Dear Editor: Since my retirement I have had a delightful part-time position at the Ouray Bookshop. There I get to see youngsters light up when they discover a teepee with a flickering campfire near the children’s books. I share reviews on recent “reads” with familiar customers, direct tourists to wildflower and mushroom guides that help them maximize their vacation experience on the Western Slope, and listen to giggles as the locals discover Amy’s newest line of greeting cards.

Imagine then my dismay to learn that the future of the bookshop has been placed in jeopardy by the new owners of the Beaumont Hotel. This means not only that I may lose an enjoyable work environment, but Ouray and Ridgway may lose a unique and financially profitable business that is consistently involved in community activities and promotion. If the business model for the Texas buyers of the Beaumont includes disregard for the Ouray Bookshop’s value to the local economy and community I strongly believe that this will be to their detriment.

Carol Harrold Ridgway