Thirty-five years ago, the Mad Hatter Bookstore害羞草研究所檚 novels were stacked to the ceiling.

Then-owner Doug Campbell had a photographic memory, allowing him to recall a book害羞草研究所檚 location in the disarray.

Aptly named after the Mad Hatter, nowadays the West Kelowna store is a little more organized.

Owners Paulette and Maurice Breault offer a tour of the shop for each new customer.

害羞草研究所淏ooks are a way of life for people, books take you to another venue when you need to and it害羞草研究所檚 also very relaxing. We have many people who come in and say 害羞草研究所榯hank you so much for saving the bookstore,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Paulette said.

The books are neatly stacked, with brightly coloured labels for fiction, horror, self-help, true adventures, business, Canadian history and more making the books easier to find.

For the Breaults, it害羞草研究所檚 not just a bookstore, it害羞草研究所檚 a place to connect with the community. Residents and visitors navigate the tightly-packed shelves as if it were a dance, Paulette said.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 why I say 害羞草研究所榮hall we waltz?害羞草研究所� because look at this way, this is where people start talking to each other because someone will ask me 害羞草研究所榟ave you read this?害羞草研究所� Then someone will pipe up, 害羞草研究所榶ou have to read this book, it害羞草研究所檚 fantastic.害羞草研究所� Then they find each other and start talking about the author.害羞草研究所�

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The retired school teachers took over the shop five years ago after Campbell sold his store.

害羞草研究所淚t was failing because people weren害羞草研究所檛 reading the books, or so he thought because that害羞草研究所檚 when the Kindles came in and we thought as teachers we couldn害羞草研究所檛 let this go,害羞草研究所� Paulette said. 害羞草研究所淒oug was very knowledgeable on his books害羞草研究所� he was selling out, we came in and said where are we going to find books because you have to go across the bridge?害羞草研究所�

Paulette added, 害羞草研究所渢here害羞草研究所檚 nothing like holding a real book in your hand.害羞草研究所�

She tried a Kindle but reading electronically before bed gave her unwanted energy.

Maurice hopes the book industry will last and doesn害羞草研究所檛 see Mad Hatter closing its doors anytime soon.

害羞草研究所淏ooks are patient, they害羞草研究所檙e there for when you want them.害羞草研究所�

He listed the Game of Thrones series as an example of what people request in the paper format.

害羞草研究所淧eople want those in the hardcover and some people only want the signed ones and others want newer ones like the Harry Potters. The love of books is being transferred to the next generation. I see it here every day. People bring in their family and you see life in their eyes, they害羞草研究所檝e picked up the excitement.

害羞草研究所淐an this be transmitted through watching a movie on television? Or reading on a computer? I don害羞草研究所檛 know. The families that read to their children, it害羞草研究所檚 a family event. I see the difference in the children, being retired teachers, we know the value and books are previous to the young people.

He expects more readers will turn to the online format but believes books will become collectibles.

害羞草研究所淭he internet can be changed, it can be manipulated. Hitler tried to burn all the books. The Spaniards tried to burn Mayan books. The ones that survived are so precious,害羞草研究所� he said.

The couple brought the dusty shelves back to life with a fresh coat of paint, added new shelves and a community-focused mindset.

Some books won害羞草研究所檛 stay on the shelves. They carry multiple copies of certain novels, like The Secret, and focus on helping people find their book treasures.

The bookstore allows the couple to socialize with the community, and they害羞草研究所檝e put efforts into marketing and branding the store.

害羞草研究所淲e get people from the states, they always come up in the summer and know exactly where we are. We get people from Vancouver and now we害羞草研究所檙e getting people from Lake Country, Rutland in Kelowna and they害羞草研究所檙e crossing the bridge,害羞草研究所� Paulette said.

The bookstore has also expanded into the digital world, as Mad Hatter ships books worldwide.

About 10,000 books are sold online through abebooks.com.

Check out the cozy atmosphere of the bookstore yourself, located at 2483 Main Street in Westbank. The store is open Monday to Saturday.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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