Celebrate Independent Book Stores
Did you know that Independent Book Store Day falls on the last Saturday in April every year? It was started by a writer, copywriter and editor along with the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association. It’s goal is to spotlight the potential of indie booksellers and, of course, promote their sales.
The celebration has grown nationally and is promoted by the American Booksellers Association. Merchandise is produced for the celebration, and individual stores plan their own events to celebrate.
Here are some fun facts about independent book stores:
They have fared better than expected since 2009 when Borders closed hundreds of stores across the country!
Like the new interest in farmers markets & all things local, interest in independent bookstores has grown in recent years.
They are gathering places, event spaces—not just places to buy books.
They are like community centers run by passionate readers. Aimless perusal in an indie bookstore is time well spent.
They may only be a niche business, but they offer shopping and social experiences that can’t be found on-line.
They provide attention to the quirky needs of their customer base.
In a world of tweets and algorithms and digital downloads, bookstores exist – they are not a dying anachronism.
The oldest known bookstore in the world still in operation is located in Lisbon, Portugal. Livraria Bertrand opened in 1732. And our personal favorite book store – Barnes and Noble on Fifth Avenue – was originally opened in New York City in 1886 as an independent.
Bookstores are places of connection and community, and Independent Book Store day is the perfect day to celebrate them. You can locate an independent book store near you by going to http://www.indiebound.org/indie-store-finder. See what type of celebration they are planning.
But support of them shouldn’t stop there. There are two ways to support independent bookstores in your community throughout the year.
First is Indiebound: https://www.indiebound.org/. Enter a zip code, and it directs you to a local indie bookstore. From there you can either make an online purchase then visit the store to pick it up.
Second is Bookshop.org. Order a book on their site, they ship it, and donate a percentage of the proceeds to independent book stores. https://bookshop.org/. If you are looking for an alternative to Amazon, this may be your answer.
Remember, when you shop at small businesses, you help your community, the environment, and the local economy.