Celebrating a year of creativity and community

Almost one year ago, Vermillion’s only bookstore switched hands. On Sept. 25, the new owners celebrated everything that they have accomplished and the community they have built.

That store is Outside of a Dog Books & Games, a place where customers can not only find books and games, but also find community. Whether through one of their book clubs, their fiber circle or simply by finding a safe space, Outside of a Dog has become a gathering place for people in Vermillion.

There have been a number of changes  over the past year, all intended to make  the store reflect its new owners, Nova and Elias Donstad. Some changes are as simple as painting the store or adding a topical book club,while other changes are still underway. 

The “books & games” description was something the Donstads inherited from the previous owner, and they are  now working to change it to better reflect their interests and expertise. Elias said  they are “ready for the ‘and’ to change in ‘books and games’.” 

That change comes with the advent of the store’s fiber circle, which meets every Tuesday at 7p.m.  The group better reflects the interests and knowledge that both Nova and Elias bring to the store. The Fiber circle is just one of the examples of community building at the store.

“We want to have a safe environment, an encouraging environment and an environment that promotes learning,” Elias said, explaining that one of the biggest goals at Outside of a Dog is building community. Nova adds onto this saying one of their favorite aspects of owning Outside of a Dog is “being able to hold space for people…having these people from all walks of life…in a room together talking.” 

As queer business owners, the Donstads also seek  to provide a safe space for other members of the  queer community. At the core of the independent bookstore are its people, not just those who run it, but also those who support it.

Outside of a Dog is one of many local businesses that depends on the community to stay in business, and like many small businesses, the bookstore faces the challenge of staying afloat financially. As bookstore owners, Nova and Elias face an additional challenge: competition from large online corporations such as Amazon, which can sell books below asking price and put independent bookstores at a disadvantage. 

What those large corporations don’t have, Nova said, is the connection to the community. “[Shopping independent is] important because…independent bookstores have more interest in the customers, and it is so much more meaningful to them…It’s paying the rent, it’s keeping the lights on and it’s giving us a space to hold community for people,” Nova said. They also explained how their independent store gives more than just products to customers. 

At Outside of a Dog, the Dontstads’ commitment to the store and the community is evident in the events and activities they offer. Customers can receive personalized book recommendations, fondly referred to as ‘book matchmaking’, and participate in book clubs, such as the romance book club, the modern fiction book club and a topical monthly book club. Additionally,the store has upcoming events for Banned Books Week and Halloween. 

Outside of a Dog has become a vital component of literary access in Vermillion. As the only bookstore within a 30 mile radius, it provides access for local readers. More than that, the Donstads have used their business and love for vermillion and its residents to create and foster a vibrant and and welcoming community.