I love books. This can be obvious if you walk inside my house and look at the thousands of books that are arranged in my room. The smell of paper with black words inked into the paper permeates my room alongside its natural vanilla scent because I have about 200 books on the bookshelves and 10 on each of my nightstands. Many people can catch me looking at my beloved one-year old Kindle that holds about twenty of my current reads. However, this summer, I impulsively bought about 30 to 40 books from numerous bookstores and I offer these facts as credentials as to why I am an expert on books and bookstores. 

              I am often seen at franchises such as Books A Million or Barnes and Noble instead of indie bookstores, but I am a senior who wishes to go to a big city where indie bookstores frequent nearly every corner. So, I am here to explain why indie bookstores are better for the community and why large franchises can harm people more than help. I can only offer my condolences to the indie book store community and promise to be a steadfast patron in the future because I am a perpetrator of the Big Bookstore Franchise cycle that causes so many issues for small bookstore owners. 

1. Independent bookstores are commonly known as “indie bookstores” by many book lovers. These local businesses can also translate into small businesses, meaning individual people own these bookstores. When you visit an indie store instead of a chain store, you directly put money into the owners’ pockets and stimulate their economy. According to American Express, “about 67 cents stays in the local community versus 45 cents when spending at a big box store…” which means that when you spend money at indie bookstores, you are stimulating the local economy and helping the individuals who own these businesses (Tyler Martin at American Express). 
2. You should also refrain from buying books from Amazon sellers or online versions of more extensive franchises due to the carbon footprint that they leave. The heavy packaging and transportation costs, including oil, are only digging deeper. I completely understand the desire to buy about five books from Amazon with the free shipping and the much cheaper prices, but understand that even you, an individual person, have an impact when thinking about the carbon footprint. When you buy from indie bookstores, you will reduce your carbon footprint while shopping in-store. These stores often offer many perks, such as free in-store pick-up, which means that all you have to do is stop in, send a quick smile to other patrons, pick your favorite book, and head out. It can even cause you to have a fun day and make the most of a day surrounded by local businesses. You could walk to the bookstore, grab the book, stop at your favorite local coffee shop (sorry, Starbucks), and then walk home while listening to your favorite fall playlist. 
3. Let me dive deeper into the issue of Amazon when concerning local bookstores. 

                Amazon has so much revenue from so many other items that people buy, which means they do not rely on selling books at a reasonably high price because they do not need the book profits to survive. However, indie bookstores must sell books at a higher price to actually make a profit. The ease of buying cheap books on Amazon clouds the buyer’s mind that a hardback book should be $15 max. At the same time, if an indie bookstore sells those books at the same price, they would make less than a dollar per book and close due to bankruptcy in less than a week (Twitter thread from Raven Bookstore). This highlights the impact of individual purchases on the survival of indie bookstores, making you, the reader, feel empowered and responsible for the future of these local businesses. 

              All in all, indie bookstores have been overshadowed by Amazon, Books-a-Million, and Barnes and Noble. The pandemic forced these franchises to become extremely popular and lucrative while hurting local bookstores offering the same book types. Now, with the use of TikTok and Instagram, these franchises are still in the limelight. At the same time, indie bookstores are often underrepresented because they cannot afford to sell their books at lower prices. The little town of Dover does not offer a plethora of bookstores that are independently owned nor are there any stores like that in close proximity save for the Bibilophile. So, I went on a little trip outside of my home state. 

              When I went to Boston a little over a month ago, I visited three indie bookstores in two days. The first of which I visited was Beacon Hill Books and Cafe in a neighborhood of Boston called Beacon Hill. I nearly squealed with excitement at every personalization that the bookstore had to offer. They offered exclusive signed books and squirrel memorabilia, as the squirrel was their mascot. It was a cute, pastel-decorated store with four stories of winding stairs and a gorgeous selection of romance books that I indulged in. Afterward, I walked across the street to a microbook shop called A Sanctuary Cafe. This was a cat cafe, a coffee shop, and a bookstore all in one. And I adored the layout as they had handcrafted drinks and sweets while also housing cats in a private enclosure. This store just recently opened, so they were able to provide extra greeting and excitement to lil ol’ me. I made sure to buy at least one book from each local store I came across to somewhat balance my Books-a-Million addiction. They had about forty books for sale and they were all unique ones that had been read by the owners and workers to provide optimal help and reviews of these books. Next, I walked along Newbury Street and found myself hunching down to walk into a partially underground bookstore named Posman Books. This indie bookstore housed Jellycats, books, and stationary gifts. The selection and the presentation were out of this world and something never to be seen in a larger chain store. I grabbed three books from the store, and the workers were overly kind and grateful for my purchase. The unique offerings and personalized service of these indie bookstores left me intrigued and excited, and I can’t wait to experience more of this when I go to college. 

             To end, I encourage everyone to buy from local bookstores due to environmental, economic, and purely kind reasons. I believe that local bookstores should rise in popularity and I cannot wait to buy from more indie bookstores when I go to college. The joy and satisfaction of supporting these indie bookstores, knowing that your purchase is making a significant difference, will leave you feeling fulfilled and content. 

                          *ADDED INFORMATION!

        The Bibliophile is a locally owned bookstore nestled in the corner of downtown Dover with its soft, muted colors that offer a pleasant atmosphere to browse. I find myself gravitating towards the store when I am in need of a bookish gift for my few friends. While they do not keep many romance books in stock, they will gladly buy the books online for you and that helps their business tremendously. You can also sell or donate your unblemished books to them for store credit or limited cash. I hope to catch you in the Bibilophile someday soon!