Independent Bookstore Day will take place on on Saturday May 2, 2015 at more than 400 bookstores nationwide. It celebrates the reading community and bricks-and-mortar bookstores.
For one day, and one day only, a number of very limited, unique, word-based items and books will be available in more than 400 independent stores across the country. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill signed first editions—these are literature-based art projects, unique books, and collector’s items created for this event only. You can’t get them before. You can’t get them after. And you can’t get them online.
IBD is produced by The Northern California Independent Booksellers Association with support from the American Booksellers Association and Penguin Random House. Pete Mulvihill, co-owner of Green Apple Books in San Francisco, spearheaded the event after noting the success of Record Store Day.
Large and small publishers from New York to California have agreed to work with their authors and designers to create books and items specifically for Bookstore Day.
The Pacific Northwest is full of great things to do on Independent Bookstore Day! 17 bookstores in the Seattle area have banded together for Seattle Bookstore Day, complete with a passport and grand prize. Here’s just a sampling:
Rediscovered Books, Boise, ID: Authors throughout the day, and kick-off to the store’s Bookstore Bonds fundraising for their expansion this July.
Book People of Moscow, Moscow, ID: Author visits and storytime. The day kicks off with free donuts for the first dozen customers (opening at 9:30) and wraps up with a beer tasting (5:00).
The Duck Store Eugene, OR: Crafts, storytime, writers’ workshop, author reception 10:00- 5:00
Annie Bloom’s Books, Portland, OR: Prizes, scavenger hunt, and an all-day party with treats, plus book-themed crafts and storytimes with neighbor The Craft Factory from 9:00- 1:00.
Broadway Books, Portland, OR: Prize drawings, 25% off all hardcover fiction in stock, cupcakes, live music.
Watermark Books, Anacortes, WA: Free Roz Chast tote bag with purchase of $75 and customer appreciation treats.
Edmonds Bookshop, Edmonds, WA: Free literary temporary tattoos (while they last!), author appearances, and partipation in the #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Parkplace Books, Kirkland, WA: Author events throughout the day and partipation in the #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Liberty Bay Books, Poulsbo, WA: Hourly prize drawings, author visits, and store Mad Libs all day, and live music from 6:00- 8:00. Liberty Bay is partipating in the #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Book Larder, Seattle, WA: Cookbook tasting samples, free Book Larder tea towel with $20 purchase (while supplies last) and participation in #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Elliott Bay Books, Seattle, WA: Love advice from local authors, prize drawings, and more, plus participation in the #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Fantagraphics, Seattle, WA: Indie Bookstore Day is also Free Comic Book Day! Participating in #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Island Books, Mercer Island, WA: Scavenger hunt, Wheel of Fun and Fortune with $50 purchase, share your story by typing on a vintage typewriter, games, Mad Libs, PJ storytime, and participation in #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Open Books, Seattle, WA: Free book from sale rack with purchase; participation in #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Phinney Books, Seattle, WA: Extended hours (9:00- 9:00!), rotating discounts, workshops like kids’ storytelling, make your own book, and design your own Glittersweet case (reservations are required for the Glittersweet workshop– email [email protected] to check availability), and more! Phinney is also participating in the #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Queen Anne Book Company, Seattle, WA: Hourly prize drawings, treats, 20% off all books with the word BOOK in the title, kids pick a prize from the Treasure Chest, and participation in #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Secret Garden Books, Seattle, WA: Twitter contest for using #SEAbookstoreday and @SecretGardenBks, contribute to the quote wall, meet community organizations, storytime, and kids’ scavenger hunts. Participating in #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park and Ravenna/Seattle, WA: Scavenger hunts, storytime, community book swaps and more, plus participation in #SEAbookstoreday passport program.
Many more stores are participating! Call or visit your favorite stores online or in person to plan your Independent Bookstore Day celebration. You can also follow news about Independent Bookstore Day around the country through facebook and twitter.
Check out this indie-honoring blog post from our good friend Craig Popelars of Algonquin Books.
http://algonquin.com/blog/bookmarking-indie-bookstore-day/