25 Independent Bookshops across Ireland will participate in the first ever “Global Book Crawl” launching simultaneously in 16 countries on 21st to 27th April.
For one week, hundreds of Independent bookshops in over 50 cities around the world ranging from Westport to Brooklyn, Stockholm, Malaga to Sydney to Mexico City will distribute “The Global Book Crawl Passport” to book lovers. Participants are invited to take their passport and embark on an adventure through the heart of a city’s/region’s indie bookshops, gathering stamps, discovering hidden cultural gems, availing of discount vouchers and connecting with other readers.
In Ireland, 22 independent bookshops are joining together for an Ireland crawl. Participating bookshops in County Clare are Banner Books Ennistymon, Banner Books Kilrush, and the Ennis Bookshop.
The initiative is the brainchild of three bookshops; Tertulia bookshop, Westport, Federico Lang, Libreria Luces, Malaga, Spain and Jessica Stockport, Greenlight Books, Brooklyn, New York who realised the power of independent bookshops when they collaborate. The Global Book Crawl is more than an event, it’s a movement. By participating, bookshops strengthen their community bonds with book lovers and through collaboration with other local indie bookshops. Together, they create a united front that celebrates and supports the local book culture on the local and world stage.
By joining the crawl, shops can invite a broader audience into the experience, encouraging new customers to discover the value and charm of local, independent bookshops. Participating bookshops gain visibility through the Global Book Crawl’s platform, press coverage, and social media presence, helping to extend their reach locally and globally.
Bríd Conroy of Tertulia Bookshop believes this is just the beginning “we know the importance of bookshops as community and cultural spaces. This is our first worldwide event all celebrating the Global Book Crawl on the same week in April, but it will grow and grow each year as bookshops want to be part of it. In Ireland we have over 100 independent bookshops and can’t wait to have them all on board”.
Starting on the 21st April, over 1,000 passports will be distributed in Ireland for the inaugural global event this year. The initiative will run on for the summer – inviting readers “to take their bookshop on holiday with them this summer”. There will be spaces on the passport for stamps from participating international bookshops too when book lovers visit Malaga or Florence for example.
Events will be held to celebrate the passport holders during Independent Book Week on 14th -21st June and Irish Book Week 18th-25th October.
The campaign is spreading on Instagram @globalbookcrawl #globalbookcrawl; building a global literary map, one bookshop and one post at a time.