Bookstore

There are hundreds of independent bookstores across the region and many are more than just a place to buy books. These shops often serve as gathering places and community hubs. Increasingly, these bookstores have been defenders of literary freedom. In Carbondale, on Colorado’s Western Slope, White River Books opened its doors in 2022. Since then, owner Izzy Stringham has worked to stock her shelves with a wide range of voices and stories. KDNK spoke with Stringham about the value of literacy, lived stories, and the freedom to read.