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50 Really Cool Bookstore Blogs

May 12th, 2010

Despite the recession and the success of big bookstore chains, the indie bookseller movement is still going strong. Communities around the country fight for their bookstores at all costs because loyal readers recognize that they’re not just places to buy books: they’re welcoming, culturally rich meeting places for intelligent discussion, learning and soul searching. Whether you’re a rabid reader all on your own or you’re trying to find reading lists to complement your accredited online college program, check out this list of 50 really cool bookstore blogs.

For Booksellers

Booksellers will find news, information and tips for staying open from these bloggers.

1. The Bookshop Blog: Find bookstore profiles, tips for organizing inventory, and more.
2. Rare Book News: Owners of rare book bookstores will find tips on preservation, deciding upon value, and keeping up with the industry.
3. Bookstore People: Bookstore People reviews indie bookstores and also includes actual book reviews and book festival news.
4. The Shelf Life: University Bookstore, Seattle, is actually a great example for all types of bookstores. Read their blog for special program ideas, community involvement, and book culture.
5. Omnibus: The American Booksellers Association blogs here.
6. Selling Books: Steve Weber writes about the business of selling books here.
7. Wanda’s Wonderful Book Blog: Director of the Southern Indie Booksellers Association Wanda Jewell writes this informative blog for booksellers.

For Readers and Book Clubs

These bookstore blogs are great resources for book clubs and individual readers looking for reviews and title ideas.

8. Sam Weller’s Bookstore: This new, used and out-of-print bookstore posts recommended reading and information about local events.
9. Boswell and Books: Besides the reading list on the right sidebar, this blog includes recaps of in-store book discussions, news about new releases, and more.
10. Book Soup Blog: This West Hollywood bookstore is a great find for book clubs looking for new and interesting reads.
11. Between the Covers: Staff members weigh in on their favorite reads on this bookstore blog.
12. Lemuria Bookstore Blog: This is another blog that’s updated by various staff members who love to share what they’re currently reading.
13. Harvard Book Store: Get quality reading recommendations, access to a monthly book club, and features of discounted titles here.
14. Titcomb’s Bookshop Blog: This family-owned bookstore is a good resource for finding just-released books, including youth and children’s books.
15. Hobo’s Books: Hobo’s Online Bookstore blogs for My Shelf and includes mostly book reviews.
16. On the Bookcase: Find lots of reviews and author interviews here.
17. Bookdwarf: This bookstore employee mostly posts about recommended reading choices and book events.
18. Texture Bookstore: This online bookstore will clue you into used and vintage books on eBay and elsewhere.

Local News and Events

These local bookstores are great fun even if you don’t live in the area. Check out their indie spirit, author interviews and book events to give you ideas for your own store or book club.

19. Vroman’s Bookstore Blog: Vroman’s is the oldest and largest indie bookstore in Southern California. Check out their blog for local events, podcasts, and more.
20. Greenlight Bookstore: If you live in the Brooklyn, NY, area, visit this blog for regularly updated postings about events at their store, ranging from comedy and literature night to blogger/author pairings.
21. BookPeople’s Blog: Austin’s BookPeople’s blog features creative book recommendations, local events, a thoughtful Words of Williams column, and fun insight into what it’s like to work at the store.
22. The Other Day at Portrait…: Even if you don’t live near the Studio City, CA, bookstore, this is a great read if you’re into bookstore culture and poetry and literature.
23. Globe Corner Blogs: The Globe Corner Bookstore in Cambridge, MA, is a travel bookstore that posts about great books and resources, travel news, and travel stories.
24. The Matter Bookstore Blog: This Ft. Collins, CO, bookstore is run by staff and volunteers. Read the blog for intriguing posts about how the community supports reading and the indie spirit.
25. The Mystery Bookstore: Whether you’re already a fan of this LA-based bookstore or just like to keep up with mystery book news and awards, visit this blog.
26. Shakespeare and Co. Booksellers: This Montana bookstore is more than just book events and reviews. You can also find links to magazines and journals, local writers’ pages, local arts events, and more.
27. WORD Brooklyn Blog: This Brooklyn bookstore hosts loads of events, including comedy night, launch parties, reading series, and more.
28. Magers & Quinn Booksellers: Here you’ll find event postings for the Minneapolis store that also include book reviews and interesting author information.
29. A Reading Odyssey: The staff at this Western Massachusetts blog love pitching local events and writing about books and book culture.
30. Chop Suey Books: Read up on used books and the Richmond book scene here.
31. The Pulpwood Queen’s Book Club: This bookstore publishes its famous best-seller lists and posts about lively events and parties here.
32. Hawthorne Books Blog: Read about other area indie bookstores on this community-oriented blog.
33. Reading Copy: AbeBooks maintains this blog about great books and indie bookstore news.
34. Housmans Blog: Housmans in London has been in business since 1945.

Industry

Get industry news about book selling, buying, trading and publishing here.

35. Skylight Books: This LA bookstore blog combines it all: author interviews, bookseller tips, book reviews, local events, and more.
36. Partners West Blog: Read about working in the book selling industry, get tips on the future of bookselling, and more.
37. Powell’s: Powell’s is one of the most famous indie bookstores in the country and even has its own online shop. Head to the blog for book news, author interviews and news, new releases, book recommendations and other great material.
38. Omnivaroacious’ Amazon Blog: Online bookstore Amazon.com may be a major competitor to indie bookstores, but the blog is a great resource for keeping up with book awards, book and publication news, and book reviews.
39. Northshire Bookstore’s Blog: Find out why indie bookstores are so important to the local community when you read this blog on literature and more.
40. Maud Newton: Recent posts on this blog address bookstore survival, book events, blogging about books, bookstores around the world, and more.
41. Third Place Blog: This smart blog mixes store events with commentary on the future of bookstores.
42. The Readers’ Corner: Learn more about the book business, including trading, buying and selling, here.
43. R.J. Julia Booksellers Blog: Read posts about best-seller lists, new fiction and more.
44. The Mountains and Plains Blog: Read about online book selling and the industry here.
45. Consuming Books: "Reeden Wright" writes this blog on behalf of the Southern Independent Booksellers Association.

Miscellaneous

From niche bookseller sites to a collection of indie bookseller videocasts, these blogs are must-visit sites, too.

46. Musings from a Catholic Bookstore: This "authentically Catholic" bookstore blogs about local events, their business plan, Catholic book news, and more.
47. Books on Wheels: Keep up with Books on Wheels events with this blog.
48. Wessel & Lieberman: Find off-the-wall posts and book news from this Seattle bookseller.
49. Buried Under Books: A former bookseller turned writer keeps up this fun blog.
50. Blogging Booksellers: Barnes & Noble hosts this blog and vlog that highlights local booksellers around the country.