Photo: Nicola Rooney (Nicola's Books), Karl Pohrt (Shaman Drum) and Bill Zirinsky (Crazy Wisdom). Not pictured: Ruth Schekter (Crazy Wisdom).
 

Building Community
Strong, independent bookstores serve as cornerstones of a vibrant, strong community. They offer much more than books; events, book signings, and gathering spaces make them an integral part of any community. Ann Arbor is a great example: "We are very much a locally owned business focused on nourishing the community of which we are a part," says Bill Zirinsky, who owns Crazy Wisdom with his wife Ruth Schekter. They decided to integrate space for community gatherings as well as a tearoom into their bookstore when they moved to Main Street in 1999.
 
Unique and Interesting
Karl Pohrt, Shaman Drum Bookshop's owner, says, "You'll find books in our stores that you won't find anywhere else." This sentiment is echoed by Nicola Rooney, owner of Nicola's Books, on the Westside of Ann Arbor, who explains that their inventory is determined by what customers want to buy. "There are no corporate executives saying you should buy this or that – customers are in control," she says. Long-time employees bring passion and a depth of knowledge about the books that are available. Each of these three bookstores makes an effort to support local authors and to promote well - written books which do not get picked up by larger stores. According to Bill Zirinsky, "We consider it to be an important part of our mission to support local and regional authors." This is just one of the ways in which Ann Arbor's independent bookstores keep our money and talent in circulation in our community.
 
Keeping an Independent Bookstore Afloat
Each of these bookstores has added non-book products to diversify their selections and provide additional sources of revenue. However, times have been challenging for independent bookstores in recent years. While the Michigan economy is definitely one reason cited by booksellers, another reason is that some shoppers browse books in bookstores, and then go and buy the books online. This isn't helpful to the bookstores, or the community. According to Nicola, "Amazon supports no authors, pays no sales taxes, and holds no community events. If you take our advice, but don't buy our products, we won't exist." In spite of their challenges, each of these bookstore owners expresses appreciation for our community's book culture and willingness to support independent bookstores. "We hope to be here for many more years," adds Karl Pohrt.
  
To find these bookstores:
Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room
114 S. Main St.
(734) 665-2757
www.crazywisdom.net

Shaman Drum Bookshop
311-315 South State Street
(734) 662-7407
www.shamandrum.com

Nicola's Books
2513 Jackson Avenue
(734) 662-0600
www.nicolasbooks.com