Since we’ve had more then our share of cloudy and foggy days this summer, Islesboro’s newest business, Artisan Books & Bindery, has benefited from visitors looking for something to read while waiting for the weather to improve.

The shop is located in the Dark Harbor Village Marketplace, one door down from the Dark Harbor Shop, behind The Bee’s Knees. Artisan’s proprietor, Craig Olson, opened the bookstore as a complement to his existing bindery business, which is located behind his Dark Harbor house.

His purchase of a private book collection last winter consisting of over 600 volumes prompted Olson to open Artisan Books in mid-July.

Olson specializes in rare and used books, and will build or buy private libraries. He’s frequently called on to do on-line book searches and book selling for clients. His areas of special interest are architecture, decorative arts, biographies and American history.

His store also offers handmade journals, address books, blank books and bookmarks of leather and cloth.

In his bindery, Olson creates one-of-a-kind slipcovers for books, elegant custom-made boxes for books and jewelry, and he repairs and resews antique or damaged books. Redoing family scrapbooks is a favorite activity at the bindery and Olson has just finished reattaching and designing several old scrapbooks from one of the island’s summer families.

Olson, his wife, Melissa, and their children, Eva Marie, Olivia and Isabelle, moved to Islesboro in December of 2001. Previously, Olson had been the Chief Operations Officer at Kelmscott Farm, overseeing its educational programming concerning rare breed animals and sustainable agricultural practices. He also worked for Camden bookbinder Andrew Eddy at his Elan Bindery.

After growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm, Olson earned an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and a master’s degree in Museum Studies at Cooperstown, NY. He has worked in various museum settings in Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa. His love of artifacts and rare antiquities led him eventually into the bindery business, preserving rare and cherished books.

The idea of moving to Islesboro occurred to the Olson family after a July weekend ferry ride to the island. They were impressed by the island community’s friendliness, its welcoming sign promising “educational excellence” and the island’s natural beauty. They kept in touch, and when an affordable house became available to purchase, they didn’t hesitate. Since then, they haven’t regretted their move.

Besides the island community and school, the Olsons are thankful they’re able to make a living and remain on the island. Both Craig and Melissa are active members of many community groups, including the Democratic committee, planning board, IIT board, water monitoring committee and recreation committee. Melissa, who also has a master’s degree in Museum Studies, is on the preschool board and is the island’s Adult Education Director.

As a recently arrived young family, the Olsons are always trying to think of new ways to attract other young families to Islesboro. Olson believes that the availability of high speed Internet access would be a good addition to the island and would make it possible for more people to work from the island. However, the Olsons’ main concern is the lack of affordable housing for families who want to relocate to Islesboro. They believe if there were more affordable houses available to purchase, or rent year-round, more young families would consider making the move to Islesboro and bringing vitality and commitment to the community.

To contact Craig at Artisan Books & Bindery, call 734-6852, or go to www.abebooks.com/home/artisan84 or artisan@midcoast.com.