Indie bookstores are back and they’re celebrating

Independent bookstores are alive and well. To prove it, small sellers across the U.S. will be celebrating with special events and deals connected with the second annual Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 30.

The idea behind Independent Bookstore Day is pretty simple. Dissuade consumers of the notion that there is only one (Amazon.com) — maybe two (Barnes & Noble) — place(s) to go when they want to buy a book.

Independent bookstores are “not a dying anachronism,” as the organization’s site reads. “They are living, breathing organisms that continue to grow and expand. In fact, there are more of them this year than there were last year. And they are at your service.”

According to the American Booksellers Association, sales at independent bookstores were up over 10 percent last year.

To celebrate their continuing success, Indie bookstores have joined with publishers to offer a variety of exclusives, including “Anthony Bourdain’s Perfect Burger Print” and “Raymie Nightingale” by two-time Newberry Award winner Kate DiCamillo. Ms. DiCamillo will be in the Twin Cities area for a book signing at Common Good Books on April 30.

In all, more than 400 stores across the U.S. will participate in the event. Canadian booksellers will run their own event on the same day.

• Independent Bookstore Day
• Strategies: Bookstores show small biz how it’s done – USA Today
• Local merchants celebrate Independent Bookstore Day – Pioneer Press
• Local booksellers to celebrate 2nd Indie Bookstore Day – The Detroit News