It's not just a bookstore
As a bibliophile, I love indie bookstores. I seek them out on trips and was delighted when Tamara Felden provided me with an Indie Bookstore Roadmap on a recent visit to her Rock Island indie bookstore, The Artsy Bookworm.
I had the pleasure of meeting Tamara last fall, when we both appeared on Paula Sands Live. During that appearance, she celebrated our freedom to read and spoke about books that have been challenged with book bans. She also shared The Artsy Bookworm's donation to the second graders at the Rock Island Academy, encouraging a love of reading by providing them with a personal library. I knew then, I'd met a kindred spirit.
Our community has a kindred spirit with Tamara and her bookstore. While bookstores are indeed about selling books and her store is about connecting readers to stories, the mission of The Artsy Bookworm includes offering “a safe space that is welcoming to everyone and where all interact with kindness and good will toward each other”, as well as “a place where our customers find themselves reflected in the things we sell or perhaps discover something new that broadens their perspective of others.” The Artsy Bookworm is about community building in cool, creative and connective spaces. These spaces include not only the store at 1319 30th Street, Rock Island, but also community outreach events, such as the recent Pride celebration, online book sales, and the development of a future patio space for customers.
The Artsy Bookworm understands that the best businesses are relationship builders. To foster these connections, the store offers a cadre of works by local authors, including many affiliated with the Midwest Writing Center. I was pleased to find How Little Billy Learned to Play by Shellie Moore Guy, as I recall my father taking me to a Bill Bell concert and as a UTHS freshman, Mallie Williams was our band director. Tamara also had books by Saadia Faruqi on display, as this author will be visiting the Quad Cities this summer as a visiting artist with Quad City Arts. The Artsy Bookworm will host her reading and book signing the evening of Wednesday, July 12th.
In addition to books, the shop offers book related gifts, yarn craft supplies, educational toys and artworks by local artists such as Jeanne O'Melia.
A quote by David Almond shares that “A good bookshop is not just about selling books from shelves, but reaching out into the world and making a difference.” The Artsy Bookworm exemplifies this.
Whether you are a local or a traveller who enjoys exploring indie bookstores, be sure to add The Arsty Bookworm to the “must explore” stops on your roadmap.
Lisa Powell Williams is a retired public services librarian and the current chair of the Quad City Arts Performing Arts Committee