The Mad Poets Blog

There was a time when local book stores, diners and coffee houses defined a business district. Chain operations are quickly wiping out local businesses such as these. It doesn’t matter if the stores are located in boroughs, downtown districts or in suburbia, support for the stores declines as people flock to the chain stores. Stores such as Voices and Visions, Big Blue Marble and Robins in
Philadelphia, Harvest Books in Media support the local literary community. The shelves at these stores are packed with excellent literature by local authors and poets as well as the main stream material you will find at the big boys. Many write of the effects of commercialism on communities across the country, yet don’t support local home grown business.

If you are fortunate enough to have a local book store, coffee house, diner or other such business in your area, step up and support them by purchasing from them. If you would like to find an independent book store near you, check out Book Sense who distributes to local stores at: www.booksense.com . Type in a zip code and they will provide you with a list of stores near you.