Book Bin offers expanded community events

Hayley Lewis is a big reason the downtown store has so many new book clubs, midnight releases, and audiobook walks. 

Witches, clad in red capes, took to the skies. “Light the Flame of War, Queen of Witches, and rally your host,” Glennis spoke. One hearth after the other, they flew, swords strapped to their backs, into battle.

And then we waited for the crosswalk to change.

I was halfway through chapter 65 of Sarah J. Maas’ “Kingdom of Ash,” listening in my large headphones as I walked quietly with the others out of Riverfront Park, back to the Book Bin in downtown Salem. 

These audiobook walks are among several events hosted by the decades-old indie bookstore. They’re a fun way to meet new people, knock out a few chapters, and log a few thousand steps — silent disco style. 

Whether it’s a small trio, like we were on May 17, or upwards of 10 or 20 people, Hayley Lewis is happy to organize such an event. 

Hayley is the manager at Salem Book Bin and has been part of the team for nearly three years. She sets the pace for the walking group, winding through the park and keeping an eye out for oncoming traffic. She was eager during the mid-May walk to finish her horror novel, “Maggie’s Grave,” switching up to 3x speed to crank out the final minutes. 

Book Bin — home to the beloved cat, Rose — is a favorite among many Salemites, as is its sister location in Corvallis. Hayley and former co-manager Sierra Turner were the brains behind many of the store’s added events. 

From midnight release parties to new book clubs and the community audiobook walks, the duo was eager to expand Book Bin’s offerings. Hayley said these kinds of events are a good way for folks to make new friends. 

“We’re all pretty much set in our work atmosphere, and there’s not really a work-life balance nowadays,” Hayley said. That’s why she wanted to create opportunities for people who normally wouldn’t hang out to come together. “We all may be so different from each other, but we do have very similar tastes.” 

Book Bin now has several book clubs, including horror, romantasy, queer, sci-fi, and graphic novel. Some are simply hosted by Book Bin, some are run by staff, and some meet at other locations, specifically IKE Box Cafe or f/Stop Fitzgerald’s Public House. They have midnight releases coming up, most notably one for the final graphic novel in the “Heartstopper” series this July, and will host audiobook walks every other Sunday before the summer heat creeps up.  

The audiobook group walks came about last year through the store’s partnership with Libro.fm. They were so successful that Hayley brought them back. Participants meet at the downtown store, and each listens to whatever they want in their headphones as the group walks to the waterfront and back over 45 minutes to an hour. 

Hayley said they’re changing up their approach to make their events more manageable, too. For example, 5:30 p.m. is the earliest start time for any weekday book club, helping participants better navigate work schedules. She and other staff members also work to ensure they have the items their regular customers are likely to request. 

“I’ll see a book coming out, and I’ll be like, ‘Oh, Brandon really likes this author…we should get this,’” Hayley said. “We have a customer named Travis who will always come in for Freida McFadden, so I need to make sure I’m always having any releases.” 

That dynamic, she said, is the power of indie bookstores. They’re personal. 

Kat Baird said it’s always been important to her and co-owner and spouse Obadiah Baird that The Book Bin is a place that welcomes ‘book people.’ One facet of this is author readings and visits, but she said it’s “just as exciting to see friends and strangers get together to talk about what they’re reading, squeal over reveals, or push for deeper understanding of a difficult chapter.”

“I’m thrilled we’ve seen such a great response to the growth of book clubs, release parties, and audiobook walks that Hayley and Sierra made happen here in Salem,” Kat said. “Our Corvallis store has started hosting similar events, and they’ve been just as welcomed.”

Hayley hopes to provide more community opportunities down the line — maybe a crafting day or zine party. She said she’ll continue to prioritize local authors and diverse voices, too. 

But her biggest goal is for everyone to know “we are always a safe space for someone to come whenever they need it.”

“What I hope for Book Bin is what Book Bin provided me when I was younger,” Hayley said. “I would come to Book Bin three times a week when I was younger, just because I felt safe. I felt supported.” 

The Book Bin in Salem is located at 450 Court St NE. It’s open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Learn more at bookbin.com. 

Book clubs:

• The Feminist Book Club meets on the second Sunday of each month at the Salem Book Bin at 4 p.m.
• The Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Club meets on the third Monday of each month at f/Stop Fitzgerald’s Public House at 7:30 p.m.
• The Romantasy Book Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Salem Book Bin at 5:30 p.m.
• The Graphic Novel & Manga Book Club meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Salem Book Bin at 5:30 p.m.
• The Radical Book Club meets on the fourth Friday of each month at f/Stop Fitzgerald’s Public House at 6:30 p.m.
• The Horror Book Club meets on the third Sunday of each month at the Salem Book Bin at 4 p.m.
• The Queer Book Club meets on the second Friday of each month at the Ike Box Cafe at 5:30 p.m.
• The Bestseller Book Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. via Zoom. If you are interested in participating, email query@bookbin.com.

Audiobook walks:

• May 31, starting at 5:30 p.m.
• June 14, starting at 5:30 p.m.
• June 28, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Other upcoming Salem Book Bin events:

• “Heartstopper” final book midnight release party on Monday, July 6. Crafts and fun starting at 9 p.m. 

Author: Natalie Pate