Karlene Nicolajsen, store manager and buyer at Shelf Life Books, shares insights into the unique charm and community spirit of Calgary’s beloved independent bookstore. Founded by retired English professor JoAnn McCaig, Shelf Life Books prides itself on offering a carefully curated selection of high-quality literature, with a strong focus on Canadian authors, small presses, and diverse voices.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Shelf Life Books is an independent bookstore specializing in high quality literature, Canadian authors, small presses, children’s books, and diverse voices across all genres.
What made you want to do this work? • What problem did you want to solve with the business?
Shelf Life Books is the brainchild of its current owner and retired English professor, JoAnn McCaig, who felt the city deserved a really fabulous and well-curated centrally located bookstore.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
We service both the literary community in Calgary – the writers, authors, poets, and the seriously bookish readers who have become our regulars – and our immediate community, the people working and living in our area of all ages and identities. We are a store for everybody; we carry a little bit of everything and host literary events frequently where we are all welcome.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
1302 4 Street SW
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
Why shop at an indie bookstore instead of Amazon or Indigo? Our answer would be our attentiveness to our customers, the depth of our literary knowledge, our refined and eclectic curation, and the discoverability that comes from browsing a brick-and-mortar store.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part of working here is meeting so many people who love reading; we talk about books all day. The worst part is that we do not get to read all day.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Campland
