Bound to Stay Bound marks milestone with open house on Saturday, June 7
By Ben Cox
In 1978, the third generation of the Sibert family joined Bound to Stay Bound Books — Robert “Bob” L. Sibert. He was born and raised in Jacksonville and graduated from Augustana College, then later obtained his MBA from Columbia Business School. He eventually succeeded his father, Robert F. Sibert, and became president of the business in 1992. Bob Sibert lives in Jacksonville with his wife, Karen. They have two children, Laura and David.
Sibert says that he initially thought he would go another way than the family business after majoring in political science and economics at Augustana College. After a brief internship and graduate school, though, Sibert says the small, family owned and operated company became more of an appeal to him. Sibert also got to see how big city life and corporate life can be a stark contrast to life in a small town in the Midwest; Sibert previously said in interviews that he heard the shot that killed John Lennon in New York City while he was attending school.
Now, Sibert is nearing 50 years at the company’s helm, while maintaining its massive customer base in the face of today’s digital age.
After learning firsthand from his father and grandfather, Sibert says the changes of digital technology have brought several big changes to the book world. “It seems that computers have changed things and expanded opportunities and other things over time. The biggest threat to books were eBooks,” Sibert mentions, but he says that having a physical book in the education world is still better than a digital copy.
As far as changes in the industry, he says that in the family-oriented atmosphere at Bound to Stay Bound, it has always been a mission to remain transparent: “Just try to make sure everybody knows everybody and make sure everybody knows what’s going on.”
To simplify it all, Sibert says it’s about getting their product in the hands of people to show them the difference in durability and quality: “I think the thing is just making people … to know the difference between it, [a book from Bound to Stay Bound Books] and a regular book. It’s a hard job communicating that to people.”
He says even after all these years, people in Jacksonville are not aware of the amount and type of work that Bound to Stay Bound Books performs on a day-to-day basis. Sibert adds, “Kind of a mysterious building … big, orange brick building out on the main drag, the huge lawn … and they don’t know what goes on here, but a lot of curiosity.”
Sibert is glad the company has remained in Jacksonville, even through all of the changes in the book industry and the ebb and flow of Jacksonville’s industry sector. “You’ve got to be willing to change with the times, which is hard. Change is hard,” Sibert says, pointing to the company’s longevity and noting that flexibility and innovation continue to sustain the business’s profit model.
He says it’s also about taking care of your employees. “Since we know all of our employees live and work in Jacksonville and do stuff locally, we try to improve the community for their purpose, for their benefit,” he shares.
Sibert mentions their community involvement with Jacksonville Public Library, Jacksonville School District 117, Illinois College and the Bob Freesen YMCA, as examples. The involvement in the community has also trickled down to several staff members.
Sibert hopes the long-time work within the community plus the curiosity about what Bound to Stay Bound Books does will bring people to the company’s 105th anniversary Open House on Saturday, June 7. Tours will be available at the event so the public can find out what exactly BTSB does.
