Around Indies

Oblong Books & Music Plans Expansion

This week, Oblong Books & Music, announced plans to expand its Rhinebeck, New York, store. The 1,000-square-foot addition will be used mainly for an expanded children’s and teen section. Minimal disruption to store operations is expected during the construction phase, which is scheduled to be completed in the spring.

Oblong, which is owned by Dick Hermans and his daughter Suzanna Hermans, opened its first location in 1975 in Millerton, New York. The Rhinebeck store opened in 2001.The Millerton store features a children's building, known as Oblong Jr. This children-focused store will be the model for the expansion in Rhinebeck.

Liberty Bay Books Commended for Its Use of Social Media

In a January 10 Business News Daily article, Sherrie Madia, a professor of social media and communication strategies at the Wharton School of Business and author of The Social Media Survival Guide, commends Liberty Bay Books, in Poulsbo, Washington, for its online presence.

In the piece, which features a Q&A about how companies can incorporate social media into their businesses, Madia said, “On the small business side, Liberty Bay Books (@LibertyBayBooks), an indie bookstore out of Poulsbo, Washington, does a super job of optimizing the social media space through consistent branding, an authentic voice, networking its blog, website, Facebook page and Twitter account, and providing content of value such as upcoming events and book reviews.”

Voracious Reader Named Best of the Decade by Westchester Magazine

In its “Best of the Decade” issue, Westchester Magazine named The Voracious Reader, in Larchmont, New York, as one of the area's favorite places. The magazine wrote, “Since 2007, parents have flocked to this indie shop to find books for their kids, from babies through teenagers – and yes, sometimes for themselves, too. (Who among us hasn't dipped into Harry Potter?) But the books aren't the only attraction here. The staff understands what gets young readers excited, knows the hot books (Mockingjay, anyone?), and throws parties, brings in authors to read, and hosts book clubs to make reading a fun, social thing to do.”