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La Librairie du Soleil

This French bookstore benefits from the proximity of the large Chapters on Rideau street as well as the market. Customers range from retirees, government employees, university students and Market residents.

One of the librarian, Jean-Philip, who been working there for 7 years, has seen the recent renovation of the store. When referencing the realignment of the shelves, he explicitly referenced the Panopticon concept and the need to re-read Bentham’s literary work. The shelves now radiate from the cash and book sorting stations in order to visibility and reduce theft.

When asked what he would change architecturally to improve the store, Jean-Philip wished for further visual access. He suggested elevating the cash and book sorting station as well as eliminating the Egyptian feature in the kid’s section. Another identified problem was the lack of proper space for readings and book signings. Moving shelves, either on wheels or tracks, would allow the flexibility required to properly host these types of events.

Freestanding bookshelves stand 4 feet tall, providing an ideally located top shelf for eye level displays. Perimeter shelves stand much taller at 6’-8”, although top shelves are rarely accessed. The shelf ends are either flush or provided with slotted dado rails to hold singular bookshelves. Some of the slots use hooks for items. All the shelving is made with light colored wood.

The individual shelves are made of thick wood composite and are equipped with height adjustable metal brackets. The two bottom rows of shelves are slightly angled to accommodate the viewer’s gaze.

About half of the bookstore is surrounded by glass curtain walls, bathing the interior with natural light. The electrical lighting strategy is tripartite. Suspended glowing spheres provide visual focuses and indirect light. Simple track fixtures are used on exposed ceilings and mini recessed down-lights in drywall ceilings.

Sorting station guarding primary entrance

View to cashier station near secondary entrance

End of a corridor above, Island shelf below

McGahern Books

Patrick McGahern and his son Liam recently moved their bookstore from the Glebe into the market.

On the outside, an inconspicuous door stands next to a small sign indicating “McGahern Books”. A narrow white stairway adorned with large pieces of modern art quietly leads to the third floor.

When asked about the discreetness of the sign, Liam exclaimed “That’s the point!”. Many of the book in the store are over the $100 mark, some over $1000. Most of the sales are done online and through mail catalog orders, only an estimated 2% are done in store. With this kind of merchandise, foot traffic is more cumbersome and dangerous than profitable. McGahern mails and emails 8 to 10 catalogs of rare books per year to over 900 people. They cater to people who want to own books rather than read them, collectors and institutions interested in 18-19th century Canadiana, early Artic exploration and well as Irish history and literature. They sell on their website and 5 other book sites.

Liam points to Chapter’s attempt at breaking the mold by providing chairs and coffee, they caused littering and spilling. Despite his fear of comfortable seating, two respectably padded chairs sits in a well lit corner of the store.

Most of the bookshelves in the bookstore were handmade by Patrick. The dark wood is clean and contracts with the books, it provides an air of antiquarian respectability. The shelves use dado joints, strong, but with no flexibility. A few eclectic pieces are used for display and storage: a coffer, old wooden boxes, intricate antiques.

Liam has no problem with letting things go, he wants the book to circulate rather than hoard them. Regarding his complicated relation to owning books, he says “We get to own the books of kings, for a short time.”

A slim staircase leads up to the store

Seating near windows

Office above, workspace below

Ladder with stability mechanism below, bookshelf right

Book Bazaar

The Book Bazaar was purchased 40 years ago by a married couple, Jayne and John. They kept the name and a tapestry from the original owner.

Originally located in the Glebe, the store moved to Bank street in 1994. It carries a lot science-fiction, fiction, mystery, philosophy, and theology. There is also a very well organized music and sheet music section downstairs. In the age of Amazon and e-readers, the only profitable market left lies in used and rare books. The business embraced the internet 5 years ago and this has allowed them to be profitable despite the lowering store income. About 20% of their books are listed online. These mostly constitute the more expensive books that are stored in a warehouse, safe from handling.

There is very little decorum, just more books everywhere you look. The shelves are disparate, some built, some acquired from government auctions. The stacks of books reach the ceilings despite customer’s hesitancy to reach for books above head level. A small locking foot ladder is available for adventurous patrons.

The owner prioritizes the books aver the architecture. When asked what he would do if he had 20,000$ to renovate the space, he answers that he would just buy more books instead. He points out the importance of strong floor due to the high eight of books. While windows are important, they must be used with strategy and restraint since they destroy books. If he could start from zero, he would have everything on one floor to prevent theft and simplify operations.

Tapestry from original store

Cash counter above, book island below left, music sheet collection below rightA crack reveals the back-room through the stacks of books, right

Limited seating above left, basement shelves above rightFloor plans below