Meet One of Our Spring Interns: Kayla

Hello fellow Oak Knollers! My name is Kayla Harris. This is my third year at the University of Delaware as I work towards a double major in English and Spanish with a minor in Environmental Humanities. I am a writer, avid traveler, along with having a love for the environment. One day my word will be spread throughout the world, so keep an eye out! In my free time, I enjoy running and playing soccer with my younger sister. Recently, I have been lucky enough to join the Oak Knoll team.

First time approaching the historic town of New Castle, I was intrigued in what this book publisher could introduce. The building stood with 200 years worth of character and had seen more days than I had. I was ready to learn what was inside. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a book pup eager to welcome new comers and new books. Beyond the wagging tail, I saw shelves and shelves of pages. I knew I was in the right place.

My first couple days had brought me up to the ceiling in book spines and getting my hands on so many interesting titles. I was going through antique leather covers to organize plate page designs decorated in unique artwork. I was putting books on the shelves that had titles claiming “The Best Book in The World.” Of course, I had to look inside to see for myself. Each corner brings me something new to read and understand.  The book variety in this building is so wide and diverse, that I can only imagine the types of books beyond the Oak Knoll walls.

I had never heard the phrase “books about books” and wasn’t quite sure what the antiquarian market entailed. My love for the written word touched on all subjects, but how exactly did an industry target books about other books? Since 1978, Oak Knoll Press has been an international involvement in bookselling. With around 28,000 titles on inventory, don’t worry I’ve been counting, they hold a firm specialty in their field. The titles include topics about bookbinding, calligraphy, book collecting, book selling, bibliography, book design, papermaking, and many more.

With a passion to have my own thoughts behind a cover, what better way to gain experience next to explanations on how books are actually compiled. Among their own section of oversized books, I hold pages as big as my arms and wonder at the detail and design that keeps me starring. The reading wasn’t the only reason I stuck around!

The staff wanted to give as much understanding as I wanted to take. Everyone on board was here to help the Oak Knoll Press spread their insight on what they knew best. Preparing for book fairs, managing the store, online advertising, proof reading manuscripts and documenting everything books, was on everyday’s agenda. I have grown to become a working business member of this team. There are so many roles to fulfill in order to continue publishing with important institutions such as The British Library and The Library of Congress. The constant enthusiasm and passion for what we do keeps the best quality books and knowledge leaving these doors as another great Oak Knoll Press issue.

I am honored to have found myself under a timely and special roof. My knowledge for books is only growing and Oak Knoll has opened new perceptions on where my love for writing could take me. It makes all the difference being in a community that strives for purpose and learning.

 

California Book Fairs

Ahh, sunny California! From the moment I walked off the five hour flight into San Francisco International to when I left LAX this past Sunday, it was nothing but fair weather, but enough about that…

This year, the California International Antiquarian Bookfair, hosted by the Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association of America (ABAA), was held in Pasadena, California. This year marks the sixth year at the new venue, the Pasadena Convention Center. However my trip started the week before. After a small stint in Napa, the San Francisco Antiquarian Book, Print & Paper Fair was held the weekend before the large fair. What is often considered the ‘shadow show’, this fair is usually a time for ABAA and non-affiliated members to get together, be among friends, and ease their way into the bookselling mindset.

After the show in South San Francisco, I made my way down to Pasadena on Super Bowl Sunday (E.A.G.L.E.S. EAGLES!) to the Westin Pasadena hotel. The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers was hosting the bi-annual Congress in Pasadena this year, which was a nice way to lead up to the large ABAA show the following weekend. Having partake in the Congress, we got to visit notable places such as the Huntington Library, two notable private collectors of antiquarian books relating to science discoveries, UCLA’s Clark Library, the Gamble House, the Motion Picture Academy, and the Peterson Automotive Museum.

When the ILAB Congress and Pasadena show concluded (we even ran into one our authors, Margit Smith, of The Medieval Girdle Book), I hung up the bookseller’s hat and made my way back to the East Coast to start thinking about the New York book fair.

[Photo: Margit J. Smith & Rob Fleck]