a new comic book that David received earlier in the day. David Kaye Bookstore and Memorabilia in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California on November 26, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

A customer browses a section of books that have been placed on sale outside of David Kaye's books and Memorabilia in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles California on October 2, 2021 (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

When a book needs a new cover over its dust jacket, David Kaye has shaped a tool out of a wooden ice cream stick which he uses to stick the cover to the dust jacket. Similar tools are used by each bookstore owner. David Kaye Bookstore and Memorabilia in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California on December 4, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Boyd Davis places a new dust jacket over the tattered cover a book titled The Uncollected Wodehouse. Davis explains his process, sharing that this is “a book that’s in sad shape, and needs to be protected. I love books, and have to preserve them as much as I can. When my products go out the door, I want them to be in good shape.” Next Chapter Books in Canoga Park, California. Tuesday, October 5, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke |The Corsair)

The front of the Bargain Book store features art by the artist written as 'streetkidd,’ of a woman holding a book that shows the shop’s telephone number, and “Since 1958”. There are a few racks of books in the front of the store for .50 and a $1 shelf of books. Bargain Books in Van Nuys, California. Saturday, November 5, 2021 (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Bill Wirt checks prices on books as he checks out a customer. Heavy foot traffic comes from the back entrance of the store, as on Saturday’s they open the back door for a $1 book section, at Bargain Books in Van Nuys, California. Saturday, October 2, 2021 (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Kathy Harris points to written markings on the wall between the main store of Bargain Books in Van Nuys, Calif with a stockroom full of shelves stocked with books that need to be sold before the buuilding is to be put for sale in the near future. Bargain Books in Van Nuys, Los Angeles California on September 3, 2021 (Anna Sophia Moltke | Corsair)

Written markings of Kathy Harris and her siblings’ heights, dating back to the 1970s. They remain on a wall leading to the stockroom of Bargain Books in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. Saturday, December 11, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

In the process of pricing a book, Bill Wirt flips through the pages to evaluate the condition. This ensures he will mark a fair price also based on what the book has been sold for previously.Bargain Books in Van Nuys, California. Saturday, October 2, 2021 ((Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Following his treatment of oil, Bill Wurt uses an eraser to get out tougher spots of dirt on book covers before covering them in a new dust jacket. Wurt explains that some spots will smear if using just a wet cloth to remove, which is why he is using this eraser to gently rub off some spots of dirt. Bargain Books in Van Nuys, California. October 15, 2021 (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Kathy Harris pulls a rare Disney book that she placed into a plastic sleeve for protection. The Alice in Wonderland book is signed, and therefore rare and expensive. Bargain Books in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. November 19, 2021 (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

In the stock room of Bargain Books in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, are alphabetically sorted boxes of books. The boxes hold books that have a duplicate copy store, and are also listed on their online store. Bargain Books in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. November 19, 2021 (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Bill Wirt holds up a reference book from 1998, of the prices of used and rare books. This is a method not used to this day, as the last copy he bought is from 1999. Bargain Books in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. November 19, 2021 (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

Outside of the back entrance hangs a 'Books' sign above wires, strings, and cables. Bargain Books in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California on Friday November 19, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair))

A fluorescent light shines down onto a shelveed section of rare books in the back of Bargain Books in Van Nuys, Los Angeles California on October 15, 2022 (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

On Saturdays at Bargain Books, the back door is opened to customers where they will find a selection of books priced at $1 each. Kathy Harris walks into the store after marking each book outside. Bargain Books in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California on Friday November 19, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

“Someone might say, ‘I love that' or 'I read that book.’ I love seeing people talk to each other about interesting topics, whether it’s politics or literature, or theater. That’s one of my favorite parts of retail, is actually getting to meet people and learn what they like. If you’re on the internet you can’t really do that. People may call you, but it’s different when you have an open shop,” Kaye said.

In every independently owned bookstore, there are one or more locked glass cases which hold the rarest and most expensive books in the store. William Milano, a decade-plus regular of David’s, buys and sells books as an investment. Milano shared that he owns a signed Stanley Kubrick book and two signed Albert Einstein books in his collection.

After placing a new dust jacket on an old cover, Boyd Davis shows the finished result of The Uncollected Wodehouse. Davis shares that he has over 38,000 books in his store. “I didn’t expect it to be a financial bonanza or anything like that, you know. I hoped to get past breaking even, which is exactly why I use my small navy check and social security to actually live.” Next Chapter Books in Canoga Park, California. Tuesday, October 5, 2021. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)

When these independent owners share why they do what they do, their love of people and sharing knowledge shines through. They all have unique ways of caring for books in their collections. Before a book leaves the store, Boyd Davis, owner of Next Chapter books in Canoga Park, will ensure that he replaces a dust jacket that may be dirty or scratched. “I love books and have to preserve them as much as I can. When my products go out the door, I want them to be in good shape,” said Davis.

Bill Wirt has owned Bargain books in Van Nuys since his parents, who opened the business in 1958, retired. As far back as she can remember, Kathy Harris, Wirt’s niece, had memories of growing up in the bookstore. On a wall leading to their stockroom, written markings detail Kathy and her siblings’ heights dating back to the ‘70s. “I came here every day after school to do my homework, and my grandpa would leave notes for me to pick up a chocolate malt from the old diner that used to be around the corner,” Harris said. Harris has helped her uncle organize and sort through the surplus of inventory that they need to clear out before selling the building in the near future.

With the rise of the technological, digital age of information, these bookstore owners, knowledgeable and empathetic intellectuals who preserve a form of enlightenment and sustain a more humanistic form of communication, seem to be turning a page.