While dancing to the joyous music of Rubatano Marimba Aug. 6, I saw Sue Haworth in the crowd of folks gathered to enjoy this evening sponsored by Goosefoot’s Bayview Corner Street Dance. Goosefoot’s mission is an “economically thriving, environmentally resilient, and socially inclusive community for all.” Sue Haworth reflects a similar ethos in her role as bookstore coordinator for the South Whidbey Commons.
“I’m passionate about kids, community and books!,” said Sue.
While taking a moment from dancing that night, Sue mentioned her friend Linda Stiles Taylor, a ‘free range librarian’ who is traveling around the Northwest, visiting independent book sellers, buying books they wish to see out in the world, and donating the books to Little Free Libraries, a top-rated non-profit whose book boxes are found in communities throughout the world, including Whidbey Island. Here, for instance, is a map link listing Little Free Library locations on South Whidbey.
Sue and I arranged to meet when Linda was in town, visiting from where she lives in a co-housing community she helped cofound with her husband and others near Portland OR. Earlier in the day Linda visited Kingfisher Bookstore in Coupeville, and was planning to visit Moonraker Books in Langley with Sue after both met to chat with me.
At Kingfisher Linda bought “A Field Companion for Wandering,” by Conner Bouchard-Roberts, and “Oddbody,” by Rose Keating.
At Moonraker, it was: “Poetry of Presence,” by Phyllis Cole-Dai and Ruby R. Wilson, along with “I Who Have Never Known Men,” by Jacqueline Harpman, chosen by Moonraker employee Danaan Wilson.
“Diane Shiner shared history of the Moonraker Bookstore, and the story of her own 20-plus years bringing books to a street children’s school in Guatemala,” said Sue Haworth. “She picked the poetry title. At the Commons, I picked [local author] Judith Adams’ book “The Village.”
The book titles are recorded in Linda’s “Bookstore Passport” books. She adds little ephemera from the booksellers as well.
Turning 70 this year Linda, aka Celeste, wanted to give back to the community. As a librarian most of her working life, giving a gift of books seemed a right way to celebrate her seven decades around the sun. She chose the pen name Celeste while in graduate school at UC Berkeley during the 1970s, after reading “Revolting Librarians,” by Celeste West and Elizabeth Katz.
Meeting at the Commons Aug. 29, we sat outside on an overcast afternoon. I noticed Linda’s hair is woven with sparkly strands. With my background working–with one of the best employers I’ve ever had–at Sno-Isle Libraries, we talked of our love of books and working in the library field.
“I wanted to do something with purpose for my 70th,” said Linda. “This year I started in Newport [Oregon] with my book group, then came north and cut across to Whidbey Island.”
Nearly finished with her goal of visiting 70 independent book sellers, Linda recalled an unusual title suggested by a Centralia WA bookseller–a 1975 textbook on wastewater management. “His next door neighbor was a completely different kind of bookstore, Book, Bone and Stone,” said Linda. That small store carries mostly used books, along with a “wee collection of bones,” and stones and crystals. Another place of note: Beauty, Beverages and Books in Salem OR, where its bookseller recommended Collin Whitehead’s “Underground Railroad.”
The Salem bookstore is a full service hair salon, curated used bookstore and beverage bar selling teas, mocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.
Reaching the final count on her quest for visiting 70 independent booksellers, Linda will meet her husband in Bellingham this weekend.
“This starts Part 2 of this adventure, and we will visit sites from the Still Standing Show, which runs 10 seasons,” said Linda. “Comedian Jonny Harris travels all over Canada and visits communities on the ropes that have come back from trials and tribulations—Mill closures, mining disasters, towns with less than 3,000 population. They film for a week, do a documentary, and at end of the week Jonny does a standup comedy where he roasts people in a sweet way. The show celebrates the unique aspects of these unique towns. That’s become the metaphor for my 70th–Still Standing.”
Along with visiting booksellers to donate her purchases to Little Free Libraries, Linda leaves a zine at each location, “A Little True Tale for our Times.”
It begins…”Once upon a time, in the summer of 2025, a free-range librarian named Celeste looked around and wondered what she could do. She saw a divided world, where people were fundamentally good, but the greedy and cruel among them seemed to be gaining the upper hand. How could she help?”
At the end of her “True Tale,” Celeste notes: “Our public libraries desperately need our help to fight censorship and maintain funding. Support the freedom to read!…and if you are privileged enough to buy books, did you know you could order books on-line from bookshop.org and benefit the independent bookstore of your choice? You can boycott Amazon.com and support authors and independent booksellers at the same time. Light your candle. We need YOU!”
To learn more about Linda Stiles Taylor’s “All Together Now” contact her at lindastilestaylor@gmail.com.