Independent bookstores in Montana have teamed up to create the first-ever Montana Bookstore Trail. Spearheaded by Rachel Elliott-Burg, owner of Reading Leaves in Townsend, and designed with Elk River Books in Livingston, the map features 21 independent bookstores across the Big Sky state.
Customers can get their passports initialed or stamped at each participating store, and once the trail is complete they can scan the QR code on the back of the passport to access a short quiz. Completing the quiz will enter the customer into a drawing for a Bookstore Trail tote bag full of books and other prizes.
Chelsia Rice, owner of Montana Book Company in Helena, noted that while not every Montana indie opted-in, "there is an awesome selection this year and surely more to come next year."
And in Philadelphia, Pa., a group of indie booksellers led by Molly Russakoff, owner of Molly's Books and Records, has released the Philadelphia Bookstore Map featuring 46 bookstores across the city. Local artist Henry Crane created the illustrations, which depict the storefronts of all 46 included stores.
Russakoff, who has wanted to create a Philly bookstore map since 2008, told Billy Penn that she aimed "to make it a piece of public art, rather than just a brochure that people will throw away. We want people to keep these."
The bookstore map was funded with the help of a GoFundMe campaign launched last summer that raised $10,000. Gina Dawson of Partners and Son and Curtis Kise of Neighborhood Books were part of the team that helped make Russakoff's idea a reality.
25,000 copies have already been printed, with 25,000 more on the way. They can be found at independent bookstores around the city as well as Free Library branches and are available at no cost.