June is Audiobook Month: How to Listen and Support Independent Bookstores
Yes, audiobooks count as reading - and no, you don't just have one option to buy them.
AUDIOBOOKS COUNT AS READING.
This phrase is posted all over social media time and time again because, for some wild reason, the debate persists. Regardless of what side of the argument you land on, Audiobook Appreciation Month in June gives us all audio-lovers a chance to celebrate the joy audiobooks bring to our daily lives.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and bookseller partner with Libro.fm and Kobo/Rakuten, I earn from qualifying purchases. At no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting QNB.
FROM CONSUMER TO BOOKSELLER
As a newbie bookstore owner, Iām learning as I go to shift my mentality from pure consumer to business owner. To be completely transparent: As a consumer, Iāve been a long customer of Audible, Kindle Unlimited, and Barnes & Noble. Iām deeply embedded with the ābig badsā (not getting political, just being a little cheeky) when it comes to my habits. They make it easy, and they deliver a decent, reliably priced product. No complaints there.
However, stepping behind the counter (figuratively speaking at the moment!) has made me realize that every dollar spent with massive corporations is a dollar NOT being invested with our local economies. It is a dollar NOT being spent supporting the indie bookstores that serve our neighborhoods in ways that go far beyond just putting pages on shelves.
Independent bookstores sell books, yes, but they also act as a vital resource for local schools, provide a āthird spaceā for remote workers and students, and bring the community together with book clubs, author events, and bookish activities. (This even includes audiobook walk/run clubs, which are becoming increasingly popular lately!)
When you choose an indie, youāre investing in that infrastructure. Consider a few trade secrets:
The Price Illusion: Did you know that mega-retailer prices are often so low because they get huge bulk discounts and are perfectly ok taking a loss on books just to drive traffic to their other services?
2-Day Turnaround: Did you know that your local bookstore can almost always special-order the book you want that isnāt on the shelf? In most cases, it takes just two days to arrive in-store for pickup. Just ask!
Community Hubs: Interested in hosting an event, a club, or community meetup? Ask your local indie bookshop about that too, because theyāll likely be thrilled to collaborate.
BOOKSTORE PARTNER & AFFILIATE PROGRAMS
At every turn, we are bombarded with links for the latest online fads or ads flashing influencer coupon codes. We know that many of these corporate partnerships are not transparent, and they rarely benefit the creators or small businesses involved.
The independent book trade, however, sticks together and has built its own digital ecosystem. If you love the convenience of digital reading but want your money to support local shops, these are the three transparent, indie-first platforms you should know about:
Libro.fm: This is the ultimate alternative to Audible. When you buy single audiobooks or sign up for a monthly credit subscription through Libro.fm, a piece of that profit split goes directly to the independent bookstore of your choice (including Quiet Nook Books!). You get access to the same audiobooks, a beautiful app, and credit-for-credit pricing (and a few other benefits), but you are directly funding a small businessā rent instead of a tech broās rocket ship.
Iāve actually recently transitioned to Libro.fm myself. I figured I couldnāt possibly be a partner for something I didnāt believe in myself, and they have not disappointed. In fact, theyāve exceeded my expectations. Before switching, I did a lot of searching how the membership worked, the prices, the offerings, and ease of use. Iāll say that it is a 5 out of 5 and stacks up pretty evenly with Audible on pricing & plans - plus, the credits do not expire and audiobooks can be downloaded and played outside of their app.
Kobo: If you love e-readers and are still looking for āThe Oneā, Kobo may be the answer. While Kobo no longer partners directly with the American Booksellers Association (ABA), they do offer an affiliates program with Rakuten where e-readers, e-books, or audiobooks are purchased through the affiliate links. Using the specific link here from your preferred independent bookstore is key here.
Iāve never owned an e-reader before and primarily used the Kindle Unlimited app on my phone or iPad. Recently, I purchased my first Kobo Clara BW for myself and a Libra Colour for my daughter. We are both extremely happy with the price, the size, the weight, and the features they offer. We love the screens give that authentic bookish look & feel, and the lightweight design makes it super easy to hold, prop, or toss into my purse. Plus, since reading ARCs is keeping me busy, Iām subscription-free atm, if you didnāt know that was an option! Note that the Kobo Plus subscription is a lower monthly cost than competitors. Though I will say that because of KUās exclusivity agreements and sizeable library, I do find myself enjoying the Kobo reader but paying for the KU subscription on/off to catch my favorite indie author releases.
Bookshop.org: This is an alternative way to get your physical books and e-books online. If you canāt make it to your local brick-and-mortar store in person, buying your books through here ensures that a part of the profits of your purchase are sent directly to your chosen indie bookshop. For sales that arenāt assigned to any specific bookshop, they maintain a profit sharing pool that is distributed evenly to all participating independent bookstores nationwide, keeping the entire ecosystem alive.
As a provisional member of ABA and because Quiet Nook Booksā doors are not yet open, we are not a part of Bookshop.org., but we fully intend to join once our physical doors open!
BEYOND THE CART
Iāll conclude by saying that your local bookstores exist to support and enrich the community. Even if buying books isnāt in your budget right now, there are so many ways to connect and help keep them continue to be neighborhood staples. Show up to their free events, recommend them to a friend, or share their posts on social media.
One of my favorite Substack writers David McIlroy posted recently: āThe gap between where you are and where you want to be isnāt talent. Itās visibility.ā
Every little bit of love keeps our doors open!
P.S. Support libraries too!