While more homebound these days, reading is a perfect pastime and a less-screentime activity, and buying books from an indie bookstore helps the small shop.
I am reading more these days. Yes, because I am home more, but also because I am writing and trying to get my picture book manuscripts published. Reading picture books teaches me to write better. And I miss spending time in bookstores, browsing, dreaming, reading, and buying new books.
But there are great options for me to get my hands and eyes on more books while staying safe.
Waco Library Curbside
Waco McLennan County Library has a curbside service. This service has been such a blessing. I reserve my books online, call them, and they check the books out to me, and I drive and pick them up. I appreciate my library.
Bookstore Curbside
Many small shops have curbside pickup but buying books online is much easier. Click. Pay. Receive. And if you’re using the big guy, you can get it quickly in prime time.
But that doesn’t help indie bookstores like Fabled Bookshop and Café, in Waco.
Indie bookstores are hurting like all small shops and restaurants across America.
I believe indie bookstores are the heart of the community, especially when they are also a coffee shop (or serve wine!). You can find a nook and tuck away with a book. And you can enjoy a beverage of choice with a friend. You can also buy wonderful bookish gifts, and you can buy your next great read.
Bookstores and libraries smell like my childhood.
When I walk in, I am lifted. Transformed into a dreamy book wonderland.
Buying Books Online
But if you are being safe and staying home, you aren’t getting the feels of a bookstore. And you are probably buying your books online.
What if you could buy your books online and help your favorite indie bookstore?
Well, you can! Meet Bookshop.com!
Bookshop.com is an online bookstore that has a mission to support local, independent bookstores financially. And is a perfect option to help small bookshops, get your books online, and not use the prime guy.
While on their website, you search the specific local bookstore, like Fabled, to support. After you purchase your books, the book shop receives the entire profit off your order. Full profit!
If you don’t pick a specific indie bookstore, your order will go into an earnings pool that distributes evenly among independent bookstores across America.
Per the website, “By design, we give away over 75% of our profit margin to stores, publications, authors and others who make up the thriving, inspirational culture around books!”
“We hope that Bookshop can help strengthen the fragile ecosystem and margins around bookselling and keep local bookstores an integral part of our culture and communities.
Bookshop is a benefit corporation—a corporation dedicated to the public good.”
And Bookshop has raised almost $13,000,000 to date for local bookstores.
So, the next time you want a new book and don’t want to go into a store, click Bookshop instead. Help the indie bookstores, help Fabled Bookstore, help the small shop, and keep Waco strong! And keep reading!
