WCR This Week

WCR PHOTO | LASHA MORNINGSTAR Manager Shirley Kulmatycki scans some of the packed shelves in the Newman Theological College Bookstore.

A hospital chaplain, one of Newman Theological Bookstore's frequent patrons, hurried through the bookstore door.

"Is it in?" he asked anxiously.

Shirley Kulmatycki triumphantly held up his ordered tome.

Smiles were exchanged all round, and the chaplain slid his Visa into the credit card machine.

That's a regular occurrence for this bookstore manager. If the sought-after book is not among the 3,000 to 3,500 volumes on the packed shelves, Kulmatycki will order it.

Looking for a book? This committed bookstore operator will do her darndest to unearth it. At the moment, the search is on for a 1973 Ukrainian hymnal.

"I'll keep looking till I find it," she said matter-of-factly.

As one priest told her, "If you don't have it, no one else does."

Scan the shelves and certainly the expected religious books are there. So are children's books, books on spirituality and books by authors such as Henri Nouwen, Richard Rohr, Ron Rolheiser, Jacques Philippe and Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés.

The hot titles at the moment are those on prayer, saints and Church history.

"People are really getting into it,"

Kulmatycki said of Church history.

Toddlers' and children's books are moving fast too. At the time of this interview, the toddlers' boardbook section was empty.

"A bunch of grannies came in and cleaned me out," said Kulmatycki.

Visitors from Ontario told her they had never been in a theological bookstore that offered such variety.

Books are also stored in another room and spill out onto an inviting trolley outside the bookstore door. The trolley is usually stocked with newer titles and papal subjects.

ENTICING SHELVES

It's not only books that are available on the enticing shelves. Affordable rosaries are tucked in one area, as are thank you cards and a smattering of gift bags. She got these in at the request of the seminarians who might need to buy a gift on short notice.

Kulmatycki comes to her position after years as a teacher of math, science and library science to Grade 5 to 9 students.

That welcoming, nurturing manner of a teacher translates beautifully in the store, and Kulmatycki finds herself having earnest conversations with seminarians, Newman students and others.

"The seminarians are shy at first," she said. "But then they warm up."

With eight years at the bookstore's helm, including three moves by the college when she packed and unpacked all of the books, Kulmatycki relishes her job.

COMMON TOUCH

She is a merchant who knows the power of the common touch, how to blend compassion and competence. She eschews email and picks up the phone to touch base with suppliers or frequent customers.

"I establish a relationship with the regulars, deal with them person-to-person. It is really rewarding."

One day she called a customer in southern Alberta. Instead of launching into the expected "Your order is in," Kulmatycki asked her "How are you doing?"

The woman's brother had just died, and the store manager's caring question helped the customer tell of her pain.

Kulmatycki is hands-on too when it comes to the books themselves.

Do not offer to help her with stock taking. No, she is not being a martyr. By itemizing all the books, it "Lets me know what I have and lets me do a review."

HECTIC TIMES

The hectic times, of course, are the start of each semester.

But even during the holidays, there is a steady trickle of customers. Those customers come from a variety of places since the bookstore is open to the public.

Teachers, students doing research and/or taking courses over the Internet all ask for bookstore guidance. Kulmatycki even ships books to places as far flung as Ontario and the Northwest Territories.

"It's a service. People come first."