By Monica Fragale
Contributing Writer

Bookstores call to the readers in all of us, inviting us in to peruse and maybe purchase different adventures and experiences on the pages of its books.

The Hockessin BookShelf has been calling readers of all ages since 2002. In November, the store celebrated three years under Kennett Square owner Jennifer Blab. 

“I knew the previous owner, and she was moving and planning on closing her store,” Blab said. “I didn’t want it to close.”

The Hockessin BookShelf is one of more than 2,000 such bookstores in the United States, according to the American Booksellers Association, a trade association for independent bookstores. In a time of Amazon selling millions of books each year and brick-and-mortar corporate bookstores like Barnes & Noble, the independent bookstores hold a special place in communities.

“Independent bookstores provide inclusive and affirming community spaces; support access to books; ally with librarians and teachers; ensure that people can see themselves reflected in books; champion the right to read and the First Amendment; promote long-form reading that fosters critical thinking; create opportunities for discourse; provide alternatives to monopolies that limit consumer choice; and bring people together,” said Allison K. Hill, the American Booksellers Association’s CEO, in a letter posted on the ABA website (bookweb.org).

For Blab, the Hockessin BookShelf was a place she frequently brought her children when they were younger.

“We were regular customers,” she said. “We would go buy children’s books.”

The bookstore at 7179 Lancaster Pike in Hockessin has been host to countless author readings, book signings, book clubs, children’s events, and other happenings geared toward book lovers. 

A book signing and author event with former Hockessin resident Caroline Woods will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. Dec. 22. It is part of Woods’ book tour to promote “The Mesmerist,” a historical fiction thriller novel released by Doubleday this fall. The book is available for purchase at The Hockessin BookShelf.

Like mystery books? Join the Mystery Book Lovers Club, which meets on the second Monday of each month and is led by the bookstore’s event coordinator, Lisa Driban. Mystery lovers can join the lunch group at 2 Fat Guys or the evening group at the bookstore.

Looking for a group that celebrates books and food? Try the Eat Drink Read book club, which is led by Blab and which, starting in January, will meet at Two Stones Pub for lunch or the Back Burner Restaurant for dinner. Both meetings in 2025 will be held on the fourth Thursdays.

“Mostly those books I choose are literary fiction,” Blab said.

Then, for those who prefer to read on their own in a bibliophile’s dream, there is the Silent Book Club. It’s a local chapter of a national movement, according to Blab.

“It’s where people come and read their own books for 45 minutes” and then spend the next 45 minutes talking about books and getting recommendations, Blab said.

It’s held at the bookstore on the first Tuesday of the month, and recently returned after taking the summer off.

Peruse the shelves of the Hockessin BookShelf and you’ll find a mix of new and used publications. Local authors with new books can consign them with the store, according to Blab.  For every book of theirs sold, the author and bookstore split the proceeds 70/30.

“We have our local author showcases every month where we bring in a couple of authors to sign books and greet the customers,” she said.

The next local author showcase will be Saturday, Dec. 21, and features authors Dave Aupperle and Lola B.

Those bibliophiles looking for a new home for their used books can check with the Hockessin BookShelf to see if they can bring them in.

“People can bring in books and receive store credit,” Blab said. “They may use a portion of their credit toward purchasing other used books. Our used books are half the cover price, and another 25 percent off with credit.”

The bookstore also recognizes its customers’ birthdays, sending out postcards for a special gift.

“Customers with store accounts get a free, used book for their birthday,” Blab said, adding that it was already an established tradition when she took over the bookstore.

For those who want to order new books, they can order them and pick them up in the store, or they can use an online store called Bookshop.org to order books that are then delivered to them.

For those who want to listen to audio books, they too can be ordered through an outside company that also benefits the Hockessin store. Libro.fm allows users to select Hockessin as their home store, and a portion of anything that is purchased goes there.

Part of the magic of any bookstore has much to do with the people who staff it. Driban has been with the Hockessin BookShelf for more than 10 years, according to Blab.

“She handles all of our events, does our newsletter,” Blab said. “She definitely helped me learn the ropes of the store when I bought it, because she has such knowledge of working there for so long.”

Lynn Ciarlo is the children’s coordinator and also the liaison with nearby schools. Among other things, she works with Blab to bring different children’s books into the store.

“She’s been with us over two years,” Blab said, describing the stuffed animal sleepover event that she does. “Children drop off their stuffed animals to spend the night, and the next morning they come and pick them up and have refreshments.”

There is also a morning story time once the children pick up their stuffies. Overnight, children receive pictures of their “stuffies” doing different things like playing UNO or hide-or-seek, she said.

Rounding out the staff is Audra Call, a teenager who works part-time, shelves books, and works on projects.

For those not yet familiar with the BookShelf, Blab urges them to stop by, check it out, and discover her favorite part of being a bookseller – “Being surrounded by all the books and seeing what’s coming out.”