Featuring a wide variety of titles, an array of gifts, a cozy corner to read a book, and even a friendly bookstore beagle, Russell Specialty Books and Gifts is a truly noteworthy Northwest Kansas spot.
Linda Crowder, founder and owner of the store, moved to Russell nearly four years ago and immediately fell in love with the community. “Almost from the start, I knew I wanted to be part of the business community because there is an energy here. There are people who are dedicated to building and maintaining a thriving community for families and seniors,” she commented.
She was driven to start the business when she realized there were no other similar businesses anywhere nearby. Crowder, an avid reader herself, craved the bookstore experience not only for herself, but for the residents of Russell and the surrounding area.
“I love bookstores. I grew up reading every book I could get my hands on and I’ve haunted bookstores wherever I go,” explained Crowder. “I have felt especially at home in the small, independently-run stores where you can feel the love of books the minute you walk in the door. Moving to Russell, I was dismayed to discover there was no bookstore within a 60 mile radius so I took a deep breath and opened my own.”
Since taking that deep breath and opening up her own store, Crowder has turned the physical space of Russell Specialty Books and Gifts into a unique wonderland of adventure. The book store is filled with a mixture of new reads, older classics, children’s books, book-related gifts, and even children’s toys, including Melissa and Doug toys. The offerings of the store appeal to all different ages, reading levels, and reading interests.
According to Crowder, reading allows a person to enter a world the author has created, and the pure joy of reading is something she wants everyone to experience. “You fly with dragons or solve mysteries. You explore the past or imagine the future. You learn about people and places you’ve been curious to know. And when you read for recreation, there’s no book report!”
The store is thriving, and remains a one-of-a-kind spot in the geographical region. “Three years after I opened, I am still the only general interest bookstore in my region and so many of my customers really appreciate the opportunity to buy locally. I’m so thankful to hear my customers tell me how welcoming and friendly the store is and that they feel happy whenever they’re here. My favorite thing, though, is when children go racing past me to the Kid Zone. Nothing is better than seeing a kid who is excited about books,” said Crowder.
Crowder strives to make her business anything but one-dimensional. This is very clear when you step into her store, or even browse through the pictures on the store’s Facebook page. Each shelf and section of the store is filled with something that was intentionally placed there to serve her customers.
Part of the reason for this variety, and the inclusion of children’s books and items, is that Crowder has previous experience working with children. “I try to carry book-related gifts – bookmarks, book lights, bookends, journals. And because I once worked in Early Childhood Education, I try to carry educational toys, games and puzzles that help develop motor skills and foster curiosity. When I expanded the bookstore last year, I was able to add an arts and crafts section. I try to source from US suppliers whenever I can and I strive to carry gifts you might not find in other local stores,” she said.
And while the extra items are fun and special, the sheer variety of titles offered at the store is also very expansive, which makes the store even more impressive. Calling it a “mixture of old favorites and new friends”, Crowder pushes to offer the popular books everyone’s talking about, as well as “the ones you might never discover if you didn’t stumble across it in a bookstore.” Visitors to the store will also find books written by and about Kansans. Crowder spends ample time researching industry press to learn about up-and-coming authors, reading advance copies of soon-to-be-released books, and talking with other booksellers about the authors that are enjoyed by their customers. This helps her to curate her book collection to make it as appealing as possible.
Crowder views reading as one of the most useful, important, and necessary activities for one to partake in. “Reading is a primary tool to educate and inform, but reading also develops and expands brain function for children and adults. Reading has been described as “cardio for the brain” because, unlike the passive act of watching TV, reading is interactive. Your brain is actively engaged, forming pictures of what you’re reading in a way that stimulates far more areas of your brain than watching or even listening to audio books.”
The store is open six days a week, and Crowder can be found there most of the time. She does have a “wonderful volunteer” who rotates Mondays with her (Crowder’s) husband so she doesn’t have to work six days a week. Even though, with her love of books and passion for helping others access them, she probably wouldn’t mind it.
When she’s not in the bookstore, Crowder keeps very busy serving her community, as an acting member of Russell Main Street. She is also currently the president of the Russell Area Chamber of Commerce. She is co-sponsoring a community development project based on the book “13 Ways to Kill Your Community”. According to Crowder, this initiative “strives to promote a dialog which supports both business and quality of life initiatives. With more people working remotely and moving to small towns like ours, it’s an exciting time to be a Main Street business owner.”
As if all these reasons weren’t enough to stop in and shop, an added bonus is the canine friend you will find in the store; Buddy the Bookstore Beagle. According to Crowder, “He loves nothing better than greeting people as they walk in the door and playing with all the children who he insists come into the store just to see him.”
Store hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00am-5:30pm and Saturdays from 10:00am-2:00pm. You can also visit the bookstore’s Facebook page, or visit their website at to learn even more about what is going on at the store.
Next time you are in the area, be sure to stop by and visit the store. Or, make a special trip just for the purpose of seeing what Russell Specialty Books and Gifts has to offer. Crowder would welcome the chance to visit with you about life, books, and everything in between.
After all, books are her happy place, and she just wants to share that love of lit with others. “I love a book that takes me completely into another world. It doesn’t have to be a fantasy. I’m equally in love with fiction and nonfiction, any story that captures my imagination. I read between customers and there are times I jump when someone speaks to me because I’ve become so involved in what I’m reading. That’s heaven.”
