The Box Turtle books Ethos
Turtles have the luxury of carrying place with them wherever they go. When they need shelter, safety, or comfort, their shell is always ready and waiting. Place is the space where communities meet, where friends are made, where resistance is fueled.
A bookstore is a special kind of place—familiar, cozy, nostalgic for some. A bookstore is more than the sum of its parts; beyond the shelves and stories, a bookstore can be a refuge, a sanctuary, and a gentle force for good.
Box Turtle Books is a locally-owned independent bookstore in Uptown Shelby, NC. We offer new releases, beloved bestsellers, and voices you haven’t yet discovered. We exist for the weirdos, loners, and quiet kids. For bubbly spirits and bright souls.
We believe that Black lives matter and that trans lives matter. We believe that learning is a right, not a privilege, and that big ideas belong in small towns. We stand for civil rights, creative freedom, and environmental stewardship. We believe that reading has the power to illuminate, challenge, comfort, and change.
Box Turtle Books wants to inspire readers to think deeply, love widely, and to leave things better than they found them.
OUR MISSION
Box Turtle Books exists to gather the readers, stir up the thinkers, and make our community a little louder, smarter, and more alive.
Our Vision
wE ENVISION A FUTURE WHERE RURAL SHELVES ARE FULL OF STORIES, READERS SHAPE THE CULTURE, AND EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY BELONG.
Accessibility & Inclusion Initiatives
Everyone deserves a safe, welcoming place to explore stories, ideas, and community. Box Turtle Books is committed to creating a bookstore environment that celebrates diversity and actively removes barriers to access, whether physical, cultural, economic, or emotional.
Physical Accessibility
ADA-Compliant Space: Our store is wheelchair-accessible, with wide aisles, step-free entry, and clearly marked signage.
Sensory Considerations: Soft lighting, natural textures, and quiet zones are intentionally designed to create a soothing, neurodivergent-friendly environment.
Accessible Restroom: Our staff restroom is designed to ADA standards and available to customers upon request.
Economic Accessibility
Sliding Scale & Pay-It-Forward Programs: Select programming and books are offered on a sliding scale or via a “book bank” supported by customer donations.
Free Little Library Partnership: Box Turtle Books helps maintain and stock local little libraries with gently used or donated books.
Special Discount Days: Educators, students, and SNAP/EBT cardholders are offered special discounts throughout the year.
Cultural Inclusion
Shelves Curated with Intention: Our inventory reflects a range of voices, with deliberate inclusion of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, neurodivergent, immigrant, Appalachian, and working-class authors.
Celebration of Marginalized Voices: Cultural heritage months and local history is celebrated through special events, displays, and book clubs.
Community-Led Programming: We seek out local leaders, artists, and activists to co-create programming that reflects our community’s real and varied stories.
Community Impact Metrics
Box Turtle Books is more than a bookstore: it’s a gathering place, a resource hub, and a love letter to literacy, learning, and neighborliness. To remain accountable to our values and community, we track key indicators that reflect our social, educational, and cultural impact, which include…
Literacy & Education Support
Number of free or low-cost literacy events hosted
Number of books donated to local schools, shelters, or community programs
Partnerships formed with educational institutions
Community Engagement
Event attendance numbers and participant feedback
Repeat customer visits and engagement across social platforms
Volunteer hours contributed; partnerships formed for co-hosted programming
Local Economic Development
Percentage of products sourced from local or regional authors, artists, and makers
Dollars spent on or earned through consignment, wholesale, or fair trade with small/local businesses
Collaborations with neighboring merchants and participation in local initiatives
Inclusion & Representation
Diversity in titles carried and promoted (by and about BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, and Appalachian authors)
Community feedback on inclusivity and accessibility of programming and space
Environmental & Sustainable Practices
Pounds of recycled or composted waste per year
Use of eco-friendly packaging or sourced goods
Number of sustainable vendors or carbon-offset shipping options utilized
Evaluation & Reporting
Box Turtle Books collects these numbers daily and reviews them quarterly using a combination of POS data, event attendance, customer feedback, and vendor tracking. Our annual Community Impact Report offers transparency and invites collaboration, and will be shared on our website in 2026.