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

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.

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