MEET DANIELLE FROM SHELF LIFE

One thing that keeps Danielle Sawat up at night is all the books in the world she wants to read but knows she can’t finish in one lifetime. 

Danielle is the founder, owner, and sole employee of Shelf Life, a used bookstore on Front Street, and our National Reading Month #FinditintheFalls feature! 

Shelf Life’s mission is to connect the community with low-cost books to promote literacy and a life-long love of reading. Most books are under $1 (except those by local authors) and were donated, traded, or purchased from suppliers. 

Through Shelf Life, Danielle serves the Cuyahoga Falls community by raising awareness about local resources and causes close to her heart. She's quick to donate free book coupons and even has a system where you can pay it forward and give a free book to a future visitor! Shelf Life often raises money for local nonprofits by raffling off new book sets. This month's fundraiser is for Bright Star Books; an Akron nonprofit focused on increasing ownership of books for limited-resource children. 

THE BEGINNING

About 10 years ago, she started collecting books out of a desire to grow her personal collection. It began as a fun hobby and evolved into a desire to preserve a bit of paper history in an increasingly digital world. Her store, which opened in June 2021, was born out of an extensive collection she purchased from an estate sale. 

Realizing she couldn't keep all of these books in her home, she made a post on Facebook that received an outpouring of interest. "I was driving around town to meet buyers to deliver their books...After a while, I realized I needed additional book storage and a place to meet buyers. That's when I started looking and found a space on Front Street."  

WHAT TO EXPECT AT SHELF LIFE

Shelf Life is located on Front Street, in a building shared by Magna Wine and several other businesses. It's quietly tucked away on the bottom floor of the building. (If you have trouble locating it, Danielle's created a helpful step-by-step guide on her Facebook page.) Once you descend the stairs and turn the corner, you’ll find carefully organized and decorated shelves surrounded by rustic stone walls. Between two cozy reading chairs, a picture of her favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut, hangs over an electric fireplace.  

FAVORITE BOOKS

A devoted reader, Danielle believes the best books will "unzip your soul" and stick with you long after you turn the last page.

Although Vonnegut is Danielle's favorite author, she's not quite halfway through his works. But she's not in a rush to finish, "I'm on the Vonnegut train for life." 

For this feature, she chose his book "Cat's Cradle". She describes it as "a mix of sci-fi and spirituality that helps you look at humanity in a new way." 

Her second choice was "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. This title is a widely acclaimed fictional picture of the Vietnam War informed by the novelist's own experiences. She describes it as "incredibly engrossing," and she was "astonished that someone could write so poetically about war while remaining authentic." 

CONTACT

To find the next book for your collection, or to simply talk about books with a kindred spirit, connect with Danielle and Shelf Life online or in person. 

Facebook & Instagram: @ShelfLifeBookstore 

Address & Directions: 2115 Front Street Suite L, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

For directions, see the pinned post on her Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/ShelfLifeBookstore