Across my news feed it crept, a Facebook post from Indie Bound, supporter and advocate of locally-owned book shops. It was a request for us, even in the fast-paced digital worlds of today, to look around, seek out and spend with area independents first.
It was a message of solidarity, reminding us how very different of an experience the "the little guys" still offer, and how much they need our support to remain a part of our lives. Indie Bound certainly makes excellent points, because if you've ever felt time stand still as you became lost in shelves of books, or shuffled through stacks of paperbacks and massive hardcovers stacked high, you know how magical these visits can be.
Such stores are usually staffed by friendly and knowledgeable owners or long-time employees, who share recommendations and mysteriously seem to be to hunt down just the title you were looking for. The personalized service that you will enjoy is generally far superior to what you may find in a chain location, and it's absolutely, incomparable to the lifeless and stale process of ordering online.
There is however, another great opportunity found inside these shops, one which can be shared and enjoyed with your children; the chance to unplug from technology and instead embrace the stories and places and characters found between the covers of a great book. Instead of watching your young ones scroll endlessly through social media post, grab the opportunity to demonstrate what makes this store so much more fascinating. Take a trip around the world with old illustrations and vintage pictures; point out the elaborate style and architectural detail found in so many tiny places tucked away on city streets and in downtown neighborhoods. Meet the proprietor and explain the connections fostered by a business who values the people who walk through the doors each day. Such interactions and conversations can have a lasting impact on young folks who just might find themselves not really missing the chirps and dings from cyberspace.
Whatever your reason might be, I hope you'll set aside time to get lost in an independent bookstore this week.
community advocate • marketing consultant • voice for small business
classic car lover • salt life • believer that "together we accomplish more"
