Support Your Independent Bookstores

Authored by: Laura Bray

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a local bookstore in Portland, Oregon. This lovely bookstore was a book lover’s dream, bookshelves soared to the ceiling, antique rugs covered wood floors, two leather chairs were tucked beside a small electric fireplace, and the overwhelming smell of old books permeated the air. An old turntable played jazz albums and the only other sound you could hear was the turning of pages as my fellow shoppers happily flipped through books, trying to decide on what to buy. It was a magical place.

Sadly, these small independent book shops are shrinking in number as book buyers turn to online megastores in the name of convenience. But we must remember, you can’t experience bibliosmia (the pleasing smell of books) or the camaraderie of a bookseller who knows you, on a computer screen. For that, you need your local bookshop and, as readers, we need to do our best to support them.

Here are a few ways you can help your local, independent bookstore survive:

Shop at independent bookstores

Sure, it’s more convenient to order a book in the comfort of your pajamas, but shopping locally is worth the trouble of getting out of your pajamas and into the world.

Browsing shelves in a bookshop in real life is going to lead you to discover books you may never have seen. Online shops have algorithms that don’t tend to encourage you to read something different. In a bookstore, you might see a display and become intrigued by a book cover, hear another customer raving about a book, or even get a recommendation from the bookshop owner themselves. Just ask anyone in the shop what they are reading and then take a risk and try it. You may stumble onto a genre you never even considered.

If you need help finding a bookstore near you can use this Indie Bookstore Finder.

Tell everyone you know about your favorite bookstore

If you are in a book club or talking to a friend about books, recommend that they pick up their books at the local shop instead of ordering them online. Better yet, make a date to meet at the bookshop, then grab a coffee afterwards. Be sure to take photos of your favorite bookstores and post them on your social media.

Always buy something

When you go into a small bookstore, make sure you buy something. It doesn’t even have to be a book. Many shops have small items like bookmarks, stickers, and greeting cards for sale. If every person who went into the local shop to look around spent a few dollars it would make a difference to the shop’s bottom line. Buy a book if you can, but don’t feel a small purchase won’t make a difference. Those small purchases add up and tell the shop owner you value their service even on the days when you don’t find a book you want to buy.

And please don’t treat your local bookstore as a showroom of books. Don’t go in, find books you want to buy, and then go order them online. Spend an extra dollar or two to get the book at list price instead of going to a bargain, online shop. Doing so not only helps the store owner, but also publishers and authors who need to sell books at list prices to keep the industry alive.

Shop Online

Finally, if you just can’t resist the siren call of ordering a book online, check to see if your local, independent bookstore has an online shop and purchase from them. If they don’t sell online, see if they are willing to place a special order for you. You can also see if they are affiliated with Bookshop.org, a website that allows you to designate a percentage of your order to go to a local bookshop of your choice.

Changing the way you shop for books can feel daunting, but it’s worth it. Start small, set a goal to visit a local bookstore this week, and enjoy being in the company of books again.

This month, we’re reading Chocolat by Joanne Harris. Buy the book at your local bookstore, then join us on April 15, 2026 from 4-5pm PST via Zoom to discuss the book.

 Modern Prairie encourages you to support your local bookstores on April 25, 2026-Independent Bookstore Day. Contact your local bookstore to find out what events they have scheduled and join in the fun!