Ever since the grand opening of Ellen Plumb’s City Bookstore on Commercial, I have come to a realization that we should care more about local bookstores in our communities for a few simple reasons.

For starters, local bookstores are typically the best ways in which local writers can finally get their projects read by the community. We all know when J.K. Rowling, John Green or any other well-established writer has gotten something published again, but what about those writers who were not able to find a top-notch publishing company who wanted to invest in their work or even the writer who simply wants to self-publish?

Local bookstores are the answer to these questions because they promote and support local writers. Even if you are not necessarily “into” reading, reading work from a local writer should be something that one should strive for because they have the ability to capture the day-to-day lives of many community members, which is what makes local writers special to begin with. Finally, we can see ourselves in print and imagine other ways in which it feels to be in our respective communities.

Knowing that someone could go into Ellen Plumb’s City Bookstore and possibly read some of my work or even someone else who I am acquainted with is amazing and honorable. As a local writer, I am aware that people from across the state or nation will probably not read my work at the moment, which is why the new bookstore is so important to me and many other writers of Emporia.

By supporting local bookstores, one should also feel as if they are supporting local writers, and honestly, those are some of the best writers that one could support.

Some people may not think too much about local bookstores and what they mean to their communities. Some may not even see the value in a local bookstore, and just wonder why others do not just go to Barnes and Noble or some other large retail bookstore, but by going to a local bookstore, one could also see their attendance as a way of being fully engrossed in their community.

And as a way of fully understanding their own lives and upbringing.