I am a BIG fan of books, and naturally, bookstores and libraries as well. And so this delightful post over at Tara Lazar’s blog about Save the Bookstore 2012 caught my eye. And immediately, I knew two things.
Thing One, I needed to dash over to the Facebook page so that I could join with Kelly Sonnack and nearly 2,000 other folks in this noble cause. So I clicked on the Join button, and now I just need to decide which bookstore I shall take my business to on June 16th. I’d like to save an indie bookstore in my own little corner of the world, but I’m afraid that ship has sailed. (Or the indie bookstores have all closed their doors, to skip the metaphor.)
I live in a HUGE county in the metro Atlanta area, and though we have a ton of brick and mortar bookstores, they are all of the chain variety. Nothing wrong with that. Except chain bookstores tend to be too big to support your medium-to-small author events. I suppose a chain bookstore might throw a big booksigning party or two–but I’ve yet to see one.
And the chain bookstores are a tad impersonal. I go to the same insert-chain-bookstore-name-here about twice a month, and rarely see the same people working there. So there are no customer relationships beyond, “Have a nice day.”
But there are a couple swell indie bookstores in counties on either side of me–and I desperately want them to not just stay open, but to thrive! So I’m thinking a drive to one of them on Save the Bookstore Day, June 16th, might be the perfect way to celebrate.
So…hold on a sec. I had two things, didn’t I? Oh! And Thing Two, I needed to spread the word about Save the Bookstore Day.
And I just did.
Cathy C. Hall Writes 
I am certainly in and will spread the word. I’ll buy a book at Eastline Books, Clifton Park, NY.
Yay, Peggy! I think it’d be fun if everyone who’s “in” takes a picture and posts it on Saturday. What do you think?
The idea of going to an independent bookstore on the 16th…I love it.
The idea of getting my picture taken while I’m doing it? I don’t like that idea so much. (I’m part of the cellulite witness protection program…Sorry.)
Thanks for the heads-up, Cathy. I will go to one of my non-chainy bookstores to get my next book club book–The Thirteenth Tale.
Wonderful, Sioux! And P.S. You need a Sioux-on-a-Stick. A pic on a stick is mighty handy for photo ops. 😉
Well I plan to go to Little Shop of Stories in Decatur. Hey, want to meet there and have them take our pictures? Bring Dave and we can go to lunch as well!
Gail
PS In fact, invite others to come with us!
I might end up there, Gail–I was thinking about driving over to Hall’s Bookstore in Gainseville and visiting a relative there (in Gainesville, the people at the bookstore are no relation)–but I’ll have to see where the Beneficent Mr. Hall wants to go. 😉
I’ll be visiting family that day, but will try and find an independent bookstore to support. And I’ll take my picture. AND I’ll pass the word along to other book lovers I know. 🙂
Good, old Deb! (And when I say “old” you know I mean “but MUCH younger than me.”)
I love browsing through bookstores! All the books with their crisp pages and shiny covers on display throughout the store for me to meander through, finding unsought treasures and new books by old favorite authors…it’s a little slice of heaven! When our local Borders closed, I was crushed. We don’t have any independent bookstores nearby, but I can get myself to the closest book store on June 16, even if it is a chain. At this point, I’ll take what I can get! Browsing on the internet is just not the same. Thanks for passing this along!
Oh, I am SO there with you, Muddy! My Borders closed, too, and I hated to see them go. They had a couple staff who’d been there forever–felt like old friends.
And no, browsing on the internet is not the same. Not the same at all.
Cathy, many of our big book stores in St. Louis are closing. I do book signings at an indie. We little people (not that I am so little) can make a difference by supporting them.
Thanks for the info, Cathy! I was wondering why I was seeing so many posts about bookstores. I’ll make it a point to visit our local Avid Reader on June 16! We still have some wonderful indie and used bookstores around here, thank goodness. I don’t know what I’d do without brick & mortar bookstores. That’s where I find the best treasures.
Linda, amen to that, sister! 🙂
And Suzanne, so right about the treasures. *Almost* makes me want to leave GA to see your wonderful indie! 😉