Books are his business, but Library Shop SD manager Scott Ehrig-Burgess uses a TV term to describe his feelings about the San Diego Book Crawl.
“We’re always nervous this will be the year it jumps the shark,” Ehrig-Burgess said. “But, early indications are that people are more excited than ever.”
The book crawl, which starts Saturday, is an annual event sponsored by the San Diego Library Foundation. Organizers said they started the event nine years ago to draw in bookworms who love to explore the shelves, find new titles and meet other book lovers. It has since grown into one of the largest book crawls in the country, according to Ehrig-Burgess.
Crawlers are encouraged to visit as many stores as possible over the three-day event, collecting stamps along the way. A stamp is given for every $10 spent at participating stores, which can be exchanged for prizes, such as pins, tote bags and stickers.
“We like to think about it as the Super Bowl of books,” Ehrig-Burgess said.
He described himself as one of the “original wranglers” of the book crawl, after he created it with a Library Shop SD coworker in 2017. He said that the idea was inspired by the San Diego Yarn Crawl, a yearly, citywide event for weavers.
Taking place on Independent Bookstore Day, this first “proto-crawl,” as Ehrig-Burgess called it, began with only three stores: Library Shop SD, Verbatim Books in North Park and Bluestocking Books in Hillcrest. He said that they printed tote bags as an incentive for visiting all three stores – all 75 of which were gone by noon.
In 2018, the official crawl was born, and this year it’s larger than ever with 15 participating stores.
He said that each store offers “its own vibe and curated selection,” meaning there is something for everyone. But this isn’t just a fun event for book lovers. The bookstores benefit from the support of the crawlers – both from the boost in business and by connecting with their communities.
Supporting indie bookstores
Mary Lyons (left) and Kris Nelson (middle) at Bluestocking Books. (Photo courtesy of Kris Nelson)“It’s not just about a great day sales-wise,” said Mary Lyons, an out-of-print book specialist at Bluestocking Books. “It’s a lot about getting introduced to people who maybe haven’t discovered us yet. Although, we have been here a long time.”
Bluestocking Books, one of the original bookstores in the “proto-crawl” event, has remained a stop on the yearly lineup ever since. Offering a wide selection of new and used titles, the store has been a staple for the community since 1999, when current owner Kris Nelson took ownership.
As the book crawl has continued to expand each year, stores are consistently added to the roster. This includes newer stores which often rely on the high-volume sales weekend to remain in business.
“Every year, we all look forward to [the crawl] as a way to not just celebrate readers and books, but also what it takes to keep an indie store sticking around, year-round,” said Jesi Gutiérrez, co-owner of Libélula Books & Co. in Barrio Logan, which has participated in the book crawl since opening five years ago.
They added that, while many independent bookstores like theirs “look forward to the financial prosperity” that the weekend brings, “it’s not just the dollars either, it’s the emotional support.”
Libélula Books & Co. co-owner Jesi Gutiérrez. (Photo courtesy of Jesi Gutiérrez)Because of this, Gutiérrez said that independent bookstores “pay more attention to surrounding community needs.” For example, they said that Libélula offers a “robust Spanish language section” to reflect the linguistic demographics of Barrio Logan.
“Everyone I know who works with or for or in collaboration with an independent bookstore is really there because they love it, and because they believe in the power of literacy and language and storytelling,” they said.
Even first-time bookstore owners can appreciate this sentiment. Tyler Marbach and Emily McLaughlin bought The Book Place in La Mesa in September 2025. Now, only a few months later, they are preparing to host their first book crawl weekend.
McLaughlin said that she and Marbach have participated as crawlers for years; but, for their first year as store owners, they have one mission:
“To survive it,” Marbach said.
“Making sure people would like to come back, and surviving it,” McLaughlin added.
The Book Place owners Emily McLaughlin and Tyler Marbach. (Photo by Mireya Miner/Times of San Diego)Keeping crawlers happy
In anticipation of one of their busiest weekends of the year, each store has taken measures to ensure crawlers stay happy despite the crowds.
Lyons said that Bluestocking Books staff are busy preparing with “lots of dusting” and by getting “as many cool books in the system and on the sales floor as humanly possible.”
She said that they also plan to introduce an outdoor kiosk for customers who want a quick turnaround, or who don’t have enough time to stop, browse and wait in line before visiting the next store.
“We’ll have a lot of people here,” she said. “There is no other time of year that we have so many excited, fun and happy people that are filling the aisles and filling their tote bags with wonderful treasures.”
Many stores – such as Libélula Books & Co. and The Book Place – are preparing pre-made grab bags or non-book items priced at $10 to $15. This allows crawlers with a short time frame to grab-and-go.
McLaughlin said that some items The Book Place will have available include tote bags, candles and stickers.
But it’s not just the crawl that Libélula has to prepare for. Saturday is also Chicano Park Day. Gutiérrez said that the festival is sure to bring in large crowds, and that many streets will be closed off for the day. Because of this, they encourage any book crawlers to visit Libélula on Sunday or Monday to avoid the rush.
Book lovers show up
The Book Place in La Mesa. (Photo by Mireya Miner/Times of San Diego)The San Diego Book Crawl, by honoring independent bookstores and the loyal customers who keep them running, is part of a nationwide movement to help independent bookstores flourish.
The American Booksellers Association reported that this year’s Independent Bookstore Day “marks the largest event in its 13-year history,” with over 2,000 stores participating and more than 40 book crawls occurring nationwide.
“It’s very much a celebration,” said Lyons from Bluestocking Books.
Crawlers may want to be part of a big event, show their support for old favorites or simply discover something new.
“I think people just love getting out of their bubbles once a year and exploring,” Ehrig-Burgess from Library Shop SD said.
The SD Book Crawl takes place Saturday through Monday. More information, including individual store hours, a map and shuttle service details, can be found on the SD Book Crawl website.
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