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Prairie Lights Bookstore opened its doors in 1978 as a small, intimate bookshop, and since then, it has grown to become a literary institution in Iowa City. Today the bookstore occupies three and a half floors, part of which serves as the coffeehouse Times Club. Prairie Lights, in conjunction with the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, hosts frequent readings and author events with visiting writers from around the world.
Founded in 1927 by Adrian Gambet and Gordon Cairnie, the original Grolier book shop stocked mainly private press books, some poetry, and a sampling of avant-garde literature. Today, Grolier is the oldest continuous poetry book shop in the United States, and stocks over 15,000 current volumes of trade, small press, and university publications as well as books related to prosody, poetry markets, and spoken word CDs. The store hosts regular readings, author events, book signings, and more.
Photo by Lily Hauser.
Located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Wellesley Books is a locally-owned, independent bookstore that carries children’s books, a selection of cards and gifts, new fiction and nonfiction books, and “gently read” titles. The store hosts readings, author events, and book club meetings.
Beyond Baroque is one of the United States’ leading independent literary arts centers and public spaces dedicated to expanding the public’s knowledge of poetry, literature, and art through cultural events and community interaction. Founded in 1968 as an experimental literary magazine, Beyond Baroque is based out of the original City Hall building in Venice, California. The Center offers a diverse variety of literary and arts programming including readings and workshops.
The Avid Reader comprises a pair of general-interest independent bookstores located in both downtown Davis and Sacramento, California. The store regularly features local authors for readings, book signings, and discussions.
Diesel Bookstore is an independent neighborhood bookstore that hosts regular author events. The store also has a branch in Del Mar.
Northshire Bookstore is a family-owned, independent bookstore located in Manchester Center, Vermont. Northshire was the first bookseller in the United States with an Espresso Book Machine (which offers Print on Demand books), and the store hosts regular author events, reading groups, and a public issues forum.
Founded in 2005, Head House Books is a locally-owned independent bookseller in Philadelphia that straddles two historic Philadelphia communities: Society Hill and Queen Village. The bookstore hosts author events and readings, and daily updates can be found on their Instagram @headhousebooks.
Opened in 1996, Blue Willow Bookshop is an independent bookseller and gift shop. The store offers a wide selection of books for adults and children, along with puzzles, games, and gifts. Blue Willow also hosts regular literary events, book club meetings, and story time readings for children.
Founded in 1984, Quail Ridge Books & Music is an independent bookstore that provides a wide variety of carefully selected books, events, discussion groups, and town hall meetings.
