Chuck and Dee Robinson opened Village Books in the early 1980s - the "good old days," considering the online challenge bookstores face today.
The Robinsons were teachers active in education circles in the Midwest before they dove into bookselling. As their store in Fairhaven grew, their time for community service grew.
"We knew no one in Bellingham when we moved here, so it was partly a way to meet people," Dee Robinson said. "As the business grew, we also had the schedule flexibility to be able to be more involved."
Some of their activities, such as support for the Whatcom Literacy Council and for Fairhaven business district, seemed a natural fit. But they've also been active in other groups, including Bellingham City Club, Community Food Co-op and Sustainable Connections. Chuck also has served on the Whatcom County Ethics Commission and Whatcom Community College's board of trustees, among other boards.
"I've often thought that trying to build the kind of community one wants to live in is ultimately self-serving," he said. "I think life in general is about relationships and community."
Three years ago, Village Books was named Outstanding Philanthropic Small Business of the year by the Washington chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The award confirmed what local people already knew.
Besides becoming a literary focal point, with hundreds of author readings and other events each year, Village Books supports numerous groups and causes through donations, advice and other support.
People's appreciation for what the Robinsons do was apparent seven years ago when more than 100 volunteers helped haul books for their move to their current store.
As bookstores deal with the industry's shift to the digital realm, the Robinsons find themselves shifting their approach to community service, but not their commitment.
"We have to choose carefully what we can support and how we can leverage our visibility in the community to help organizations that we feel do a great job here," Chuck Robinson said. "We're in the process of developing more robust community partnerships, rather than just responding to requests for donations."
True to form, they plan to stay active even after they retire.
"I don't see that it would change our community activity," Dee Robinson said, "though I suppose we still have some traveling we want to do."
10 WHO CARED
For the last 10 days of 2011, The Bellingham Herald salutes Whatcom County people who help make our community a great place to live.
Dec. 22: Chuck and Dee Robinson.
MORE INFORMATION
Village Books is at 1200 11th St., Bellingham. Phone: 360-671-2626. Online: villagebooks.com.
