Vermont Business Magazine The Norwich Bookstore has won the Book Publishers Representatives of New England Independent Spirit Award. The Independent Spirit Award is given annually at the NEIBA fall tradeshow to recognize the excellence in a bookstore member of the New England Independent Booksellers Association. Our rep members nominate bookstores for this award, and then we vote on the store we most believe stands for all that is great in New England bookselling.
This year was extremely competitive, with an unprecedented five-way tie at one point! For that reason I want to call attention to the nominees – Bridgeside Books, Jabberwocky Bookshop, Oblong Books & Music and RJ Julia. They have an enormous amount of support amongst New England Sales Representatives! But there had to be a winner, and we have selected the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT!
The winner receives two nights lodging for the NEIBA tradeshow and a free ticket to all NEIBA meals for an exceptional bookseller of Norwich’s choosing who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend the show.
Nikki Mutch of Scholastic, the BPRNE member who nominated Norwich said:
“Fiercely Independent, Liza Bernard and staff are passionate guardians of our books and authors. They work with reps to curate a selection of books that appeal to their surrounding communities, and are always willing to try something new to broaden horizons--Liza trusts us to help guide her selections and the staff reads what we put in their hands. Working with their local library, schools, and other independent businesses, they have shown what shopping local truly means. It means community and home, and Norwich Bookstore displays that in spades. I love working with Liza and going into Norwich Bookstore. I have had so many wonderful conversations with the staff and their customers, including receiving a lovely handwritten thank you note from one of Liza's favorite customers when I suggested a book I thought she might like. Small town bookstore done right.”