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In an exploration of Ann Arbor\u2019s robust and diverse literary scene, The Michigan Daily\u2019s Business beat spoke with seven downtown bookstores. Each article in \u2018The literary culture of downtown Ann Arbor\u2019 project aims to capture each store\u2019s unique offerings and contribution to the community. Read the other articles here.<\/em><\/p>\n In the heart of Kerrytown lies a bookstore that sells rare and used books with an emphasis on history books<\/a>: Motte & Bailey Booksellers<\/a>. Among the bookstores<\/a> in Ann Arbor, Motte & Bailey is one of the oldest, opened more than two decades ago by bookseller and former University of Michigan librarian Gene Alloway<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stepping into the bookstore, the space opens up to a massive collection of books aligned with posters, figurines and decorations, capturing Alloway\u2019s unique admiration for history. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Alloway said the store\u2019s decor themes serve as an aesthetic feature and functions as a directory for the different subjects.<\/p>\n \u201cI tell people that bookstores are half museums, half libraries and half retail,\u201d Alloway said. \u201cSo part of it is just entertainment, giving somebody something to look at. There\u2019s an English poster over there and underneath that it\u2019s (a pile of books on) England. It\u2019s just helpful to point out when people are looking for stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n