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NOVEMBER 8, 2023
McNally Jackson Brings the Joy of Reading to Coterie
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“We read,” said author C.S. Lewis, “to know that we are not alone.” The wonderful thing about a good book is that it provides both an engaging personal reading experience and the opportunity to share that experience with others. Reading fosters empathy, education, and connection, and perhaps no bookseller has embodied these values more than McNally Jackson.
Since its opening in 2004, McNally Jackson has been a standout in the world of booksellers and a mainstay of the New York literary scene, offering a peerless collection of titles and hosting a variety of readings, lectures, and book club meetings. At a time when eBooks and online shopping have forced many brick-and-mortar bookstores to close, McNally Jackson is thriving.
Harvard professor Ryan Raffaelli attributes the success of independent bookstores like McNally Jackson to their commitment to maintaining an authentic connection with their customers. In a working paper published in 2020, Raffaelli sums up their winning formula as “the three Cs”: convening, curation, and community.
In partnering with McNally Jackson, Coterie luxury senior living brings the benefits of all three Cs to its residents.
To convene, readers want to come together in a welcoming space that invites long periods of contemplation. Coterie’s Cathedral Hill community features a spacious yet intimate library with cheerful lighting and a cozy fireplace – a place where residents can settle in with a good book while the minutes slip into hours. Coterie’s Hudson Yards community provides a reading area with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves as well as a number of comfy reading chairs spread throughout the atelier and common areas.
But an exceptional library requires exceptional curators. When stocking their stores, McNally Jackson takes special care to prioritize their customers’ interests and preferences, asking them about their favorite books and recent reading experiences. By building strong, lasting relationships with their customers, McNally Jackson can provide informed recommendations for a wide variety of reading tastes.
This same philosophy guides the company’s curation of Coterie’s libraries. At both communities, more than 800 exceptional titles have been hand-selected to bring the very best of new fiction, classic literature, and hidden gems to the hands of readers. The book collections represent a wide range of topics, including history, science, nature, and the arts.
At Coterie’s Cathedral Hill community, there’s a monthly book club meeting in the library, where residents share their thoughts on the month’s selection over tea and cookies. McNally Jackson’s curator takes feedback and suggestions from residents in deciding on what book club options to suggest next. Recent book club titles include A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles, and The Wind Knows My Name, by Isabel Allende.
“Our residents love the original selections curated by McNally Jackson,” says Karen Frakes, Resident Engagement Specialist at Coterie Cathedral Hill. “The books are always thoughtfully chosen with our residents’ interests in mind.”
Coterie understands that reading only becomes more important as we age. In addition to the pleasures offered by a good book, reading on a regular basis is an essential component to lifelong learning. Studies show that seniors who continue to expand their intellectual horizons can minimize cognitive decline, improve memory, and reduce feelings of depression.
One of the many benefits of luxury senior living is having the time to pursue one’s interests and passions. Through its partnership with McNally Jackson, Coterie enables residents to experience the joy of reading while engaging with a vibrant community of fellow book lovers.
Coterie operates a portfolio of luxury senior living communities spanning the East and West Coasts. Please note that the services, partnerships, and amenities mentioned in this article may vary by location.