Around Indies

The Booksmith forms partnership with beNOWtv

The Booksmith bookstore in San Francisco, California, has recently partnered with beNOWtv, a social video network, to give viewers the opportunity to watch and participate in the store's popular author events.

Booksmith is the first independent bookstore to livestream its events nationally, and in doing so, co-owner Christin Evans said she hopes to extend Booksmith's community of authors and readers.

“Our partnership with beNOWtv is helping us further realize our goal of becoming a bookstore for the 21^st century,” she said.

The Portland Phoenix features Longfellow Books

Last week's issue of the Portland Phoenix included a feature on Longfellow Books-- Portland, Maine's local independent bookstore. Phoenix staff writer Deirdre Fulton praised the store's role in Maine's local literary landscape and listed this as one of the reasons why brick-and-mortar stores are necessary in a community.

“They're tactile, sensory places for the book nerd in all of us,” she wrote.

The Phoenix noted that Longfellow Books has been able to weather economic changes by maintaining their local focus and holding used-book sales. It also helps that they have a well-educated consumer base and a lively writing community.

Dodoblog recognizes Green Apple Books for its service and selection

Dodoblog, the newly launched news site associated with Dodocase, the San Francisco manufacturers of the bookbound iPad case, highlighted Green Apple Books for its contribution to the San Francisco community.

Green Apple co-owner Kevin Ryan noted his store's careful selection of each of the 250,000 titles it carries. “Bookstores fulfill a function besides just selling books,” Ryan told Dodoblog. “The selection in our store is curated. We carry books with the most merit. Beyond that, our efforts are to help people who don’t know what they’re looking for.”