In a heartwarming show of community spirit, the small town of Chelsea, Michigan, pulled off a liter feat worthy of its own novel.
When the beloved local bookstore Serendipity Books announced it was moving to a larger space, owner Michelle Tuplin was faced with a logistical challenge: how to move 9,100 books — and hundreds of boxes — without closing the business for days.
“People really consider independent bookstores theirs,” Tuplin said Tuesday. “It’s really a part of the community, and they have ownership.”
So she came up with a novel idea.
Tuplin put out a call for volunteers, hoping some might lend a hand. What she got was a full-on movement — a human conveyor belt stretching 350 feet from the old store’s stockroom, around the corner and into the new location.
More than 300 people — and one very good dog — showed up to help. Neighbors, customers and even passersby joined in, forming two human chains to get the job done.
“It was just a joyful experience,” said Donna Zak, one of the volunteers. “We were passing the books and noticing and commenting to each other, ‘Oh, have you read this one? I really enjoyed this one!’”
