About the business:
Elizabeth Campbell Books was established in 1991 in Ontario’s westernmost city, and has grown to become Kenora’s largest bookshop. We boast a collection of about 50,000 fine used and collectible titles with a smattering of new books and a large collection of cards & bookmarks by local artists. We take pride in the quality of our offerings, and in the wide general reading experience and professionalism of our staff. We have been selling books on line since 1996, and have been a member of the Canadian Booksellers’ Association since our inception.
About the building:
The building in which our shop is located is one of Kenora’s oldest. A portion of it was built in the 1880’s, during the Rat Portage Gold Rush boom days, to house Jackson’s Bakery. The building expanded over the years, using local stone, brick, and lumber (including barked tree trunks as pillars in the basement!). The bakery closed in 1976 when the last Jackson owners retired, and Campbell Bros. moved in, conducting a retail electrical appliance business until 1995. The Salvation Army temporarily located their Thrift Shop in the building before Elizabeth Campbell Books moved in in the spring of 1996. Now we have moved to the rear of this building. Customers may park in our lot on Hennepen Lane and enter through the bright yellow porch, or come through Extreme Tan and ring the doorbell for admittance (Just to let you know, you must remove your shoes/boots to walk through the salon).
About the staff:
Elizabeth Campbell: I was born and raised in Kenora, and brought up in the family business, which operated from 1976 in the same location as my bookshop’s current address (so I’ve been working here a long time:). I have studied science, religion and archaeology at both the Universities of Manitoba and Toronto, and have travelled a bit in Europe, the Middle East, Canada and the U.S. My favourite leisure reading comes from the mystery and historical fiction genres, but I also enjoy non-fiction on the subjects of history, exploration, and archaeology, with plenty of other reading mixed in just to keep up on what’s out there for my customers! I also design and knit scarves which are available in the shop and on the website.
About Our Books:
Many of our books were received on an inventory system that did not allow for full descriptions. We have graded all our books, and are trying to gradually provide full descriptions as time allows. Please feel free to request more in-depth descriptions. We are only too happy to oblige! With loading information for the new site, many categories became jumbled (beauties of technology). I am currently working hard to get that straightened out!
We use the following grades for our books:
- New – New book, never read.
- Fine – in mint condition, looks fresh off the press, no visible flaws
- Near Fine (NF) – some minor flaws noticeable to the practised eye, a very acceptable copy for collectors
- Very good + (VG+) – one or two flaws evident
- Very good (VG) – several minor flaws but still quite acceptable
- Very good – (VG-) – multiple flaws are noticeable