How independent bookstores can be a pillar of the community and a way to make responsible economic decisions, and why we should keep using them.
In the world that we live in, there is so much choice—everything from your breakfast to your phone to the shoes you wear. For every decision, there are countless options. The same goes for books.
More authors are publishing their work than ever before, as self-publishing becomes increasingly accessible. This means more books of every genre are available, waiting to be chosen by readers all over the world. And with so many places to buy them—online or in-store—where should you shop?
With Independent Bookstore Day celebrated annually in the last week of April—falling this year on April 26, 2025—it’s the perfect time to turn to a timeless option: independent bookstores.
Here’s why.
Where You Spend Your Money Matters
You might have heard it said before, but it really is true. Where you spend your money matters in a lot of ways.
If you choose to spend your money at a small, local independent bookstore, you’re supporting a business that reinvests in the local economy. By paying their employees, renting storefronts, purchasing supplies, and paying taxes, small independent bookstores contribute to the community in ways that larger corporations simply don’t.
When you buy books from a multi-million-dollar company like Amazon or Barnes & Noble, you’re simply adding more pennies to already overflowing pockets.
These corporations do not reinvest in the local economy unless they have a factory or warehouse nearby. Even then, the wages they pay won’t match the overall contribution of a local bookstore!
There are a few local bookstores across the world that are trying to bring attention to this, and to the benefit that they have over these massive multi-million-dollar corporations, like Salted Books Lisbon, which started using these bags for their books.
For a More Diverse Selection
Local bookstores are generally run by people who live in the area and understand the local community. This gives them an advantage, allowing them to curate a stock of books that suits local interests and readers.
Often, this means that they’ll have a much more diverse selection of books. They might carry works by authors from a variety of unique backgrounds and feature many local and independently published writers. But you’re almost guaranteed to find titles in an independent bookstore that won’t be on display at your local chain.
To Get a More Personalized Approach
When you visit any bookstore, the booksellers should be able to offer you help and advice, just like any store. However, at an independent bookstore, you’ll often find that the people running it are there because they genuinely love books and stories. As a result, they tend to have extensive knowledge of the books they carry.
Not only that, but independent bookstores carefully handpick their stock, operate with smaller teams, and have fewer books than larger stores. Because of this, the staff often know the store like the back of their hand and can provide personal recommendations rather than relying solely on a book’s blurb or genre.
This is great for people who don’t know what they want to read next, or for people who are trying to get into reading. It’s also just a nicer experience than what can often be a cold, quick checkout in a chain store.
To Build and Be Part of a Community
Many independent bookstores offer additional amenities like coffee shops or seating areas. They also frequently host community events, such as Drag Story Time or children’s reading sessions. These are great ways to meet new people in your community and are a real lifeline for those who are looking to communicate and make friends.
By supporting independent bookstores, you are also supporting these events and the people who make them happen, which in turn means you’re investing in your local community. On the other hand, by buying online from a chain or a big store, you’re just supporting the millionaire who owns it.
In today’s world, community has never been more important. Getting to know your neighbors and supporting one another, even in small ways, like choosing to shop locally and independently, can make a huge difference. By choosing to shop at an independent bookstore, you could be the reason someone keeps their job. You could even be the reason someone meets their future partner at the next event, all because that bookstore was able to stay open.
To Preserve Real-Life Stores
A lot of book buying and selling now happens online, as is the case with many other products. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with a bookstore having a website, some large chain websites can afford to undercut prices, making them cheaper and more appealing, and beating out competitors. This makes it harder for independent stores to sell their diverse and unique selections online.
By keeping physical bookstores alive, not only are you making sure that authors and booksellers are earning a decent wage, but you’re helping to keep a part of culture alive. Book culture and physical media matter. Independent bookstores are a huge part of the former, and they deserve our support and appreciation!
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Millie Ramm
Millie has been writing since she was a child, and has spent more time with her nose in books than anywhere else. She has been ghostwriting novels and editing for the past few years, and when not working she is curled up with her cats, looking for her next read.
