Publishers Weekly is inviting booksellers and publishers to participate in the first annual National Bookstore Day on Saturday, November 7, to stimulate in-person visits to retail bookstores. PW will provide marketing and publicity for the event, including promotional materials and online outreach.

“We want to celebrate the vibrant culture of bookstores,” publisher Ron Shank said, “increase store traffic, sell more books and create an enjoyable customer experience that will lead to return visits. Every store is doing this already, but we think there may be an opportunity to get more customer attention if many across the country band together on the same day.”

PW will work with sister publications Library Journal and School Library Journal as well as companies involved in the BookLife network, which include BigUniverse, BookPage, BookSlut, IndieBound, JacketFlap, LitMob, Litopia, Publetariat and RECTV. Local and national bookselling organizations have been “overwhelmingly positive” in supporting the event, said Shank.