Bookstores as Civic Centers

“Bookstores As Civic Centers”, By Kathy O. Brozek Spring 2023 – https://ssir.org/ Stanford Social Innovation Review

The indie bookstore movement believes the future of bookstores lies in their ability to serve as thriving community spaces.

“IIDEO partners and brothers David and Tom Kelley (below) lead a book event at Kepler’s Books. (Photo courtesy of Kepler’s Books)

The past couple of decades have been a roller coaster for the book industry…

Despite this tumult, indie bookstores have proven to be resilient. Incredibly, a critical mass of indie bookstore owners found the challenges of thinning margins and online purchasing not insurmountable, and their efforts, scattered as they were, kept the sector alive. In fact, indies have increased in number—from approximately 1,650 in 2009 to 2,500 in 2022, according to Publishers Weekly.

A small group of advocates acted on their commitment to the indies and convened a two-day digital conference in October 2021 called Reimagining Bookstores. This event, with the expertise of Future Search Network cofounder Sandra Janoff, helped to coalesce the movement’s vision and stakeholders. The organizers anticipated 200 participants—however, more than 600 registered and 350 attended.

“Reimagining Bookstores is a movement for strengthening communities, deepening literacy, and paying living wages,” says Praveen Madan, conference co-convener.

The conference brought together attendees in an open-space digital format where participants suggested several topics and met in breakout groups for discussion. “Meeting with bookstore owners from the conference each month to discuss marketing best practices has been a big benefit,” says Brad Jones, co-owner of BookSmart. “Gaining knowledge from owners of bookstore co-ops, a structure that we’re considering, has helped us think about our future.”

The philanthropic arm of the Emerson Collective is currently working with a portfolio of 12 indie bookstores—the first step of its three-part bookstore agenda—which will expand to 24 in 2023. These indies will receive a multiyear grant and capacity-building services, plus access to online group mentoring sessions. And bookstore advocate and impact investor John Valpey is providing financial and operational advice pro bono and offers reduced- and no-interest loans with flexible terms to seven indie bookstores located in the New England region.

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