Independent bookstores are the heartbeats of their communities. They provide culture and community, generate local jobs and sales tax revenue, promote literacy and education, champion and center diverse and new authors, connect readers to books in a personal and authentic way, and actively support the right to read and access to books in their communities. Each week,we profile an independent bookstore,sharing what makes each one special and getting their expert and unique book recommendations. This week we have bookseller Angella Meanix ofWellington Square Bookshopin Exton, Pennsylvania. What's your store's story? We've been open for around 14 years. We started as a used bookstore and evolved into a new and used bookstore. Now we've fully embraced the emporium aspect of our logo. We pride ourselves on our customer service. We have a wishing fountain, coffee bar and a popular Victorian-style couch at the back of the store where friends, lovers, coworkers and new acquaintances convene. We have a variety of gifts, oddities, old-school candies and more. It's a passion project – the owner is an avid reader and has interviewed hundreds of authors since the store's inception, a true book aficionado and antiquarian. What makes your independent bookstore unique? The staff are top notch, the space is retro and fantastical – full of mermaids and suncatchers in addition to books, gifts, and decor that is eclectic and beckons you to come in, relax, feel safe and recede from the world. What's your favorite section in your store? The cafe is where conversations take place, delicious snacks are eaten, where adults unwind after a long day at work and where children practice their "please and thank you's." What book do you love to recommend to customers and why? "A History of My Brief Body" by Billy-Ray Belcourt is unexpected and shares the most intimate story of a life most lyrically and poetically. The writing is excellent and the book cracked me open. What book do you think deserves more attention and why? "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome" by Joy DeGruy. It dives into the core of why chattel slavery has affected and still affects us all. It moves beyond correctness and semantics and offers an actual emotional and psychological breakdown of the damage done. It should be required reading in schools. Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important? We believe it's the only way to really fall into a book you may have never otherwise encountered. When you choose a book off the shelf, the book next to it could change your life. You can't stumble across something this way online. Reading and collecting books is also a shared experience. Customers love to share their viewpoints and experiences, and it's exciting to be in a place where everyone shares a common interest in books. Book enthusiasts want to build their repertoire and broaden their knowledge, and that's what being around other book lovers can offer. There is no place like a well-run, friendly, independent bookstore. What are some of your store's events, programs, or partnerships coming up that you would like to share? Book clubs are our most popular and well-attended happenings. We offer them all year round for fiction, non-fiction and classics. We also host a Poetry Writer's Group the first Sunday of each month. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Meet eclectic, cozy Wellington Square Bookshop in Pennsylvania
