Texas bookstores, publishers, and libraries are winning, opening, and thriving. Read on for the updates since our last roundup.  

CONROE 

Barnes & Noble will open a new store at the Conroe Marketplace on I-45N. The store is scheduled to open July 17th. 

DALLAS 

The Knox Henderson neighborhood in Dallas welcomed a new bookstore in June. The Read Shop opened at 2730 N Henderson Ave. The first Read Shop was founded in Atlanta by Dan Collier. This is their second location. The store features a café serving coffee from Stumptown and pastries from La Casita Bakeshop.  

HOUSTON 

Basket Books & Art celebrated two years in business on Saturday, June 8 with a special storytime, treats, and a wine & book pairing event.  

Barnes & Noble’s newest Houston location in Weslayan Plaza announced their grand opening date will be July 3, 2024. 

McALLEN 

Ante Books, a locally owned indie bookstore and creative studio opened on 1713 W. Hackberry Ave. this month offering open mic poetry nights, art studio classes, amazing books, and more. 

SELMA 

Barnes & Noble will open a new store in Selma at The Forum at Olympia Parkway in June. 

SPRING BRANCH 

Inkling Books opened last December in Spring Branch and is open Tuesday through Saturday. Inkling is designed and located to provide a peaceful retreat with comfortable places to share stores, sit and read, and take an afternoon tea or coffee. 

OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS: 

Deep Vellum’s Will Evans was thanked for his efforts at spreading French literature by officially becoming a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres with a medal presented by the new cultural counselor of France, Mohamed Bouabdallah. 

The Houston Public Library was awarded the nation’s highest library honor, the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The National Medal is given to museums and libraries that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities. 

Inprint was approved by the National Endowment for the Arts for a Grants for Arts project to support the Inprint Magarett Root Brown Reading Series, the Inprint Cool Brains! Series, Inprint Escritores en la casa series, and the Ink Well podcast. 

The McAllen Public Library received the prestigious Texas Library Association’s Branding Iron Award which honors inspiring and creative marketing and public relations work and activities for libraries. The McAllen Public Library received the award in the Public Library Division of the Fundraising category for its 2023 Fiesta! Casino Fundraiser & Taquiza Night in the annual award competition. 

Torch Literary Arts earned a grant for Arts Allocation from the National Endowment for the Arts for the second year. Funding will go towards artist honorariums for retreats, workshops, panels, and readings.