THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 6, 1995 TAG: 9509020161
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Once upon a time, when an ``old maid'' librarian moved into a house across the street from a little girl growing up in a small town in North Carolina, she made a lifelong impact.
And now, Sue Jackson, long past the little-girl stage, hopes to turn a profit from one of her favorite pastimes.
Last week Jackson opened Books and Looks, the county's first ``swap-a-book, trade-a-book, buy-a-book'' outlet. The spacious, neat shop, carved with a lot of hard work from a garage that once was an auto radiator repair shop, is on Benn's Church Boulevard, between the Amoco convenience store and Historic St. Luke's Church.
Jackson still thinks about the woman who gave her such a gift as a love for reading when she was only 4 years old. The librarian, remembered fondly as ``Miss Whitman,'' introduced her to books.
``I started visiting her, and she started bringing home books for me,'' Jackson said in an interview last week. ``She was such a sweet lady. She led me into what she thought I could read - from one book to another.''
Later, Jackson started haunting the library where the woman who wore ``long skirts and granny boots'' worked. It was a tiny place, she recalled, filled with romance, mystery and adventure.
That's how Jackson started a life filled with reading. She's never regretted it.
``Miss Whitman would even order special books just for me. It didn't take me long to learn that when you can enjoy reading, you can have anything else you want.''
The idea for Jackson's book store came almost from necessity.
She moved to Smithfield 13 years ago when her husband, Tommy, retired from Ft. Monroe. She worked off and on at several places, including a convenience store in Carrollton and at Wayside Market, not too far from her own business.
``I really enjoyed working because I enjoyed the people. I got to know a lot of them. And now, I can't wait to see everybody again.''
Late last year, Jackson wasn't thinking that way. At 60, she thought retirement seemed attractive. That idea changed when she was confronted with getting up each morning facing days filled with little more than an occasional bingo game, reading or crocheting, another one of her other favorite pastimes.
``I'll sit up until midnight or 1 a.m. if I'm into a book or a crochet project,'' she said.
For as long as she can remember, Jackson has read probably about three novels a week. And for several years, she's been a patron of a paperback book-trading store in Newport News. But she also bought new ones whenever one appealed to her.
``It had gotten to the point that I was spending more than $20 a week on paperbacks,'' she said, laughing. ``I could not afford to support my habit.''
She passed the habit on to her eldest son, Randy Kennedy. When he was a child, she would have to take his flashlight from him to keep him from reading beneath the covers.
So when Jackson decided she wanted to go back to work, opening a book store seemed the perfect answer - and her son the perfect business partner.
The store will be open seven days a week: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
In addition to books, Jackson features her crocheted items and some crafts, displayed among the books to add a warm, country touch to the decor.
There's a corner set aside for children, of course, where they can look at and read books while their parents browse.
Maybe, Jackson said, she'll be the one to inspire another child to read.
And she is dedicated to keeping the shop uncluttered, the items it features easy to find.
``I've been in so many stores where people, especially senior citizens, can't even get around. I want this to be a place for everybody.''
Eventually, the mother and son entrepreneurs hope to add a line of special videos - marshall arts, adventure, science fiction.
Here's the book-trading formula: Take in a used paperback, trade it for 25 percent off the price of any used paperback Jackson sells - and they already are priced at 50 percent off their new price. Or, simply buy used paperbacks at 50 percent their original price. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Sue Jackson has opened Books and Looks on Benn's Church Boulevard.
by CNB