In anticipation of Canadian Independent Bookstore Day April 30, the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association noted: "We can't wait for you to read all the notes of indie appreciation collected by the wonderful Janie Chang behind Authors for Indies." Among the early Love Notes from writers:
Bryn Turnbull: "There's something undeniably special about going into a bookstore like no other and running your hand along a shelf of books compiled not by an algorithm but by Beth behind the counter, who would be happy to recommend something you might not otherwise pick up, or help you find that one book (the one about Emily Brontë's ghost, don't you know the title's slipped my mind entirely but I can see it, oh gosh, it's got a red cover, I read it five years ago now...) And then to see your own book, there on that shelf of specially chosen books, waiting to be recalled when Beth is given a five-word mash of descriptors from a reader and sent on the hunt? It makes your heart grow three sizes."
Carrianne Leung: "Indie bookstores are more than simply places to make purchases. They are places for communities to form--whether it is a fleeting moment found in a chat with the salesperson who has deep knowledge and passion for your favourite genre or an event featuring local writers you are just discovering. Indie stores offer the stuff that keeps a rich literary culture alive, and as a writer, I am deeply grateful."
Charlotte Gray: "I love everything about Independent Bookstores. I love the look of them (shelves bursting with titles I want to read, and that the seller knows), the smell of them (paper, coffee, paper), the sound of them (a warm buzz, like drowsy summer bees.) I love the excitement of discovery--what titles has the seller put on the front table, and what is next to it?
"My wonderful local bookstore, Ottawa's Books on Beechwood, cherishes all its local authors, whether self-published or major star, and shows the same affection for its customers, whether 8 or 80 years old. And did I mention the children's section, or the resident dog? Every independent bookstore has its own wonderful idiosyncrasies, and I'm deeply grateful to all of them for understanding the need to cherish Canadian authors, stories and culture."
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Noting that 135 of Sweden's 290 municipalities lack a bookshop, and the number of such areas has been growing for decades, the European & International Booksellers Association's Newsflash reported that the country's "declining number of booksellers was one of the issues discussed during Sweden's first Literature Summit, which took place last month in Gothenburg. Maria Hamrefors, president of the Swedish Booksellers Association, shed more light on the issue, stating that the Swedish government supports the publication of books rather than their distribution to readers.
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Congratulations to the American Book Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, which celebrated its 50th birthday on Saturday, posting on Facebook: "With an extra 10% discount on all stock in our three stores, hidden Golden bookmarks to win amazing prizes, live music and seventies inspired cake, we are celebrating our 50th anniversary on this glorious sunny day! Managing director Nadine Kaplanian is welcoming you into our bookish family party to celebrate this event with us. Hope you all have a wonderful time, we certainly are!" The bookseller also operates stores in the Hague (opened in 1976) and Leidschendam (opened last year). --Robert Gray