One Paper Boat Bookstore, Two Captains & a Community
By Francine Diaz and James Locke
JACKSON HEIGHTS — On a street just off the the main thoroughfare of Roosevelt Avenue, card tables stacked with books spill out onto the sidewalk. They are stacked with children’s books, thrillers, fantasy and cookbooks, and they’re an outdoor extension of La Libreria Barco de Papel, a bookstore and community center in the neighborhood.
The shop itself is lined from floor to ceiling with shelves, crammed with books. Any extra space on the walls covered by photos, or artwork courtesy of owner Ramon Caraballo, 47, and a bright, hand-drawn mural of Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez hangs in the front window.
The books themselves are almost all in Spanish; however, English-language texts are sprinkled in amongst the collection.
While Mr. Caraballo’s name is on the lease, he explained that he does not want to be known as the shop’s owner; he believes it should belong to the community. The sign reads “Tu tienda de libros en Español” — your Spanish bookstore.
Jackson Heights is 57 percent Latino, with a large population of second-generation Latinos. Many of these children are encouraged to learn English rather than communicate in Spanish. “When kids come in and look at a Spanish books and their parents tell them, ‘No, no, no, pick up an English book,’ it’s like a stab in the heart.” said Paula Ortiz, 42, Mr. Caraballo’s business partner and the store’s unofficial spokeswoman.
When La Libreria Barco de Papel first moved into the neighborhood in 2003, there were five other bookstores in the area. Now, they are the only one to open their doors every morning. Ms. Ortiz blames large corporations and online shopping for the closures. She refers to this change as an effect of large corporations monopolizing the online shopping business. “People rely on the giant to do many things … when you can order any title or genre with the click of a button, it’s hard to keep up.”
In 1990, Mr. Carballo left Cuba for Queens seeking new opportunities for both himself and his family. During those times the political and economic climate of Cuba was going downhill driving many families away.
“It all started off by Mr. Carballo selling books on the streets, and then we agreed to open a children’s book store,” said Ms. Ortiz.
Fifteen years ago he came across the works of the Cuban poet Nicolas Guillen, who advocated the importance of sharing Spanish-language literature.
One of Guillen’s poems, about a paper boat — barco de papel in Spanish — gave the store its name. His poem, “Un son para niños antillanos” describes a man and a woman’s journey of traveling in their paper boat across both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. This embodies their mission statement since they go to vast lengths trying to reach the young Latino community.
Although it started off as a children’s bookstore, over time, La Libreria Barco de Papel has grown to carry books for adults — everyone from hospital workers to college students, and even prisoners ordering books from jail. Inmates send book requests from their prison, and with a family member’s purchase, the store mails the book to the jail with the approved packaging necessary for it to be delivered.
For Ms. Ortiz, a Colombian immigrant, and Mr. Caraballo, it is their life mission to keep their community intact through works of Spanish authors and cultural events.
The partners even introduced a system for aspiring authors to get their books out into the community. They charge a small fee in exchange for the writer’s works to be sold in the store. Any and all profit then goes back to the author.
“As a local business that’s what we do,” explained Ms. Ortiz. “In big corporations like Barnes and Noble, it’s hard unless you’re famous.”
Diego Rivelino, a Jackson Heights based Colombian poet, has benefited from the system; he wrote Sinasco Poemas with the help of the bookstore in 2006. Mr. Rivelino has written three poetry books, the last of which debuted in La Libreria Barco de Papel. He has since participated in book signings, and various readings at the store.
At least once a month, under Ms. Ortiz’s guidance, the shop sets up a tent outside and hold open mic sessions. During these gatherings, anyone can participate and read any writing aloud at the microphone.
While most performers read out of notebooks or from pieces of paper, some read off their smartphones. “It’s ironic to see people walk up and read off their phones,” Ms. Ortiz jokes. “It’s a bookstore after all, but that’s the reality of the world today.”
The store also holds art and crafts sessions, Spanish-language puppet shows for children, and lectures from members of the community for older patrons. These activities are funded by donations and author shelf space fees.
Even in the face of expanding competition from online retailers and chain stores, La Libreria Barco de Papel keeps going. A beloved photo of one of the store’s youngest customers shows just how much it means to the community.
“One day a little boy came marching into here, he took a book from a shelf and just lay there reading. It was so powerful to me, that he felt so comfortable in the environment we had created,” said Ms. Ortiz.
Ortiz urges the Latino community to start paying attention to the commercial changes in the neighborhood, and to keep local businesses like La Libreria Barco de Papel. “They think [the small businesses] has value, but they don’t realize it until it’s gone.”
Ms. Ortiz is not fazed by the changes coming to Jackson Heights, and commerce overall.
“As long as you see me here, it’s open,” she said.
