Mike and Ruth Raubertas opened Four Seasons Books at 116 W. German Street in 1991 after searching carefully to find the perfect place for such an endeavor. Shepherdstown proved to not only possess the perfect location, but it also hosted the perfect local population—and a college to boot.
Kendra Adkins was a student at that college (Shepherd University these days) in 1994 when she spotted a help-wanted sign in the window and walked in to ask about a job that would quickly become her career—a vocation that has allowed her to shape minds young, old, and in between by promoting the power of reading, idea exchange, and the shared human experience.
At a time when print reading, and thus bookstores, struggle to find firm footing within a new era, Four Seasons is doing just fine. Adkins, the shop’s full-time manager, originally planned to become a high school English teacher, and sees Four Seasons as an extension of that original plan to teach. She also thinks she knows exactly why the store is bucking modern print trends.
In 2002, Adkins’ daughter was born, prompting Mike (Raubertas) to joke that she took a ten-year maternity leave. But after returning to Four Seasons in 2012, Adkins assumed her full-time role, and set out to continue enhancing the experience, value, and purpose of this small-town treasure.
Four Seasons is highly involved with Shepherd University through book events, as well, and also works closely with the Appalachian Writer-In-Residence Program. But one of the key initiatives Adkins has always pursued is the community’s youth (an additional campaign steadily maintained by Adkins is Read Aloud West Virginia—placing volunteer community readers in local schools to read to young people).
Boasting vibrant and popular offerings throughout the store—from fiction, non-fiction, mystery/thriller, and science fiction/fantasy to history, biography, memoir, young adult, cooking/gardening, poetry, and much more—it’s still hard not to notice the impressive advocacy efforts Four Seasons has pursued to instill the value of reading in children. The entire back two rooms of the store basically comprise a magical wonderland for young readers.
Fortunately for the community at large, Four Seasons Books takes a special interest in just about every aspect of the human relationship with knowledge and idea exchange.
“One of the benefits of an independent bookstore is the personal relationships you establish with the members of your community,” says Adkins. “I believe that Four Seasons wouldn’t be nearly as successful as it is without those relationships. And I’m not sure I’d be able to do what I do, to the capacity that I do it here, in any other community. The shop speaks for itself—book people know what a gem this store is. Places like this are few and far between now. We have deep connections with the people that live here.
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