Discover your next great read | Browse our latest recommendations
Discover your next great read | Browse our latest recommendations
Brain Lair Books emerged from a community Kickstarter campaign and opened its doors in downtown South Bend in 2019, quickly becoming a beloved gathering place. The store's mission centers on representation, ensuring that every child who walks through the door can find characters and stories that reflect their own experience. The open, colorful interior was designed with families in mind, featuring low shelving for young browsers and a dedicated story-time area with comfortable seating for parents. The adult sections emphasize literary fiction, social justice, and education, reflecting South Bend's university community and civic engagement. Owner Kara Ellsworth's background in education informs the store's programming, which includes partnerships with local schools and libraries.
Brain Lair Books emerged from a community Kickstarter campaign and opened its doors in downtown South Bend in 2019, quickly becoming a beloved gathering place. The store's mission centers on representation, ensuring that every child who walks through the door can find characters and stories that reflect their own experience. The open, colorful interior was designed with families in mind, featuring low shelving for young browsers and a dedicated story-time area with comfortable seating for parents. The adult sections emphasize literary fiction, social justice, and education, reflecting South Bend's university community and civic engagement. Owner Kara Ellsworth's background in education informs the store's programming, which includes partnerships with local schools and libraries. Located in the heart of South Bend, Indiana, this beloved bookstore has been serving the literary community since 2019, making it 7 years of championing books and readers.
Twice-weekly story times, monthly school partnership reading events, diverse author spotlight series, teen advisory board meetings, and summer reading challenge programs.
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