Celebrating Independent Bookstore Day!

This week in North Philly Notes, we honor the independent bookstores that support Temple University Press. Please visit them on April 27 for Independent Bookstore Day!

Harriet’s Bookshop, 258 E. Girard Avenue in Philadelphia, PA, celebrates women authors, women artists, and women activists.
While you’re there, grab a copy of BLAM! Black Lives Always Mattered.

Headhouse Books, 619 South 2nd Street, in Philadelphia, PA, was founded in 2005 on the belief that no community is complete without the inspiration and exchange of ideas that only a locally-owned, independent bookstore can provide.
Shop there for Jim Murphy’s Real Philly History, Real Fast.

Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books, 5445 Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia, PA, offers Cool People. Dope Books. Great Coffee.
Swing by to get Amy Jane Cohen’s Black History in the Philadelphia Landscape.

Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane, Mt. Airy Village in Philadelphia, PA, has a full selection of thousands of titles—and take advantage of their booksellers’ decades of experience to discover what your next great read might be.
Stop by and buy Beth Kephart’s My Life in Paper.

The Doylestown Bookshop, 16 South Main Street in Doylestown, PA, is a locally owned and operated bookstore dedicated to preserving the heritage and traditions of independent bookstore ideals. 
Pick up Rebecca Yamin’s Digging in the City of Brotherly Love.

Towne Book Center and Cafe, 220 Plaza Drive, Suite B-3, in Collegeville, PA, has been serving the greater Trappe & Collegeville area for almost 30 years.
Go there to get a Ray Didinger’s One Last Read.

Words Matter Bookstore, 52 South Broadway, in Pitman, NJ, is your local portal to the Universe!
Visit and ask for Bob Angelo’s The NFL Off-Camera.

Celebrating Independent Bookstore Day

This week in North Philly Notes, Temple University Press celebrates Independent Bookstore Day, Saturday, April 28.  Join the Party! Visit one of these participating area bookstores:

• Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane, Mt. Airy Village, Philadelphia
• Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S. Main Street, Doylestown, PA
• Main Point Books, 116 N. Wayne Ave, Wayne, PA
• Open Book Bookstore, 7900 High School Road, Elkins Park, PA
• Towne Book Center & Cafe, 220 Plaza Drive, Suite B-3, Collegeville, PA

What is Independent Bookstore Day?

Independent Bookstore Day is a one-day national party that takes place at indie bookstores across the country on the last Saturday in April.  Every store is unique and independent, and every party is different. But in addition to authors, live music, cupcakes, scavenger hunts, kids events, art tables, readings, barbecues, contests, and other fun stuff, there are exclusive books and literary items that you can only get on that day. Not before. Not after. Not online.

Why are we celebrating independent bookstores?

Independent bookstores are not just stores, they’re community centers and local anchors run by passionate readers. They are entire universes of ideas that contain the possibility of real serendipity. They are lively performance spaces and quiet places where aimless perusal is a day well spent.

In a world of tweets and algorithms and pageless digital downloads, bookstores are not a dying anachronism.  They are living, breathing organisms that continue to grow and expand. In fact, there are more of them this year than there were last year. And they are at your service.