Several Tucson-area bookstores are celebrating their independence on Saturday — Independent Bookstore Day.
“The entire purpose of Bookstore Day is to celebrate our collective success and thank our customers and the community of readers,” said Samantha Schoech, Independent Bookstore Day program director.
“For so long, the message about indie bookstores was all doom and gloom, but the truth is, there are more indie bookstores this year than last, and more last year than the year before that. Independent bookstores are actually opening around the country. We want people to know that,” Schoech said in a news release
“Independent bookstores are the community,” said Christine Burke, who owns Clues Unlimited. “They represent the community in ways chains don’t.
“Local, independent bookstores support local authors,” Burke said. Her mystery book store has a section devoted to Southwest authors and Southwest-set mysteries. Burke bought the store about 19 years ago when it was named Footprints of a Gigantic Hound and was located in Broadway Village.
“Independent booksellers know our community, we love books, recommend books and carefully choose books for the store,” said Bobbe Arnett who has owned Mostly Books with her sister Tricia Clapp since 1988.
“You can meet your favorite authors in independent bookstores, too,” said Arnett. “We also know what local books people are looking for.”
Arnett said Mostly Books also has a large selection of books by local authors. The shop also can special order books that usually arrive in a few days and has a meeting room that supports local groups as well.
“Taxes from shopping at independents help pay for teachers, firefighters, police, city maintenance and other local services,” said Arnett. “When shopping online all of your money goes away and does not support your community.”
“Tucson is a wonderful place for independent businesses, and for Antigone Books in particular. The bookstore has been here for 42 years and is going strong, all because of the support of a fantastic community,” said Kate Randall, who co-owns Antigone with Trudy Mills.
Antigone Books will host a series of festivities from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. — every two hours or so a new party will begin.
Among the day’s events at Antigone: kids can read stories to adoptable greyhounds; a facepainter will embellish kids and adults for free; Tucson Arts Brigade will lead a sidewalk chalk extravaganza; there will be a search for five mini authors hidden around the store.
Cake will be served from 1:30-3:30 p.m. and literary cocktails from 3-5:30 p.m. Throughout the day there will be first looks at books and literary gifts.
Clues Unlimited will offer 20 percent off everything during Saturday’s Independent Bookstore Day.
Likewise, Mostly Books will offer 20 percent off all autographed books and those by local authors, and 40 percent off book-themed T-shirts.
“We hope that lots of book lovers and indie fans will come and celebrate with us on Independent Bookstore Day,” said Randall in a news release.
Independent Bookstore Day is produced by the Northern California Independent Bookstore Association in partnership with the American Booksellers Association.
