WHEREAS, Independent Bookstore Day, launched nationally in 2013 and celebrated annually on the last Saturday in April, and recognizes the cultural, civic, and economic contributions of independent bookstores across the United States; and
WHEREAS, bookstores are vital in providing access to books, and promote the skill of reading to fuel imagination, nurture empathy, and promote lifelong learning; and
WHEREAS, the City of Fresno proudly celebrates its vibrant literary community, including Judging by the Cover: a woman- and BIPOC-owned independent bookstore located in historic Chinatown, and centers LGBTQ+ and diverse voices, hosts inclusive community programming, and champions local artists, authors, and readers; and
WHEREAS, Judging by the Cover has taken the lead in organizing the 2025 Fresno Bookstore Passport, uniting 6 cherished local bookstores - Hart’s Haven, Petunia’s Place, the Clovis Book Barn, Fresno Friends of the Library Store, and Bookish 520 - for a day of literary celebration, poetry readings, live music, author talks, and meaningful community engagement; and
WHEREAS, this celebration also uplifts local businesses, such as BB’s Gelateria, Blk Market, Yoshi Now!, and Central Fish Co. through partnerships and prize incentives, encouraging residents to explore and support homegrown talent and entrepreneurship; and
WHEREAS, independent bookstores like those participating in the Fresno Bookstore Passport are more than retail spaces: they are hubs of creativity, connections, and belonging – welcoming readers into spaces where lifelong memories are made, new stories are discovered, and diverse communities are empowered.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Fresno City Council and Mayor Jerry P. Dyer, do hereby proclaim the 26
th of April 2025 to be:
“Independent Bookstore Day” in the City of Fresno.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , we have hereunto set our hands and affixed the Great Seal of the City of Fresno, California, on this 26th day of April 2025.