One day. Fifty States. Over 2000 independent bookstores nationwide.
This is the provocative slogan the American Booksellers Association is enticing current and future booklovers to celebrate National Independent Bookstore Day 2026.
The last Saturday in April is National Independent Bookstore Day. a literal booklovers holiday where the beloved local book shops plan events for the day, week, or even the month of April to welcome the community in to experience the joy of being immersed in books.
This year, National Independent Bookstore Day falls on Saturday, April 25.
In the spirit of supporting the many independent bookstores across the Mohawk Valley, below please find a guide to them across Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison Counties, hoping one and all will make a plan to get out and visit these beloved local small businesses and celebrate books and a love of reading.
Guide to Independent Bookstores in the Mohawk Valley
ADIRONDACK KIDS PRESS – Camden – Online Children’s New Bookstore
315-225-0154 – theadirondackkids@gmail.com FACEBOOK This unique, Camden-based online bookstore features the Adirondack Kids children’s book series that follows a crew of kiddos as they explore Upstate New York’s Adirondack Park over 21 titles with its Book #1 celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The endeavor’s website celebrates the publisher’s purpose, which is “inspiring kids to read and explore the great outdoors.”
ATHENIX BOOKS & BREWS – Little Falls – New and Used Books
624 East Main Street – 989-671-0081 – HOURS: 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. 7 days/week FACEBOOK
While this local bookstore inspires you to “enter the keep” by enchanting with a Harry Potter-esque decor and motif of magic and fantasy, they carry that among diverse genres, including special sections for children’s books, children’s story hour, and a nook celebrating local authors. This entrepreneurial Little Falls-own young local business owner has curated a unique model including subscriptions, memberships, members-only benefits, special events, vibrant social media, and monthly mugs and tees embossed with clever, fun book-ish sayings and slogans.
Athenix has also made good on the promise of BREWS, recently opening their coffee shop in adjacent space where patrons can flow between the joe and their page-turning juju.
Book clubs for diverse cohorts, including teens, author events, coffee events, and more, an innovative owner expresses his love for the community by gathering them together.
Owner, Nick Bennet, invites both coffee, tea, tee, and tome lovers to “enter the keep!”
BERRY HILL BOOK SHOP – Deansboro – Used and Rare Books
2349 State Route 12B – 315-821-6188 – HOURS: Tue. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. FACEBOOK
Berry Hill is an open retail bookstore in Central New York housed in a converted dairy barn that has been providing that inimitable linger among shelves of used books to the Mohawk Valley since 1968. They carry a general used and antiquarian stock of over 125,000 volumes is organized by subject over three floors.
This vintage venue features a much-anticipated Annual Book Sale every summer and can be found out and about the Mohawk Valley “popping up” in concert with other local businesses adn events.
BOOKS ART & MORE – New Hartford – New and Used Books
8502 Seneca Turnpike – 315-717-5383 – HOURS: Thu. – Fri. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. FACEBOOK
This shop offers an innovative blend of used books and consigned visual arts by local artists, with a bend to feature artists with disabilities. Conveniently located on Seneca Turnpike, sharing a short shopping center offering easy on/off the thoroughfare and ample parking with Talbot’s and Verizon, consider a spontaneous stop by to browse and support local independent bookstores and local artists.
Look for this endeavor to pop up at other local businesses and events, and support local causes. For example, during the month of April, they are conducting a fundraiser for the Kelberman Center and their annual “Walk for Autism” by accepting donations at their shop, which will be matched by an anonymous donor, and popping up at events leading up to the annual stroll for the charity. CARRIAGE BARN BOOKS – Cazenovia – Used Books
100 Albany Street – 315-655-9322 – HOURS: Thu. 12 noon – 4 p.m. / Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. / Sun. 12 noon – 4 p.m. – FACEBOOK
Carriage Barn Books is a gently used bookstore located adjacent to the Cazenovia Public Library in a vintage building that may well have once been a carriage barn! It is operated by Friends of the Library and run by volunteers. They collaborate with the library, supporting themes and events.
CHERRY VALLEY BOOKSTORE – Cherry Valley – Used and Rare Books
81 Alden Street – 850-261-8715 HOURS: Sat. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. / Sun. 1 – 6 p.m. FACEBOOK
Cherry Valley Bookstore in this eclective revolutionary-era town boast an amazing selection of used and rare books in many genres. They have approximately 15,000 books in stock.
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to learn about new arrivals and treasures.
INK & PAPER BOOKSTORE – Cazenovia – New Books
7 Lincklaen Street – 315-815-4400 – HOURS: Wed. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. / Sun. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – FACEBOOK
Their social media promises a bookstore that provides a space to hold a physical book, relax, read and shop with friends. A place to find books you love and want to bring home or spend vacations with. The Ink & Paper Bookstore carries fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books with a selection of journals, cookbooks, and bookish merchandise as well. THE LETTER AND LEAF – Camden – New and Used Books
67 Main Street – 315-820-4032 – HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. / Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. / Sun. CLOSED – FACEBOOK
The Letter & Leaf is an independent, family-owned used bookstore in the heart of Central New York. Step inside and you’ll find shelves of well-loved stories, hidden gems, and books that feel like they’ve been waiting just for you.
This local haunt promises a carefully curated collection of books, as well artisanal goods and gifts, creams, teas, and paper goods. They promise a visit will emote “cozy vibes and local treasures”
They opened their doors in Nov. 2024 and, now in their 2nd year, have quickly transformed into a local treasure. TREEHOUSE READING & ARTS CENTER – New York Mills – Children’s Bookstore
587 Main Street, Suite 304 (Fitness Mill Building) – 315-765-6262 – HOURS: Mon. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. / Tue.-Wed.-Thu. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. / Fri. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. / Sat. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. / Sun. CLOSED – FACEBOOK
This venue is about children’s literacy and making early reading an experience to have and a family affair. They offer tutoring, several themed book clubs, programs for home-schooled children and parents, birthday parties, summer camps, baby showers, parents night out and other special events all around the joy of reading.
TWO BROKE BESTIES (BOOK STORE) – Camden – New Books (to order)
10055 Pennymix Road – FACEBOOK
This innovate approach to making books and every curio that has a thing to do them a true experience, including in giving and receiving the gift of reading. Their books are curated based on customer suggestion, book tok and personal reads the proprietors believe should be shared with their followers. Therefore, we purchase new books only.
Once books are in house, they do deep dives into each book, including the author, genre, summary of each novel and where it’s trending.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Visit these Mohawk Valley independent bookstores for Indy Bookstore Day
Reporting by Cara Dolan Berry, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
