This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Alexandrea Ciardella. Find her on Instagram at @a6ysma1. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
If you love reading like I do, you know how important independent bookstores are. In the last decade, independent bookstores have been making a steady return to popularity. However, with big companies like Amazon and Barnes & Noble as their competition, independent bookstores still struggle to stay afloat. There is much more you can do to support your local bookstore besides buying books. Everybody needs to do their part. Here’s a brief history of, and how to support independent bookstores.
The most obvious and easiest way to support your local independent bookstores is to buy books from them! It’s their main source of revenue and likely the reason why you’re at the store in the first place. Supporting bookstores through purchases of books and other products like buttons, stickers, or bookmarks allows stores to stay open. Don’t worry if a bookstore isn’t carrying what you’re looking for; most stores are happy to order a book for you. Want to research some stores local to you but don’t know where to start? Check out IndieBound to find a bookstore in your area.
If you can’t make it to the store in person or don’t have time to browse, most bookstores have an online catalog to look through. And if a store near you doesn’t have a website, or you physically cannot travel to the store, try Bookshop! Bookshop is an online bookstore that donates most of their profits to local independent bookstores! When you select a book, you can choose from a list of their partners to donate their proceeds to. After comparing the prices on their website versus Amazon’s, most of the books match prices, with a few exceptions. Think of it as an ethical Amazon!
If you have a favorite local bookstore you want to support, engage with them on social media! Follow their accounts, like posts, and comment to show them that they are seen and heard. More engagement from you might also help spread their popularity to others. Social media is also a great way to be alerted to any events your local bookstore might be hosting.
It’s funny, but independent bookstores can technically thank Amazon for their resurgence. Ever since the 1960s, big chain bookstores have been threatening independent locations. With the convenience that came along with it, chain stores became the go-to. Sites like Amazon in the 2000s provided even more convenience to the book consumer, allowing them to make a purchase from their computer. However, because of Amazon’s sudden popularity, it forced physical chain stores to downsize; more customers online meant fewer customers in stores. This then led to the number of independent bookstores to increase in the early 2010s. So in a way, Amazon has helped with the resurgence of independent bookstores, even though sometimes they are viewed as enemies!
Did you learn how to support independent bookstores? Let us know in the comments below!
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