What Do You Love About Independent Bookshops?
I wanted to know what my book-loving friends thought of independent bookshops, so I asked them the following question:
* I think Anderson's Bookshop is the heart of Naperville. The booksellers care about the community and its readers. -Me
*The employees are able to converse about books. -Donna Kouri
*The people remember me and my reading life. -Valerie Stein
*Love that independent bookshops are community centers where they want to find right books for you same as we do in the library. - Lynne Peredina
*I love everything. The atmosphere, the rare finds, the customer service. Just great places to shop." -Jonathan Thornton
*They get lots of great authors and illustrators to come and talk and sign books.They go all out for author events. Yes, like covering everything with yarn when Mac and John came promoting Extra Yarn. -Kathy Ellen Davis
*They stock interesting titles that the chains won't take a chance on. New discoveries await with every visit. -Alison Hewett
*They stock interesting titles that the chains won't take a chance on. New discoveries await with every visit. -Alison Hewett
* I like they are a local business in my community.I like that you can get to know them, and them you. - Allison Jackson
*I've been to Anderson's Bookshop 456 times in the past two years. The number of times I've had a negative experience? ZERO. -Me
*I've been to Anderson's Bookshop 456 times in the past two years. The number of times I've had a negative experience? ZERO. -Me
*That they know what books are popular with kids & librarians, and they don't give you a blank stare when you ask for a book. - Terry Shay
*My local indie knows my name, where I work, what my readers like. They tip me off to new releases, author visits, hot book news. -Gregory
*That they are run by readers who know the books they sell, recognize quality, and deftly match readers to books. That they create a climate welcoming to usually unwelcome children and teenagers. -Heidi Rees
*I love the feeling of wanting to read that comes over me everytime I enter a real book store. Every cover says "pick me up." -Alison Hewett
*I like that you get a discount on your birthday and on theirs! I like that they are open on New Years Day & everything is 25% off" - Alison Jackson
*Indie=> store owners KNOW their books & customers. Perfect matches! Finding RIGHT book is more important than quick sale!" -Fran McVeigh
*Not being subjected to formulaic customer service responses or marketing material that presumes staff don't read & can't help.-Reid W
*I love the small coziness and that people there recognize me when I come in. I love the area of new books I can count on. -Kelly Mueller
*You get to know a community by visiting its independent bookshops. - Me
*That they will consider ways to be connected with my classroom. - David Theune
* I love all the amazing authors they bring in and the sense of community. Always happy to support local#indie shops! I also love that each #indie I step into has it's own character. They are all unique and sometimes quirky in their own way. -Jen Vincent
*That I can sell back my old books, then buy new ones for my classroom! - Shannon Houghton
* Friendly, personalized, knowledgeable staff - Nancy Kalush
* I like that the employees at my Indie bookstore know about books and can recommend them. -Donalyn Miller
*The coziness and smaller environment. Nothing in the world besides the focus right there. - Ian Coon
*I want to read inside indie stores--the@KingsEnglish 's feels homey and comfortable. It's the ideal reading spot. I can take the time to "speed date" many titles to find the right one & not feel judged. Indie bookstores understand bookworms. - Megan Van Deventer
*I love that my indie stocks a huge range of titles--not only whatever is new & hot, but also books that are timeless. - Tamara Jaimes
* I love independent bookshops because real readers help curate my selections. - Mary J. Johnson
*I love that they know my name, where I work, and know their books. I can trust their recommendations. I also love that they are often finding ways to help authors visit my small school for free.- Brian Wyzlic
*Are you having a bad day? Visit an independent bookshop. It is the perfect cure. -Me
* I love that independent bookshops are knowledgeable about their books and get to know me as a reader. - Katherine Sokolowski
* I love how they use an index card to mark the last copy and know when it is time to order more. -Amy Duncan
*My indie bookstore feels like part of my family. They know and get books and they know me too." -Alyson Beecher
*Nothing smells better than an independent bookshop. -Me
*My indie hosts TeenBookCon and provides authors/books for school visits! I love that my indie is knowledgable and passionate about YA and encouraging children/teens to read.Love@BlueWillowBooks! - Jennifer Fountain
*Each independent bookshop is unique. - Donna Kouri
*It's easy to buy online then have book arrive and it doesn't fit collection etc. Real bookstores stop me making mistakes. - Alison Hewett
*They are usually family owned and passionate about getting every reader the right book. They support and care about community. -Lynne White
*I love how enthusiastic and knowledgeable they are about books! They have been so helpful to me as a new author--inviting me to storytimes and selling my book at school/community events. (So lucky to have so many awesome indies in Seattle area!) - Brianna Caplan Sayres
*I love that I can talk to people that work in an independent bookshop and they share the same passion for books. -Niki Barnes
*Each one smells uniquely of paper and the owner's cologne. I love that. - Amy Gaskin
* i can't tell you how much i appreciate that Mysterious Galaxy Books supports local authors and brings community of book lovers together! -Cindy Pon
*The Bookery (building dates back to 1700's) is our indie in El Paso. It has a HUGE children's collection. Enough said! - Sandra Delgado
* I never fail to get lost in my independent book store: lost in books, in conversation, or just wandering through the shelves. -Debbie Alvarez
*#FaceInABook has brought our community together through books and author events. Also--our public library is tucked away up on a hill. The Indie is on a popular street so even reluctant readers are drawn in. - Erin Dealey
*We love Kids and Prose because it stocks such great choices and staff is amazing. -Zoonbean Mom
*Rainbow Books has been behind the scenes of every literacy event in my town supporting authors, illustrators, and readers of all ages. University professors sometimes hold classes in their store to expose students to the best in kids' books. Rainbow Books feels like home. -Julee Murphy
*They know me, what I read, what I need to read. They bring authors to my school library and they have become my friends. - Melanie Scales
*As a former Indie owner, I am a huge supporter of our bookstores around the world. I have several hundred photos of my favorite bookstores...in big cities and small towns. Indies are places of happiness and discovery. Their bookmarks line my library shelves at home. Lewis Buzbee's book The Yellow Lighted Bookshop sums up so much of how I feel as a reader and a book lover. -Louise Borden
*I held my launch at my indie, Bryan Prince Bookseller last summer and they were (and continue to be) so supportive and gracious. I was there just yesterday, ordering a book that comes out this week and I look forward to the phone call telling me to pop in because it arrived. The people are friendly and knowledge and know exactly who I am. The store is a pillar of my neighborhood and even though Bryan himself has retired, the store and its new owners (long time employees) carry on his legacy by being an integral part of the community in which I live. -Joanne Levy
* I love indie bookstores. They have personality. They have a FEEL to them. That feeling is one of the reasons I love books. -Adam Lehrhapt
*No matter where I am, when I enter an indie bookstore it's as if I'm home; all my senses come alive in anticipation. -Margie Myers-Culver
*Here's hoping indie bookshops stay with us forever. I will always support my locals :)@Woozlesbooks - Meghan Marentette
*I mentioned a few weeks ago how cool my indie store was because I could run into people like Marla Frazee and Lisa Yee. - Alyson Beecher
*Teresa Rolfe Kravin believes in independent bookshops.
*Books sing sweeter in an Indie. -Ame Dyckman
Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.
*I like that you get a discount on your birthday and on theirs! I like that they are open on New Years Day & everything is 25% off" - Alison Jackson
*Indie=> store owners KNOW their books & customers. Perfect matches! Finding RIGHT book is more important than quick sale!" -Fran McVeigh
*Not being subjected to formulaic customer service responses or marketing material that presumes staff don't read & can't help.-Reid W
*I love the small coziness and that people there recognize me when I come in. I love the area of new books I can count on. -Kelly Mueller
*You get to know a community by visiting its independent bookshops. - Me
*That they will consider ways to be connected with my classroom. - David Theune
* I love all the amazing authors they bring in and the sense of community. Always happy to support local
*That I can sell back my old books, then buy new ones for my classroom! - Shannon Houghton
* Friendly, personalized, knowledgeable staff - Nancy Kalush
* I like that the employees at my Indie bookstore know about books and can recommend them. -Donalyn Miller
*The coziness and smaller environment. Nothing in the world besides the focus right there. - Ian Coon
*I want to read inside indie stores--the
*I love that my indie stocks a huge range of titles--not only whatever is new & hot, but also books that are timeless. - Tamara Jaimes
* I love independent bookshops because real readers help curate my selections. - Mary J. Johnson
*I love that they know my name, where I work, and know their books. I can trust their recommendations. I also love that they are often finding ways to help authors visit my small school for free.- Brian Wyzlic
*Are you having a bad day? Visit an independent bookshop. It is the perfect cure. -Me
* I love that independent bookshops are knowledgeable about their books and get to know me as a reader. - Katherine Sokolowski
* I love how they use an index card to mark the last copy and know when it is time to order more. -Amy Duncan
*My indie bookstore feels like part of my family. They know and get books and they know me too." -Alyson Beecher
*Nothing smells better than an independent bookshop. -Me
*My indie hosts TeenBookCon and provides authors/books for school visits! I love that my indie is knowledgable and passionate about YA and encouraging children/teens to read.Love
*Each independent bookshop is unique. - Donna Kouri
*It's easy to buy online then have book arrive and it doesn't fit collection etc. Real bookstores stop me making mistakes. - Alison Hewett
*They are usually family owned and passionate about getting every reader the right book. They support and care about community. -Lynne White
*I love how enthusiastic and knowledgeable they are about books! They have been so helpful to me as a new author--inviting me to storytimes and selling my book at school/community events. (So lucky to have so many awesome indies in Seattle area!) - Brianna Caplan Sayres
*I love that I can talk to people that work in an independent bookshop and they share the same passion for books. -Niki Barnes
*Each one smells uniquely of paper and the owner's cologne. I love that. - Amy Gaskin
* i can't tell you how much i appreciate that Mysterious Galaxy Books supports local authors and brings community of book lovers together! -Cindy Pon
*The Bookery (building dates back to 1700's) is our indie in El Paso. It has a HUGE children's collection. Enough said! - Sandra Delgado
* I never fail to get lost in my independent book store: lost in books, in conversation, or just wandering through the shelves. -Debbie Alvarez
*#FaceInABook has brought our community together through books and author events. Also--our public library is tucked away up on a hill. The Indie is on a popular street so even reluctant readers are drawn in. - Erin Dealey
*We love Kids and Prose because it stocks such great choices and staff is amazing. -Zoonbean Mom
*Rainbow Books has been behind the scenes of every literacy event in my town supporting authors, illustrators, and readers of all ages. University professors sometimes hold classes in their store to expose students to the best in kids' books. Rainbow Books feels like home. -Julee Murphy
*They know me, what I read, what I need to read. They bring authors to my school library and they have become my friends. - Melanie Scales
*As a former Indie owner, I am a huge supporter of our bookstores around the world. I have several hundred photos of my favorite bookstores...in big cities and small towns. Indies are places of happiness and discovery. Their bookmarks line my library shelves at home. Lewis Buzbee's book The Yellow Lighted Bookshop sums up so much of how I feel as a reader and a book lover. -Louise Borden
*I held my launch at my indie, Bryan Prince Bookseller last summer and they were (and continue to be) so supportive and gracious. I was there just yesterday, ordering a book that comes out this week and I look forward to the phone call telling me to pop in because it arrived. The people are friendly and knowledge and know exactly who I am. The store is a pillar of my neighborhood and even though Bryan himself has retired, the store and its new owners (long time employees) carry on his legacy by being an integral part of the community in which I live. -Joanne Levy
* I love indie bookstores. They have personality. They have a FEEL to them. That feeling is one of the reasons I love books. -Adam Lehrhapt
*No matter where I am, when I enter an indie bookstore it's as if I'm home; all my senses come alive in anticipation. -Margie Myers-Culver
*Here's hoping indie bookshops stay with us forever. I will always support my locals :)
*I mentioned a few weeks ago how cool my indie store was because I could run into people like Marla Frazee and Lisa Yee. - Alyson Beecher
*Teresa Rolfe Kravin believes in independent bookshops.
*Books sing sweeter in an Indie. -Ame Dyckman
Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.
I loved reading these, Mr. Schu! I share in everyone's excitement and appreciation for indie bookshops. I look for them everywhere I go!
ReplyDeleteWonderful responses. Rainbow Books has been behind the scenes of every literacy event in my town supporting authors, illustrators and readers all of all ages. University professors sometimes hold classes in their store to expose student to the best in kids books. Rainbow Books feels like home.
ReplyDeleteWonderful responses. Rainbow Books has been behind the scenes of every literacy event in my town supporting authors, illustrators and readers all of all ages. University professors sometimes hold classes in their store to expose student to the best in kids books. Rainbow Books feels like home.
ReplyDeleteLove this. I held my launch at my indie, Bryan Prince Bookseller (http://princebooks.net/) last summer and they were (and continue to be) so supportive and gracious. I was there just yesterday, ordering a book that comes out this week and I look forward to the phone call telling me to pop in because it arrived. The people there are friendly and knowledgeable and know exactly who I am. The store is a pillar of my neighborhood and even though Bryan himself has retired, the store and its new owners (long time employees) carry on his legacy by being an integral part of the community in which I live.
ReplyDeleteAs a former Indie owner, I am a huge supporter of our bookstores around the world. I have several hundred photos of my favorite bookstores. . . In big cities and small towns. Indies are places of happiness and discovery. Their bookmarks line my library shelves at home. Lewis Buzbee's book THE YELLOW LIGHTED BOOKSHOP sums up so much of how I feel as a reader and a book lover. Thanks for this terrific post Mr. Schu!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I enter an indie, I know I'm with kindred spirits. I've worked in an indie in my hometown, a college co-op, the flagship Barnes and Noble and another defunct chain. I knew my hometown customers--which one would buy 18 copies of a book she loved so she could share with her grandchildren, which one had exactly $3 a week to spend on paperback science fiction. Now I'm mostly an online indie customer, because the closest indie is at least 35 minutes away. It's not nearly the same, but I believe in supporting indies!
ReplyDeleteI am sad to say that I guess I've never been to an independent book store. The closest book store to me is 45 miles away-Books A Million. Now after reading this post I see that the same city has an indie book store. Sweet. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for that link-now I think I'll put it on my bucket list for the summer. To travel and visit and support at least 5 of the closest indie book stores!!!
Shannon
http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com
I always feel like a bit of a loser when the talk of supporting independent bookshops comes up. Before I joined Twitter I never really spent any time thinking about the importance of supporting indies over places like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
ReplyDeleteI am getting better now. I purchased 100ish Jennifer Holm books from the small indie where I live when Jenni visited my school in the fall.
The indie that in the small town that I live, is very very small. They do not really stay up to date like I would need them to do to support my book purchasing. I'm thinking that I should just have the sweet lady that runs the shop order me books that I want to purchase for my classroom.
With Amazon buying Goodreads and from reading this post I know that I need to do a better job supporting my local indie. I promise to only buy books from Amazon and Barnes and Noble when my students give me gift cards to those two stores. I will do a better job of purchasing books from Books and More in Albion, MI where I live.
On a side note, my wife and I are working to do a better job of supporting independent shops. In 2013 our entire Christmas budget will be spent at independent stores.
Thanks for the great post Mr. Schu, and thank you to everyone in the post that has helped me make a shift to doing a better job of supporting my indie.
I love that the children's book purchaser at my local has asked ME to recommend books she should order. It is hard not having easy access to English books overseas, but I am doing whatever I can to solve that. Our school librarian orders some books through independents too, which is great!Do any of you know how to find independent book stores outside of the US?'
ReplyDeleteI love reading. It is in my veins. I can't go without a novel in my hand. You can say that I'm addicted to reading fictional stories. But not just fictional, I prefer reading books on spirituality also. It is very good for improving the self.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Henry Jordan