About the owner

Books provide an escape and passion for many. Take it from Jen Murvin, an English professor and avid writer, books are something that are very important to people, especially her. We know bookstores like Barnes and Noble, but chain stores like these lack intimacy, uniqueness and indie book options. For Murvin, Missouri State English professor, writer, avid reader, and book lover, the vibes and culture of a bookshop are important parts of the shopping experience. 

Murvin has been a professor at Missouri State University since 2009. Teaching English is something that allows her to share her passions of literature and writing with her students and coworkers. Shannon Wooden, a fellow professor at Missouri State says that Murvin is insanely brilliant. “On top of being kind and a great colleague, she has a wealth of knowledge. Of all the professors I have had in my life, which is a lot, Murvin is in the top five” Wooden explains.

“I took one of her courses while on sabbatical,” says Wooden, “just to learn from my colleague and become a better English professor myself. I was blown away by the knowledge and resources Murvin had to offer to her students. Not only was the class engaging, informative, and beneficial for the students, it amazed me that Murvin has this wealth of knowledge from her extensive list of reads. Her memory is incredible. Any information or topic you are looking for, Murvin has a recommendation for you.”

Where it started

After traveling and seeing different unique local bookstores, like Left Bank Books in St.Louis Missouri, she decided to take her passion for literacy and shopping local to the next level. Pagination Bookshop opened in April of 2019. But before their grand opening, a lot of love and support went into bringing Jen Murvin’s dream to fruition. 

A house on historic Walnut Street, a small two story home with character and charm seemed to be the right place to start. Reaching her mid thirties, Murvin says she “wanted a space that was hers; something new that fit with her passions of reading, writing, english, and small businesses. I have been surrounded with literature my whole life.” Calling back to her favorite bookshop in her home town of Manhattan Beach California called Pages, Murvin remembers the inspirational women-owned bookstores made the possibility of owning her own even more attainable and appealing. “After talking with my partner and those closest to me, I decided it was time to open a bookshop of my own,” says Murvin.

She moved forward securing the house at 1150 E Walnut Street. “With the house being built in 1896,” Murvin explains, “there was a lot to be done to renovate and bring the house up to commercial code. Nine months of renovation later, Pagination opened its doors in April of 2019.”

Continued success

Customers love the opportunity to shop small and find indie books in the charming atmosphere that Pagination has to offer. Local shoppers like Salma Lewis say the small, homey feel paired with the large variety of genres, including children’s books, make for a great place to shop. Lewis is a college student in Springfield from a town a few hours away. After moving to Springfield, Pagination Bookshop became one of her favorite small businesses to support. Lewis says “the small town feel Pagination brings is unique to Springfield and offers a comfortable atmosphere to shop for my favorite reads. There is also a great selection of children’s books, which makes for a great variety for all ages.”

With their four year anniversary of opening coming up, Pagination is a unique and thriving small business in Springfield Missouri. Jen Murvin is not only a successful professor and small business owner, she has fulfilled her dream of owning an indie bookshop like the ones she has grown up loving and continues to love all over the country. Pagination is a loving and working relationship, as Murvin says, that continues to prove to be a labor of love worth all of the hard work.