Darielle Linehan of the charming Ivy Bookshop in north Baltimore, is putting the business up for sale, so she can spend more time with her family. Here's an excerpt from her email (the rest is below): "After much thought and consideration, I have decided to retire in early 2012 and I wanted you as a loyal and valued customer to be among the first to know of this future change. This was an exceedingly difficult decision to make and came as a result of my wanting to spend more time with my family. Beyond personal considerations, I have also become convinced that our business would benefit greatly from new leadership with the requisite new ideas, attitudes and skill sets to better position our business for the future."

We've all heard about the pressures on the bookstore business -- witness the liquidation sale going at Borders stores nationwide, or the closing of Baltimore's Daedalus store. Still, some have been able to survive, as the venerable Politics and Prose in Washington found new buyers this year. The Ivy had an active program of author readings -- pictured here, Paula Butturini signs copies of "Keeping the Feast" in February. But as Linehan hints, the Ivy may have suffered from the lack of an online presence -- something that seems unimaginable these days.

Let's wish her luck in finding a buyer for the store.

Here's the rest of her email: "If you know anyone who might be interested in this great opportunity, please have them get in touch with me by phone at the Ivy or by email. I shall welcome any inquiries.

"I also wish to thank you for your incredible support and loyalty over the past ten years. Please know that it has meant so much to me personally as it has to all the Ivy staff. We have succeeded because you have been so constant in your support, not only making purchases but by giving us suggestions on what books to bring in to expand our collection of carefully chosen titles. Indeed, certain sections have been greatly enhanced because of these recommendations. In addition, we have always been fine-tuned to your special orders, knowing that these also deserved our attention and review for possible inclusion in our inventory. We thank you for this collaboration-it has been invaluable to us. It has been a privilege to serve you."