We recently received this wonderful letter and poem from poet Tim Conroy, brother of Pat Conroy, and a founding board member of the Pat Conroy Legacy Center. Tim writes, "This is a short poem dedicated to all the independent booksellers I have met in my life especially NeverMore, Beaufort Bookstore, Buxton Books, and Itinerant Literate books. During this challenging time, I want to thank SIBA for what you do for the communities you serve and for connecting people with great books. You remain vital to our evolution and growth to become a more empathetic people.  All praise, Tim Conroy." Thank you, Tim, and we second "all praise" to the work of independent booksellers everywhere, but especially to our dear colleagues in SIBA.

Book Shop Owners

Their help is (keenly) silent.
Page-turning glances trace 
my path as books flaunt 

spines from lonely rows.
I want more than a quick
thumb through and put back.

They work new arrivals 
while I wince at authors
overripe photographs.

They note the subtle signs
which reveal preferences
to wed me to my match.

Browsing empty-handed,
they steer me to choices—
subgenres and stories 

never dreamed possible.
Take appraisal, volumes
for us to gain ourselves.