In honor of National Book Month (and Banned Books Week), it’s time for SweisKloss’ 3rd Annual Guide to independently owned bookstores in the Los Angeles area.

Stories Books and Café (https://storiesla.com/)

Echo Park’s Stories Books and Café feeds the mind and body with a “unique blend of literary charm and cozy café vibes.” It is the ideal destination for bookworms and coffee connoisseurs alike. The shaded patio in the back is the perfect spot for unwinding. From book release events to live music, they have created a strong sense of community.

Bel Canto Books (https://belcantobooks.net/)

Founded by Jhoanna Belfer, a Filipina-American poet, this Long Beach bookstore offers a selection of fiction, nonfiction and children’s books organized around a theme of the month. Celebrating books by women and people of color, they also offer a concierge program for personalized book recommendations. Along with their standalone bookstore on 4th Street, they’ve also opened a shop inside the collaborative space KUBO LB and recently set up a mini bookstore at their favorite local coffee shop, Steel Cup Café.

Malik Books (https://malikbooks.com/)

A Black-owned bookstore, Malik Books specializes in African-American books full of culture and diversity. From hard-to-find novels to best-sellers, they cater to a wide range of interests within the African American community. With stores in Westfield Culver City Mall and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall, they also host book signings and author events, a podcast, and a bookmobile to promote community engagement.

Café con Los Libros Press (https://cafeconlibrospress.org/)

A non-profit organization, Café con Los Libros Press is a bookstore, lending library and community space in downtown Pomona. Opened by two Latina educators, its shelves are filled with independent authors and diverse titles that reflect their experiences “as women of color, first generation college grads and immigrant advocates.” The lending library offers a variety of reading materials at no cost and is supported by monthly themed book drives and donations from the community. They also maintain a booth at the weekly Farmers Market in Pomona where children can listen to a story and find a book to take home.

The Daily Planet (https://shop.theheartworm.com/collections/thedailyplanet)

*Image by Anush Mkrtchyan, courtesy of highschool.latimes.com*

While you won’t find Clark Kent here, you will find an eclectic mix of international magazines, poetry books by cult musicians and influential writers, and curated vinyl at this Franklin Village independent bookstore. Owned by the founders of the band Cold Cave, The Daily Planet may look like a newsstand but wander inside to peruse unique titles at this one-of-a-kind spot.

Visit the Friends of the Library Bookstore at local libraries to purchase gently used books, movies and more on sale with proceeds supporting your local library system. A few of the local “friends”:
Friends of The Santa Monica Public Library (https://friendsofsmpl.org/bookstore/);
Friends of The Beverly Hills Public Library (https://www.friendsofbhpl.org/);
Friends of The West Hollywood Library (https://www.wehofol.org/);
Friends of The Redondo Beach Public Library (https://www.redondobeachlibraryfriends.com/);

And all of the Libraries in The Los Angeles Public Library system have “friends”, see their calendar of events here: https://www.lapl.org/events. The Library Foundation of LA’s Library Store (https://shop.lfla.org/) sells books, stationary, apparel and gifts.

SK’s 3rd Annual Guide to Independent Bookstores