Latest news with #bookstore
CBS News
25-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Reading Ready Pittsburgh helps kids and parents develop a love of books
Off East 8th Avenue, in Homestead, you'll find B is For Books. It's an extraordinary bookstore, and when you step inside, you'll see the value of early language skills and early literacy through books. Mary Denison started it all. She's the founder of the non-profit Reading Ready Pittsburgh that's behind this bookstore. Denison said she retired from the Children's Institute and is working in schools. "I'd seen that there were kids who were coming to school who were unprepared for school," said Denison. It inspired her to start this non-profit, which started with the bookbag rotation program called Raising a Reader. Through that program, children get a red bag of books, then once they're done, they pass it along to other children in the program, and the rotation continues. Then, Denison decided to expand the non-profit's mission and programs to include Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. With Parton's program, Reading Ready Pittsburgh began offering free books delivered to homes, which helped kids during a time of isolation with the COVID-19 pandemic. "So then after that, that's not enough, right. Then we started doing more literacy programming, and we have little libraries out in the community," said Denison. With the little libraries, Reading Ready Pittsburgh builds, fills, and maintains 12 little giveaway libraries in the Mon Valley. Now, having opened this free bookstore in February 2024, children can get three free books every time they come into B is for Books. "The response to it has been dramatic, and we are so happy to have all of these people involved and to have so many books coming through our organization every month," said Denison. Most of the books inside the bookstore are donated by the community for the youth in our community. "So it is a community effort with donations, with volunteers, and then keeping this all nice and beautiful," Denison said. "Thirty volunteers drive the work forward and help instill a love a literature in our youngest little learners." "It's amazing to see families come in, just being grateful, because books are expensive," Program Director, Megan Chips, said. Now the book bag rotation program has expanded to about 1,2000 children. Children like Jermaine, his mom, Markeya Stewart, takes her three-year-old to B is for Books regularly. She works down the street at a daycare, which frequently brings their kids in too. When she talked to KDKA, she mentioned the "Raising a Reader" program making a difference for her son's reading at home. "You see all his little friends running around with their little bags of books, so I think it's wonderful," Stewart said. "We're able to start a whole new library at home." It gets books into children's lives early and everywhere. In addition to all the work this non-profit does, it also hosts events for kids every month. Next month, in June, it'll have a "B is for Bugs" event in collaboration with the Carnegie Science Museum. Teachers or those who work with children and families, like social workers, can go online and order a whole box of books that a "Reading Ready Pittsburgh" librarian will put together for them to pick up. If you want to donate books or even volunteer, "Reading Ready Pittsburgh" is always welcoming both. For more information on the non-profit and its programs, click here.
CBS News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Book excerpt: "A Summer for the Books" by Michelle Lindo-Rice
MIRA/HarperCollins We may receive an affiliate commission from anything you buy from this article. Michelle Lindo-Rice, the bestselling author of "A Fortune Thanksgiving" and "The Bookshop Sisterhood," returns with a new novel about former friends healing their relationship. Written in multiple perspectives, "A Summer for the Books" (to be published July 15 by MIRA) tells of two old friends – Jewel, a bestselling writer, and Shelby, a bookstore owner – who went their separate ways years ago ... but! When Shelby loses her memory after a bike accident and reaches out to Jewel for help, how can she refuse? Read an excerpt below. "A Summer for the Books" by Michelle Lindo-Rice Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now. Jewel Summer 2024 Sitting up in bed with her laptop on her thighs and her husband asleep next to her, Jewel McRae, known to the world as Jewel Stone, closed out the deleted scene of her debut novel, That Was Then, and leaned back onto the headboard. She'd just received word her book was going to be made into a series on a major network, and they wanted her on set as a consultant when they went into production next summer, which was why she was rereading the book. It was a chore, but fortunately, years had passed since its release, and it was all new to her again. The network planned to create at least two seasons, so she was reading through her very first draft that even her agent and editor had never seen. It included about 17,000 words that were later cut, including the baby storyline. Her editor had never read that juicy subplot, and if Jewel continued to have her way, nobody ever would. Honestly, though it was tedious work, the book-to-series was quite an accomplishment and a cause for celebration. Her followers were on social media posting memes and making actor suggestions. But her celebration was bittersweet. The one person she wanted to share this with, her best friend since childhood, was no longer a friend. And the contents of this book were a part of the reason. Especially the deleted contents. Jewel didn't have the courage to share her truth with anyone, especially the man asleep next to her. Releasing a huge sigh, she placed the laptop on her nightstand and massaged the back of her neck. With a yawn, she settled under the covers, and her final thought before fading out was I miss my friend. Excerpted from "A Summer for the Books" by Michelle Lindo-Rice. Copyright © 2025 by Michelle Lindo-Rice. Published by arrangement with MIRA Books. Get the book here: "A Summer for the Books" by Michelle Lindo-Rice Buy locally from For more info:
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
A wave of new owners brings fresh energy to independent bookselling
Amber Salazar is the kind of idealist you just knew would end up running a bookstore — a lifelong reader who felt angered 'to the core' as she learned of book bans around the country. A resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Salazar last year opened Banned Wagon Books, a pop-up store she sets up everywhere from wineries to coffee shops, featuring such frequently censored works as Maia Kobabe's 'Gender Queer,' Angie Thomas' 'The Hate U Give' and Toni Morrison 's 'Beloved.' 'I decided that no matter what it looked like, I was going to open a bookstore so that I could contribute in some small way and stand up for intellectual freedom in the U.S.,' explains Salazar, 33, who donates 5% of her profits to the American Library Association and other organizations opposing bans. 'Since we were coming out of the pandemic at that time, I started thinking about ways to combine my love of literature and passion for intellectual freedom with my appreciation for the small businesses in my city who weathered some difficult storms through shutdowns and supply chain concerns.' Salazar is among a wave of new — and, often, younger — owners who have helped the independent book community dramatically expand, intensify and diversify. Independent bookselling is not a field for fortune seekers: Most local stores, whether run by retirees, bookworms or those switching careers in middle age, have some sense of higher purpose. But for many who opened in recent years, it's an especially critical mission. Narrative in Somerville, Massachusetts, identifies as 'proudly immigrant-woman owned & operated, with an emphasis on amplifying marginalized voices & experiences.' In Chicago, Call & Response places 'the voices of Black and other authors of color at the center of our work.' Independent stores will likely never recover their power of 50 years ago, before the rise of Barnes & Noble superstores and the online giant But the days of industry predictions of their demise seem well behind. In 2016, there were 1,244 members in the American Booksellers Association trade group, at 1,749 locations. As of this month, the ABA has 2,863 individual members, at 3,281 locations. And more than 200 stores are in the process of opening. 'It's incredible, this kind of energy,' says association CEO Allison Hill, remembering how, during the pandemic, she feared that the ABA could lose up to a quarter of its membership. 'I don't think any of us would have predicted this a few years ago.' Hill and others acknowledge that even during an era of growth, booksellers remain vulnerable to political and economic challenges. Costs of supplies remain high and could grow higher because of President Donald Trump's tariffs. ABA President Cynthia Compton, who runs two stores in the Indianapolis area, says that sales to schools are down because censorship laws have made educators more cautious about what they purchase. The ABA's own website advises: 'Passion and knowledge have to be combined with business acumen if your bookstore is to succeed.' Salazar herself is part of an Instagram chat group, Bookstores Helping Bookstores, with such like-minded sellers as the owners of The Crafty Bookstore in Bloomington, Indiana, 'specializing in Indie books & custom bookish accessories,' and the Florida-based Chapter Bound, an online store with a calling 'to connect great books with great people — at prices everyone can afford.' 'In the age of social media, people are craving genuine connection and community,' Salazar says. 'And books often provide a catalyst to that feeling of community.' Stephen Sparks, who is 47 and since 2017 has owned Point Reyes Books northwest of San Francisco, believes that the pandemic gave sellers of all ages a heightened sense of their role in the community and that the return of Trump to the White House added new urgency. Sales are up 20% this year, he says, if only because 'during tough times, people come to bookstores.' The younger owners bring with them a wide range of prior experience. Salazar had worked in retail management for nine years, switched to property and casualty insurance sales 'in search of advancement opportunity' and, right before she launched her store, was a business process owner, 'a blend of project management, customer and employee experience management.' Courtney Bledsoe, owner of Call & Response, had been a corporate attorney before undertaking a 'full career shift' and risking a substantial drop in income. The 30-year-old held no illusions that owning a store meant 'pouring a cup of coffee and reading all day.' Calling herself 'risk averse,' she researched the book retail business as if preparing for a trial, before committing herself and launching Call & Response in May 2024. 'This endeavor is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life,' she says, acknowledging it could take a couple of years before she can even pay herself a salary. 'We're just doing this to serve the community, doing something we love to do, providing people with great events, great reading. It's been a real joy.'
New York Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Beginning a New Chapter, Surrounded by Books
One of Erica Cerles and Sasha Tharani's first dates in March 2023 was at the Booksmith in San Francisco, their home city. The women, both avid readers, had intended to pick out books for each other but were too nervous to do so. 'There is something vulnerable about revealing what you imagine they might enjoy,' Ms. Cerles said. Less than two years later, in a bookstore on the opposite coast, the two became fiancées. On Feb. 28, Ms. Cerles, 37, arrived in New York on a redeye flight to surprise Ms. Tharani, 33, already in town for her nephew's birthday party, with a marriage proposal at McNally Jackson Books at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. For months leading up to the proposal, Ms. Cerles, a high school counselor in San Mateo, Calif., said she was 'in cahoots' with the bookseller team, which presented her with a private area in the history section to pop the question. 'Since we were about to begin writing our own history together, it felt symbolically perfect,' Ms. Cerles said. 'There's something deeply meaningful about standing among stories of the past while stepping into a new chapter of our own.' The bookstore had been one of Ms. Tharani's favorite haunts when she, a health care consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, had lived in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Across the country, many couples are weaving bookstores and books into their proposals or weddings. Judith Rosen, a contributing editor at Publishers Weekly, even wrote a book about it. 'Bookstores themselves are having a renaissance,' said Ms. Rosen, whose book, 'Bookstore Romance: Love Speaks Volumes,' published in February, and profiles 24 couples who got married or engaged at a bookstore. 'Independent bookstores have really shown that they have a place in the community,' Ms. Rosen added, noting a rise in the number of bookstores in recent years. In May 2024, the American Booksellers Association, a national trade association that supports independent bookstores, reported an 11 percent increase in membership from the previous year. 'Bookstores have long been a 'third place' outside home and work that people have turned to for community,' Ms. Rosen said. 'In the wake of Covid, many people sought those kinds of connections. Others were emboldened to follow their dream of having their own bookstore.' Lee Ramsay, the founder of Lee Ramsay Events in New York, has planned three weddings at the Housing Works Bookstore in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood. Ms. Ramsay said bookstores are ideal for those looking to add a personal touch to their celebrations and she expects their popularity as wedding venues to keep growing. Plus, Ms. Ramsay said, bookstores offer a few added benefits: They come with plenty of built-in décor and are often located in charming neighborhoods. Books and bookstores are special to Jeremy Rodriguez, 33, and Kayla Kleinman, 34. On April 5, Mr. Rodriguez proposed to Ms. Kleinman after a morning-long, book-themed scavenger hunt that began in the couple's apartment in Manhattan's Greenwich Village and culminated on the rare books floor of the Strand Book Store in the East Village. 'Going to the Strand and just wandering around bookstores together is such a big part of our relationship and our weekends,' said Ms. Kleinman, a content creator whose focus includes books. (She previously served as the social media manager for an online book marketplace.) Following an enthusiastic 'yes' from Ms. Kleinman, Mr. Rodriguez, a high school history teacher, picked up a special token from the rare books room: a vintage advanced reader's copy of 'The Eye of the World,' part of 'The Wheel of Time' fantasy series, a genre staple. 'I visited the Strand so many times that week but hadn't been able to actually go book shopping,' Mr. Rodriguez said, explaining that he had been in constant contact with the retailer's events team and in-store staff. 'It was so frustrating.' Morgan Brewton-Johnson, 29, and Sam Hall, 30, of Cambridge, Mass., hosted a 21-person wedding at Beacon Hill Books & Cafe in Boston on Oct. 11, 2024. Before they landed on a location for their wedding, Ms. Brewton-Johnson, a consultant at Bain & Company, and Mr. Hall, a founder of a real estate technology startup and M.B.A. candidate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, considered how they would typically spend a weekend in town with loved ones. 'We would absolutely be taking them to Beacon Hill Books & Cafe,' Ms. Brewton-Johnson said. Bookstore owners are also excited to open their doors to couples and their guests. Darlene Okpo, the owner of Adanne Bookshop in Brooklyn, which features books written by authors of color, hosted a wedding in her store last September. 'When opening up the shop, I knew that I wanted a space beyond books,' she said, adding that offering community events, workshops and more was always a goal. Christina Pascucci-Ciampa, the owner of All She Wrote Books, a feminist and queer bookstore in Somerville, Mass., began offering wedding packages, which range from $350 to $900, in 2024. 'Having this safe space for the L.G.B.T.Q. community and the queer community is extremely important, whether that's through elopements or engagements celebrating love, or if that's community gathering,' she said. Hosting a larger-scale wedding that still contains a book element is feasible, too. The nonprofit Housing Works Bookstore hosts 30 to 40 private events annually, most of which are weddings, and can accommodate up to 150 guests, according to Erica Pratico, the bookstore's director. A five-hour event is included with the purchase of a $10,000 Visionary Membership, $9,145 of which is tax-deductible. For shorter or longer gatherings, custom rental packages are available at $1,000 to $2,000 per hour. Couples can hold a small ceremony for a couple of hours or host rehearsal dinners or welcome parties there. And a bar can also be added, with pricing ranging from $11 to $14 per guest, per hour. The Ripped Bodice, a romance bookstore with locations in Brooklyn and Culver City, Calif., hosts many in-store weddings and engagements, at an average cost of $2,000, but also facilitates 'book bars' at outside venues. These setups, which range in price from $660 to $1,700, allow guests to select a book from an assortment of titles to bring home with them to commemorate the evening, oftentimes in lieu of a traditional party favor, explained Leah Koch, an owner of Ripped Bodice. Couples often select books that are meaningful to their relationship, Ms. Koch said, noting that choices have ranged from Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' to Casey McQuiston's queer time-travel romance 'One Last Stop.' 'This is something that people can have on their shelves forever,' she said.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Instant karma! Book store thief who threatened to shoot female customer is battered by four women when they realise his gun is a fake
What's black and blue and read all over? A battered book store thief! A man attempting to rob a book shop was overpowered and beaten by a gang of women after threatening to kill a customer with what turned out to be a mobile phone. The incident occurred in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina, on Friday. Footage shows the assailant entering the bookstore, posing as a customer inquiring about cigarettes. After observing the store's layout and staff, he is shown suddenly grabbing a female customer from behind and pressing an object against her back. He reportedly threatened to kill her if the employees did not hand over the day's earnings. The object was later identified as a mobile phone, not a weapon. The customer, named only as Rebeca, realised the crook was unarmed and managed to free herself. She alerted the employees, who, along with Rebeca, confronted the man. The video then shows the four women chasing him as he attempts to flee, ultimately subduing him with physical force inside the store. They are then seen forcing him outside, where neighbours, alerted by the commotion, help them in restraining him. The man arrested was taken into police custody and is facing charges related to the attempted robbery. The women involved expressed no regret for their actions, stating that adrenaline and anger over the attempted crime spurred their response. The terrifying ordeal comes after a hero shop worker in Lincolnshire fought off a knife-wielding robber with his bare hands after the thug threatened a female colleague. The masked crook stole cash and cigarettes during the raid at Gedney Newsagent in Market Place, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire. CCTV shows the thug entering the shop just after 5.30am on March 29 and asking to buy cigarettes. As the female worker places the pack on the counter, the thief waves a large knife in her direction before grabbing cash from the till. Another member of staff bravely charges at the offender and appears to try and punch and slap him despite the robber holding a blade. The thief then flees the shop as the woman behind the till calls police on her mobile phone. Detectives have released CCTV of the robbery and say they hope someone will recognise the robber from his unusual walk. A Lincolnshire Police spokesperson said: 'Although the man has his face covered, we believe he has a unique gait and maybe someone will recognise the clothing he is wearing.
