Book store celebrates 10th year

Diane Campbell and Dick Sandvik launched Paulina Springs Book Company 10 years ago.

Dick Sandvik and Diane Campbell, owners of Paulina Springs Book Company, invited the public to come celebrate their 10 years of business in Sisters last Sunday evening, May 26.

"They add so much to this community," said Carolyn Gabrielson, who has shopped at Paulina Springs for the past four years. "They give us author talks, book recommendations, and entertainment!"

Susan Tank, who has worked at Paulina Springs for the past nine-and-a-half years, is equally enthusiastic about the book store.

"I've been a bibliophile since I was a kid," Tank said. "I feel just like a kid in a candy store getting to work here. It's also a wonderful way to get to know people in the community."

Paulina Springs became a reality after Dick purchased a home in Black Butte Ranch.

"Dick was still commuting to Portland with the idea of transitioning into full-time work here," said Diane. "When we moved here, I was looking for work. One day, we were wandering around Sisters trying to think of something we could do here -- something that hadn't already been done."

Their survey convinced the couple that a bookstore would do well in Sisters.

Diane describes herself as the "operations" person, while Dick serves as the spirit behind the company. From the beginning, Campbell and Sandvik wanted Paulina Springs to be more than just a bookstore.

"Dick had a long-term vision," Diane explained. "He loves music and books and he wanted Sisters to become a destination for people who loved them, too."

Shoppers at Paulina Springs get the benefit of dozens of "shelf-talkers" -- reviews by staff members --posted with selected books.

"Fortunately, we all have different reading interests," said Diane. "All of our books are hand-picked. We have amazed people from big cities like San Francisco by our great book selection."

Paulina Springs also hosts literary events, such as author talks and book signings. Because Sisters is so far off the beaten path, bringing in authors was not always an easy process.

"We brought in a lady who wrote a column for The Oregonian," Diane recalled. "She sat here for three hours and no one showed up! But we stuck with it and kept inviting people. Our turn-outs have increased from 10 to 20 in the beginning to 100. Authors like Barry Lopez and Ivan Doig bring in 200."

"We have Andrew Pham, who escaped from Viet Nam at the age of 10, coming to speak on June 15," Dick noted.

Although running a bookstore has been more difficult than the couple could have imagined, it has also been more rewarding.

"The first three years were great," said Diane. "But when the chain stores arrived, things flattened out for a while. Then we had the internet and Amazon.com, and that hurt us. Over time, however, the enthusiasm for chains and the internet waned and business is coming back.

"Our customers appreciate the small book store. And we appreciate our customers."

"I wouldn't trade the last 10 years for anything," agreed Dick. "The only disappointment I have is that I've had less time to read.

"Overall, it has been a very positive experience."