Wasn’t it Hamlet who said,”Get thee to an independent bookery, why wouldst thou be a breeder of large big-box bookstores at the expense of the local community?”
Well, today’s the day! Internation Buy Indie Day!
International. No matter where you are, please find an independently owned bookstore and show them some love!
If you’re in the US, you can visit the IndieBound website to find a store near you, or place an online or telephone order through one of their members.
You can folow the action on Twitter with the #buyindie hashtag, and visit the Facebook page dedicated to the effort.
I enjoyed my Buy Indie excursion this morning – walked into town after preschool drop off, and picked up The Elegance of the Hedgehog (Muriel Barbery) for myself and a gift certificate for, well, a gift! I was a bit disappointed to find the bookseller I spoke to didn’t know about the Buy Indie effort 
What are you doing to support Buy Indie today?
How could an Indie bookstore not know about Indie Day? That’s criminal.
Good book choice by the way
If I have time after cleaning the house (ugh) I may stop by Urban Think for an impulsive purchase. I’m not holding my breath, though. I can’t seem to get off the phone or stay away from the computer.
Ti – I think my jaw dropped. It’s on the home page of IndieBound. I love the fact that we have a local store, and they have some nice author events, but they need to reach out more – newsletter, book groups, twitter, facebook … maybe they’ll hire me as marketing director!
Sandy – you definitely deserve a break from housework!!
Our nearest Indie store, according the finder, is 30 miles away, which is too far for today. I’m going to Columbus tomorrow, so may save my book-buying for then.
Dawn,
Did you visit any Indie stores in CNY? I like the Colgate University bookstore, but the one in our town closed a few years ago. Oh, and Border’s must know about this since they sent me a 40% off coupon in my e-mail today!
I just got back from our indie store and they didn’t know it was Buy Indie Day either. I came out with 4 books, though!
Since we are still in northern California we are heading for our favorite store in Sebastopol. I was also going to mention that all the big chains (BN, Borders, Amazon, and Abe Books) all sent multiple emails this week with juicy, hard-to-resist coupons. Ah well, it’s all about books.
Carol – I hope you get some goodies for yourself, whenever you go!
JoAnn – you know, I don’t know of any indie bookstores that were in the Onondaga Hill area; I think there *was* one in Skaneateles, I wonder if it’s still there. Um, now I’ll admit that I usually put the baby(ies) in the car and strolled around Carousel Center and visited Borders … (*hanging head*)
Kathy – what better way to show them what it’s all about, by purchasing some books. Your titles look great!
Margot – I know where you’re heading! You and JoAnn both mentioned the coupons; the connection didn’t strike me until you pointed it out.
I feel I supported the Indies enough last weekend when I dropped over a hundred dollars on their books. I would have to order online to buy indie today since I don’t have a local store, and that doesn’t really support my local economy does it?
Having said that…..hope you enjoy your book! That’s one I bought last weekend!
Dawn, do you know if that store is part of Indie Bound? Not all bookstores are. And if they are, that’s pretty scary (and I think the Indie Bound folks should know if their outreach and promotions aren’t reaching their base….). That said, I’ve been wanting to buy that book, we keep referencing the cover in cover meetings, it’s so great.
Great initiative. BUT if my local bookstore had not closed a few years ago, and if it had been open on a Saturday afternoon, there would still not have been any books on the shelves for me. 10 bestsellers at best, plus stationary and gift articles.
Don´t know about other countries, but in Denmark the local shops have lost to the cities & the online sellers.
Amy – and how exciting for you to be shopping at the Vroman’s tent at Festival of Books! Great memories when you see those books.
Jennifer – Yes, they’re part of IndieBound; it has been around a long time (1940?). It’s great to have this resource in town, but I don’t know how they’re managing – they really need a marketing push (like a website other than the IndieBound “shell”, email newsletter, book groups, children’s story time). They have good author events, support local schools with fundraisers, and offer window display space to local community organizations … BUT it’s not bringing in enough shoppers. There are a lot of shelves with single books placed cover out (to take up more space, instead of shelving spine out). I’m really concerned for their future. No one from the store will be attending BEA, but I’m hoping some ideas will bubble up, re: bloggers and bookstores working together.
Back to your point, I don’t know how “Buy Indie” was promoted to member stores, but it has been on the front page of their consumer website for at least a week.
Yes, the HEDGEHOG cover is memorable!
Dorte – No Saturday afternoon hours??! That’s prime shopping time! They “roll up the sidewalks” in our town at 6pm. There are 2 restaurants in the town center that have evening hours, but no retail.
I purchased two books, Maisie Dobbs and Sherlock Holmes in America, online from Aaron’s Books in Lititz, PA. I was intending to go to my local indie, but wasn’t feeling well so I’m saving that trip for early next week.
I feel bad but there are no Indie bookstores within reasonable driving distance from my house. If it isn’t the traffic, it is dealing with crazy downtown Seattle parking (I live in the burbs) or even a ferry ride of an hour and a charge of over $40 to take my car on the ferry. I will live vicariously through you all. What is up with the Indie stores not even knowing it was Indie day?
*smiles*
Kim
Ruth – have you ever been to the store you ordered from? How nice that you were able to place an online order (hope you’re feeling better!!)
Kim – Wow! It’s not easy to shop where you are, is it? I’m sure being away from hustle and bustle has it’s advantages, too
There are some indie stores north of us…that I recently found online, so I will have to check them out later on when I have time and money to buy books..though if the hubby doesn’t object.
I really snorted reading this “Wasn’t it Hamlet who said,”Get thee to an independent bookery, why wouldst thou be a breeder of large big-box bookstores at the expense of the local community?”
I’ve heard that The Elegance of the Hedgehog is a great book, so congrats on the great book score! I can’t wait to read your review.