According to a New York Post report, half of consumers are reducing screen time, driving renewed interest in analog experiences, with 70 percent planning to read more this year. With Independent Bookstore Day on April 25, the shift is gaining attention.
In Charleston, Ladybird Books has emerged as an answer to that demand. The bookstore offers everything from best-selling fiction to Southern nonfiction, alongside cookbooks, painting books, vinyl records and magazines, all curated to slow down and engage in person. When owner Summer Anderson opened the store in October, her goal was to create a welcoming third place rooted in community, now reflected in a growing events program that has covered topics ranging from fishing and interior design to combating gun violence, drawing a diverse cross-section of Charleston with each event.
To celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 25, Ladybird Books (299 King St.) will host a full day of in-store activations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., including:
- A HART pop up featuring literary-character-inspired pieces (think a necklace with daisy, martini, heart and gem charms to personify Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby).
- Customizable hand-marbled, hand-calligraphed bookmarks from Ashley Begley.
- A hidden Golden Ticket, redeemable for 12 audiobook credits from Libro.fm, for one lucky customer to find.