In 1977, Observatory Books opened its doors and became the first used bookstore in Southeast Alaska. Originally located in Sitka, the store became a reality when Dee Longenbaugh, the shop’s proprietor and member of the Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association of America, decided to turn her hobby of collecting books on Alaska and the Yukon into a true vocation.

Prior to opening her store, Dee traveled with her husband and amassed a collection of over 400 books on Alaska. With her collection and the help of her son—who built the shop’s first bookcase—Dee opened Observatory Books in a small house in the main part of Sitka. She later relocated her shop in Juneau.

Observatory Books front room showcases antiquarian books and maps focusing on Alaska and the Yukon. These books come from dealers across the globe, as well as Dee’s many travels. The shop’s two back rooms host a general used book collection and are, as she says, “a true snapshot of Juneau.” With no roads in or out of the city, these books reflect the interests of the city’s locals.

In true American style, Dee supports the U.S. Postal Service and says she depends on it to run her business.  In addition to Internet sales and shipping, tourists will often ask her to mail their books home for convenience. It’s also common for customers to ask for gift cards for friends and relatives, and every time—no matter if they live in Juneau or across the US—Dee will ship the receiver a gift card through the Postal Service. And occasionally, someone who wandered into her shop will call back about one of the shop’s books or maps after deciding “they can’t live without it.”

Dee really appreciates having a post office nearby and also relies heavily on her local postal employees. When she first opened her shop in Juneau in 1992, her mail carrier, Scott was invaluable in making her feel at home. Observatory Books and the surrounding shops viewed Scott as integral part of the community and an asset to Juneau.

And Dee knows her current letter carrier, Conrad, so well that some days he even stops her as she walks down the street to hand her special deliveries. She loves that he never hesitates to bring packages all the way inside—especially when it rains. Living in a small town of 32,000, Dee does not own a car and relies on the Postal Service to get her packages all the way to her front door.

We’re glad that since 1977, the Postal Service has helped support this Alaskan small business. As Dee says, “Why would I want to use anyone else?”

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