Our Owners

Dale Szczeblowski is a highly respected book professional, has thirty years of book buying and managing experience, including seventeen at a large independent bookstore in Concord, MA. He has served on the Booksellers Advisory Council of the American Booksellers Association and as Vice President of the New England Booksellers Association. "My first bookstore job was in Portsmouth, NH, in 1978 -a job that helped pay the rent while I tried to make a living playing music. What I loved from that very first job is what I still love about working in a bookstore: it's a place where your curiosity is never satisfied, where what surrounds you can inspire, humor, and thrill you, and where you can travel to different places and experience different ways of seeing the world."

Carol Stoltz has 13 years of experience working primarily with children's books. She has been an active participant in the New England Children's Bookseller's Association, has regularly attended the Simmons College Summer Institute for Children's Literature and is on the national board of the Association of Booksellers for Children. Apart from buying children's books for the store and managing the children's department, she has worked to make connections with the public libraries and schools in Cambridge and Somerville. In addition, she has worked with local public and private schools to supply a custom selection of books for their book fairs. "There was nothing in my professional background to suggest that this is what I would do when I grew up. I have a graduate degree in experimental psychology! And it was during a hiatus in grad school that I found myself reading children's classics. Why didn't I pay attention? It wasn't until many years later that I got into the business that I feel is truly my calling. I love discovering new kids' books and sharing my enthusiasm with all who will listen: kids, customers, booksellers, postal workers. . ." 

As one of the managers, Jane Dawson's responsibility is to make sure when the doors open at Porter Square Books all is ready. She does the hiring and scheduling of the staff. We look for highly motivated and independent minded people who are voracious readers and enjoy sharing their enthusiasm for reading with others. Jane always says we are not shy about sharing our opinions with customers. She has worked in Human Resources for many years, from high tech, to other independent book stores to opening here at PSB. Another of her responsibilities is buying the gift cards and small gift items. She believes life is so busy it is nice for customers to finish their errand with a card and have the present wrapped. Also, it's fun to surprise customers with unusual items you would not expect to find in a bookstore. She loves seeing customers smiling while browsing the cards and getting excited about finding just the perfect little gift for a friend or family. "Fifteen years ago I fulfilled a lifelong dream to work in a bookstore. Now, I get to manage a wonderful group of characters who all love books and work in a community that values and understands what it means to have an independent bookstore in their neighborhood." 

Jane Jacobs is a refugee from corporate America. After 30 years in a Fortune 500 company, with the last 10 years in international marketing, she figured it was time to leave and pursue a lifetime interest--books! For the past 7 years she has worked with Managing Director Dale Szczeblowski, Children's Dept. Manager and Buyer Carol Stoltz, and Personnel Manager Jane Dawson to develop the best bookstore in the suburbs west of Boston. Now she's happy to pursue the same in the city! "Since the age of four I've not so much read books as absorbed and been absorbed by them. Being a buyer in a bookstore has made me feel much like Br'er Rabbit in the briar patch. Being an owner as well is an indescribable pleasure!"