We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caroline Stine a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Caroline, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?
This past year, we applied for and were rewarded a grant to place a ramp on our business. Our building is a very, very old building and has not been handicap accessible ever. In 43 years, we have never had a space that was inclusive for every walk of life, despite that being our motto. It was important to me that every person be able to access this space and these books, no matter their physical capabilities. Getting this ramp put into place was a huge accomplishment, and helped us make steps towards being one of the most accessible businesses in our town.
Caroline, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Tina Moore opened Blue Marble Books’s doors for the first time in June of 1979. She built up connections with children’s authors and illustrators, making some life-long friendships with some of the biggest names in children’s literature. She helped schools to invite authors and illustrators to speak to their students, and would invite them to the store as well. She also connected with her customers by remembering names, faces, and books they enjoyed.
Reading was important for every child in the Moore household. Their community’s children were just as important as their own. This is a core moral that Peter, and all of the staff members at Blue Marble Books, carry on today.
Tina passed away in December of 2016, but the roots she planted are still strong. It can never be the same without her, but we carry on her legacy through our actions: the best way to get things done is to just go and do it! Tina proved this with every breath she took, and we are so proud of her legacy.
Caroline came in to the store in fall of 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic. The store, at the time, had truly suffered in Tina’s absence–while her beloved husband Peter had done his best, it was hard to keep the store running without Tina’s spark and energy. Since 2020, it has been Caroline’s goal to bring the store back to its former glory as a beacon for all children, and a space that welcomes children and adults from every walk of life. We have watched the store grow again in the past three years, and it’s been a joy to see a new generation discover Tina’s legacy in The Blue Marble.
Have you ever had to pivot?
In March of 2020, I was a teacher at a local Catholic school. As it did to all teachers, the pandemic forced me to pivot into learning how to teach online, how to make my lessons interesting and accessible in a new format, etc. But this wasn’t the only extreme pivot I would be making. In the fall, when my school decided to ignore the advice of our governor and go against virtual learning, I was forced to make a decision to support my own health and well-being and leave working full-time in my field (theatre) for the first time. I left teaching and took over the bookstore, hoping that this shift would not only support my own physical and mental well-being, but would also put me in a profession that might support me better.
Leaving full-time theatre work was and continues to be difficult. It is my passion and my heart.
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
Recently, in light of the truly awful anti-trans bill that came out of the Kentucky Congress, we took a risk and made a post in support of LGBTQ and transgender children and teens. This may not sound like much, but we are in a small, conservative Kentucky town.
I was absolutely floored to see the support! In fact, it was one of our most liked and commented on posts we have ever made. It truly allowed me to see who our community is and how welcoming it can be to people of all walks of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bluemarblebooks.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/bluemarblebooks
- Facebook: facebook.com/bluemarblebooks