The last Saturday in April, April 27 this year, is Indie Bookstore Day! Not only is it a wonderful day for you to support any independent bookstore you happen to be near, but it's when this traveling bookstore sets up at King's English Bookstore in Salt Lake City. Two independent bookstores next to each other that weekend will give you twice the pleasure of perusing shelves! I started thinking about it today even though April is still a ways off, because of the value of independent bookstores. A new large chain bookstore opened in a town near where I live. People are excited because there is a huge building filled with books - and what's not to like about books? But what about the small, non-chain bookstores that have been in that town for years? The ones that donate to local nonprofits? The ones that do special orders for you? The ones who have staff willing to seriously talk with you about books? Thinking about this, I remembered Danny Caine (Raven Bookstore) and his letter to Jeff Besos.
Another thing about independent bookstores is their careful consideration of which books to offer. I really could fill pages and pages with bookstores I've visited that have incredible selections. They don't carry as many books as the big box stores, but their selections let you see the thought the owners put in when deciding which books to carry. Broadway Books in Portland, OR comes to mind as does Mahogany Books in Washington DC, Librairie les Insolites in Tangier, The Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore, Bonner's Books in Bonners Ferry, ID. Not only do these bookstores and so many others like them have owners who carefully decide which books to carry, not as an economic decision (which books will sell the quickest), they want to offer you quality reads. Which books do they enjoy reading that they want to share with you.
And then there are conversations! Because independent bookstores usually have individuals working there who like books. They want to talk with you about what they've been reading, and really listen to you as you tell them about your latest read or trip or community concern. Conversations happen in bookstores and that is wonderful. In Casablanca, I had the good fortune to discover Librairie Les Carrefour des Livres and Mariam. There was so much to discuss my first time in that bookstore, I went back again a few days later. Our conversations were about books (Moroccan authors and books in translation), politics, travel, social justice and art. I learned a lot and I bought a few books.
I assume if you are reading this that you appreciate the value of independent bookstores. Perhaps the next time you go to one of you own favorite bookstores, you can take a friend or two along. Share that joy of wandering through the aisles in a place that does more than simply try to sell you things, a place that offers you ideas, conversations, new ways of seeing. Thank you.
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