You can buy books — including ours — at lots of places, both online and in the brick-and-mortar world. Perhaps it’s time to shop local, shop smaller, and purchase your reading materials at an independent bookstore.
When did Independent Bookstore Day begin?
The first nationally celebrated Indie Bookstore Day was held in 2015, the brainchild of Samantha Schoech, a writer and editor affiliated with the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association. In that first year, 400 stores participated, and it’s only grown from there.
What is Independent Bookstore Day about?
The idea behind the commemoration is to shine a spotlight on small, independently-owned, non-chain bookstores — quirky, unique, excellent-service providing bookstores that are pillars of the community, create community, and connect readers with books. Indie Bookstore Day also intends to boost business for those stores by encouraging people to buy their books from such places. It’s also just a celebration of traditional print media as the world continues to move in a digital, screen-based direction.
How do I observe Independent Bookstore Day?
Certainly the easiest and most obvious way to acknowledge Independent Bookstore Day on Independent Bookstore Day is to head to an indie bookstore and give them your business — buy your books there. And if you’re going, bring a friend or two. And while you’re there, ask your bookseller about taking the local-and-indie thing to the next level — inquire about local authors, and support them by purchasing a book written or published by one.
It’s also supportive of these wonderful book wonderlands to share the news on social media. When you buy your books at an indie bookstore on Independent Bookstore Day, post a pic of them on Instagram or Twitter, and use hashtags like #bookstoreday or #indiebookstoreday or #independentbookstoreday. Don’t forget to tag your literary minded friends, too.
While you’re on your phone, set a reminder to honor Independent Bookstore Day next year — April 30, 2023.