Heaps of Media for our 40th Anniversary Celebration!

Words Worth Books Marks 40 years in Waterloo

By Spencer Turcotte for CTVNews

Despite the digital wave, the pandemic and the supposed death of independent bookstores, Words Worth Books in Uptown Waterloo is celebrating 40 years.

“It’s pretty rare for an independent bookstore to reach that milestone,” said co-owner Mandy Brouse.

The cherished staple along King Street South was created in 1984, which co-owner David Worsley calls “surreal.”

The duo were long-time employees before taking over the business 13 years ago from original owners Tricia Siemens and Chuck Erion.

Brouse and Worsley maintained a loyal customer base. Along the way, they’ve bookmarked some pretty significant events that shaped the store’s identity.

“We had to move the bookstore over one door to our current location here within the first year of taking over ownership,” said Brouse.

That’s due to out-of-reach rent prices at the time for the size of the store they were in.

The current space is slightly smaller than the early beginnings but the quality never suffered, especially amidst a boom of E-books, which saw chains add other items to the shelves.

“We were going to die with books. We don’t know enough about selling olive oil and towels. And I have no idea what reading socks even are,” said Worsley.

Years later, the plot thickened outside the world of books, which saw several neighbouring businesses close. But the pair managed to keep turning the page.

“There’s proof that you do great work and you're selling something that the community needs and it works. They have gone through obviously the LRT construction transition and then the pandemic and they've done really well,” said Jeyas Balaskanthan, Uptown Waterloo BIA executive director.

Through it all, their love for physical books never wavered.

“You just start to tingle, that’s not going to go away,” said Worsley.

The store has organized numerous literary events, reading groups and community initiatives over the years. The owners are determined to keep the business going for many more years too.

To mark the anniversary, Words Worth Books will host a celebration at the store on Saturday at 1 p.m.

It will include guest appearances from local politicians and the founders of Words Worth Books.

There will also be a presentation of the Words Worthy Award, an accolade that recognizes the profound impact of a Canadian author on both the national literary landscape and the local community.

Words Worth Books Celebrating 40 years in Uptown Waterloo

By Matt Hutcheson for CityNews

Amazon couldn’t do it. E-readers couldn’t do it. LRT construction couldn’t do it and the pandemic couldn’t do it.

Despite so called experts proclaiming the death of the independent book store, Words Worth Books remains a cornerstone of the community.

The staple of Uptown Waterloo is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend with a party and everyone’s invited.

Co-owner Mandy Brouse told The Mike Farwell Show some very special guests will be on hand to mark the occasion.

“At 1 p.m. we’ll have some speeches with some notable local persons who have been very supportive of our store, including the original owners Tricia Seimens and Chuck Erion,” she said.

Following the speeches and some treats made by a former employee, Brouse and fellow co-owner David Worsley will give out the Words Worthy Award. It’s given to a Canadian author perhaps not receiving the recognition they deserve. It will be the first time in several years the award has been handed out.

Brouse said the celebration is really about the customers and friends.

“It means everything to use. We wouldn’t do a celebration without really showing how much support Words Worth Books has had over 40 years. It really is a community institution.”

Several giveaways will also happen throughout the day. To enter, simply share the event on any of Words Worth’s social media feeds. A grand prize will be awarded to the most creative post.

The festivities begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at 96 King Street South, Uptown Waterloo.

Words Worth Books celebrating 40 years in Waterloo

By Bill Jackson for the Record

Words Worth Books will celebrate its 40th anniversary this Saturday, May 11, in Waterloo.

Festivities begin at 1 p.m. with owners Mandy Brouse and David Worsley joined by local politicians and the business’ founders and previous owners, Tricia Siemens and Chuck Erion.

“We are excited to commemorate this incredible milestone and to continue our mission of promoting the printed word and fostering a love of literature in our community,” said Worsley, in a press release. “Words Worth Books has been a cornerstone of Uptown Waterloo for four decades, and we are entirely grateful to our loyal customers and the community for their ongoing support.”

Since being established in 1984, Words Worth Books has become more than just a bookstore. It’s cultural hub, organizing and supporting numerous literary events, reading groups and community initiatives throughout the year.

Sweet treats and memories will be shared Saturday along with a special announcement presenting the popular Words Worthy Award, which recognizes a Canadian author that’s had a significant impact on Canadian literature and the local literary scene.

Words Worth Mentioned in the Globe & Mail for Independent Bookstore Day

An Ode To Independent Canadian Bookstores

By Marsha Lederman for the Globe & Mail

A customer browses at Type Books in Toronto. In 2023, independent bookstore sales, tracked by BookNet Canada, made up 11.3 percent of print-book sales in Canada.

Photo credit Fred Lum/Globe & Mail

It's the easiest thing. I do it too, sometimes, guilt dripping from my fingers.

Need something? Need it by tomorrow? Click and it'll be at your doorstep and in your hands the next day (porch pirate possibilities notwithstanding).

Amazon started as an online marketplace for books. And then it expanded to – and changed – everything. But convenience aside, the changes weren't necessarily for the better. Just ask the many retail operations that have found it impossible to compete.

Originally called Cadabra, after "abracadabra," Amazon's founders changed the name because some found the reference too obscure. (Also, it was sometimes misheard as "cadaver.") As the story goes, Jeff Bezos flipped through the A section of the dictionary and arrived at the world's largest river (by discharge volume), and decided, yes, that would be a good name for his online bookstore. A river of books, floating out to readers around the world.

Today when you hear "Amazon," the online behemoth probably comes to mind before the tropical rainforest does, or its grand, nearly continent-spanning river. Sigh.

Want some real magic? Might I suggest a place of abundance that offers the experience of leafing through actual books and strolling down shelf-lined aisles, rather than having your fingers do the walking (ancient pre-internet reference, kids, to something we elders called ‘The Yellow Pages.’)

Rather than trust the algorithmic river of e-commerce with aiding the purchase of your next book (along with perhaps some kitty litter and baby wipes), you can visit a place that is devoted to literature, with dedicated, IRL staff who make suggestions based on actual knowledge and experience, rather than a programmed computer formula. Magical.

April 27 is Canadian Independent Bookstore Day – a marketing exercise with heart from the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (CIBA).

Independent bookstores have faced untold challenges over the years, even before rents and inflation shot through the roof. There was the rise of big box stores (in Canada: Chapters, now Indigo), the advent of e-books, and of course the ubiquity and ease of Amazon. We have lost some of the greats over recent years – Nicholas Hoare in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa; Duthie Books in Vancouver (sob).

But we've gained new ones too. Type Books in Toronto, for instance, which opened its first store in 2006. Flying Books opened its Toronto permanent location (it started as a pop-up) in late 2021.

And some of the best are still with us, including Munro's (my favourite bookstore on the planet, so far) in Victoria; and McNally Robinson in Winnipeg and Saskatoon.

To misquote Mark Twain, the death of the indie bookstore has been greatly exaggerated.

CIBA, formed in 2020, has more than 160 bookseller members representing nearly 180 stores. In 2023, independent bookstore sales, tracked by BookNet Canada, made up 11.3 per cent of print-book sales in Canada – up 7.5 per cent over 2022.

If you love books, or even just like them (or love someone who does), there is nothing like browsing through a bookstore. You will find things the algorithm might never serve up to you. So many possibilities on those shelves – history to learn, dishes to cook, escapes from reality to take.

When I travel, I love visiting indie bookshops. They almost always have a "local interest" shelf, which can give you a sense of the community. Over the past year or so, I've been enchanted by Polar Peek Books in Fernie, B.C.; King W. Books in Hamilton; Words Worth Books in Waterloo, Ont.; and the Bookshelf in Guelph, Ont., (which also houses an indie cinema – so great).

Indie Bookstore Day is more than just a feel-good event (although there are many good feels involved); it also generates a significant amount of revenue. Last year, participating bookstores reported a 75-per-cent increase in sales on that day over previous and following Saturdays, according to CIBA's annual report. In Calgary, tickets to a collaborative indie book crawl being offered this year sold out in one minute.

Pop into an indie bookstore on Saturday and you might encounter a real live Canadian author behind the cash, ringing in your purchase. Nita Prose, bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest, and children's author Ruth Ohi are among the 25 who will appear at Blue Heron Books in Uxbridge, Ont., for instance.

Independent bookstores are devoted to Canadian authors, and not just as celebrity cashiers one day a year. They often go out of their way to prominently display and recommend works by local and Canadian authors. And those writers need the support. According to BookNet, books by Canadians made up only 12 percent of print-book sales in Canada last year.

We need Canadian authors and we need independent bookstores. No more cadavers, please.

So, what are you doing on Saturday?

(Special Thanks to longtime Words Worth customer S.R. for sending us the article!)

Returning to Curbside Pickup

With the provincial government’s April 1st announcement of a return to a province-wide shutdown as of 12:01am April 3rd, Words Worth will be once again closed to in-store traffic. We will be continuing to do no-contact pickup from our back door, as well as deliveries for $3 in Kitchener and Waterloo on Monday and Friday mornings. In both cases, payment ahead of time is required.

Further news will be shared as it comes up.