How Off the Beaten Path Bookstore in Colorado fosters community, support of banned books

Local, independent bookstores have never been more important. With fair access to literature under political attack, bookstores are a bulwark against censorship and an asset to the communities they serve.

Each week we profile an independent bookstore, discovering what makes each one special and getting their expert book recommendations.

This week we have Off the Beaten Path Bookstore in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Original owners, Dick and Leslie Ryan, purchased a tiny used bookstore in 1989 and called it Off the Beaten Path Bookstore. Since then, the store has been through three sets of owners and three locations. The current owners, Mike and Danielle Skov, say one thing has never changed: The commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive space for the community.

What makes your independent bookstore unique?

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Off the Beaten Path is the only bookstore in our county of about 25,000, so we make it a point to partner with our local schools, libraries, and nonprofits to reach as much of our community as possible.

We are well-known to locals and visitors alike for our full-service cafe, which serves up scratch-made giant muffins and literary themed drinks. Mostly, we are known for our friendly staff. On any given day you'll hear us greeting half our customers by name, but we make it a point to make everyone feel like our bookstore is their bookstore.

What's your favorite section in your store?

My favorite section is the Bio/Memoir section. I love reading about other people's lives and reading about experiences often far removed from my own.

What book do you love to recommend to customers and why?

I love recommending "The Eighth Life" by Nino Haratischvili, especially to those customers who think they've read everything or who are trying to find a book for someone especially well-read. It's a translated work of fiction that focuses on one Georgian/Russian family's history over the course of a century, with a cursed hot chocolate recipe thrown into the mix. At 944 pages long it's enough to keep anyone occupied for a while!

What book do you think deserves more attention and why?

I think "The Raven Boys" by Maggie Stiefvater is criminally underrated. On the surface it's a series about psychics, private school boys, and dead Welsh kings, but underneath all that it's about found family and the profound agony of figuring out who you are. It's also some of the best writing I've ever come across.

What books or series are you most excited about coming out soon?

"Inanna" by Emily Wilson is the first installment of a new series called The Sumerians that was published in August, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment! I've read a lot of mythology retelling and this is one of the best I've come across.

Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important?

Local bookstores are more than just another retailer — they are community hubs, a place to share your passions, and a haven for many. Our mission isn't to sell as many books as possible, it's to make sure that everyone who walks through our doors feels at home.

What are some of your store's events, programs, or partnerships that you would like to share?

Every quarter we partner with a local nonprofit, create a special "Drink of the Month," and donate 100% of drink profits to said charity. This upcoming quarter we are partnering with Advocates of Routt County, our local resource for people experiencing domestic violence. We also did several events in October to highlight Banned Books Week, including talks with our local college and a banned books night at our local speakeasy, Foxes, where folks could purchase banned books for a fellow indie bookstore in Oklahoma that's being directly impacted by anti-book legislation.