Never Made It as a Librarian, Still Made It as a Book Dealer

2 days ago

3 min read

Written by Tephanie Hopper, Owner of Colorful Chapters Bookstore

As a teenager, during my junior and senior years, I worked at the Geneva High School Library. I loved reading books and simply being around them. I loved the smell and feel of turning pages and the promise of new adventures in each book. Although it was part of my high school curriculum, it felt like a real job. It was during my first period, and I made sure I wasn't late for school because I had a job to do: let people check out books and sometimes give them a good talking-to if they returned the books late. Working in the library also felt prestigious. Only a handful of students got this great assignment. I pictured myself becoming a librarian when I grew up, with glasses and all, even though I didn't need them until recently, but that's a whole other story.

You’ve guessed by now that I didn’t become a librarian. Let me tell you why: during one of my monthly meetings with the librarian, while I was a senior and preparing for my ACT, I shared my dream of becoming a librarian. I thought she would be elated. I looked up to her because she had a kind of Southern regalness: so well dressed, polished, and mild-mannered. But she told me I wasn't cut out to be a librarian because I talked too loudly and talked too much. I was devastated. My dreams disappeared instantly, and what I wanted to pursue as a career vanished in a moment. Though my dream of becoming a librarian faded that day, my love and joy for books and community never left me.

Years later, I joined the Army and later became a federal employee, but I kept reading and led several book clubs. When I was recently on administrative leave from my federal job, my husband encouraged me to pursue my dreams, not my exact dream, but to start a bookstore. That encouragement was the catalyst:

I started a bookstore, but not just any bookstore, a pop-up bookstore with a mission to empower communities through books that celebrate diverse cultures and experiences. We sell books for Black and Brown people, as well as libros en Español. We strive to inspire the joy of reading while fostering a welcoming environment that promotes cultural exchange and community engagement.

Admittedly, being a bookstore owner isn't just about reading books; it is about curating the right books and bookish items for our community. I also curate experiences for our community, popping up in coffee shops, breweries, and events throughout El Paso and Las Cruces. It is not the money that drives me because unless you are - I am not going to share the name, but y'all know what I am talking' about- it is not a get-rich type of business.

What truly drives me is the representation, making sure Black, Brown, and Spanish - speaking voices are centered on our shelves and that our histories and stories are honored.

In our community, we want to increase not just reading but reading comprehension because reading the words is just the beginning; we need to be able to comprehend what we are reading. On national reading tests, only 28% of Texas fourth graders and 25% of eighth graders scored at or above proficiency in the testing round, according to the NAEP Reading Assessment 2024, 2024.

In Texas, statewide adult literacy studies estimate that roughly 19% of adults lack basic literacy skills (Literacy Facts, 2025), and historical metrics show that El Paso has lower adult literacy and larger educational attainment gaps than large metro peers (Educational Attainment in El Paso, Texas, n.d.).

Despite the challenges, every time I see someone’s eyes light up when they open a book, my heart flutters a bit, and I know we are sharing the joy of reading with one person, one community at a time.