Several Franklin County shops will celebrate the 10th annual Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday with special events and activities, discounts and giveaways.

The nationally recognized event, which has been observed on the last Saturday of April every year since 2013, is organized by the not-for-profit American Booksellers Association. In 2013, it was established to promote and celebrate the value of the independent bookstore community, according to the association.

“Anything that draws attention to local bookstores is vital,” said Susan Shilliday, who has owned the Montague Bookmill since 2007. “They’re an essential part of a community. A community without a bookstore really is lost.”

“We’re excited to celebrate our second Independent Bookstore Day as we approach our fourth year in business serving downtown Greenfield,” Hillary Hoffman, co-proprietor at Federal Street Books in Greenfield, said in a statement. “We celebrate our love of books and reading every day, but this gives us a chance to come together with area and national independent bookstores to thank our customers for their engagement and support.”

To celebrate the occasion, the Montague Bookmill will host filmmaker and author John Sayles for a reading and signing of his critically acclaimed new novel, “Jamie MacGillivray: The Renegade’s Journey.” The free event will be held Saturday at 5 p.m.

“His book has gotten very good reviews and I’d love to do more events here, but most people don’t associate us with new books,” Shilliday commented, adding that while the Montague Bookmill may not have everything, the staff strongly suggests trying other local book stores.

As part of Federal Street Books’ celebration, the “PRIZE WHEEL” will return for another year, Hoffman noted. With any purchase, each customer can spin the wheel to win exclusive Independent Bookstore Day merchandise, a coupon, a Federal Street Books T-shirt and more. All customers will receive a free sticker, bookmark and, while supplies last, a coupon to Ice Cream Alley.

Some places, such as the online store Massive Bookshop, will hold special deals online. The business is also holding an open house pop-up event in the parking lot of the Franklin County Community Development Corporation, 324 Wells St. in Greenfield, on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m.

At Roundabout Books, which plans to reopen at its new location at 85 Pierce St. in Greenfield this summer, customers are offered a 10% discount through Saturday with free shipping by visiting roundaboutbookstore.com. The same deal will be offered at Boswell’s Books, the owner’s other bookstore on Bridge Street in Shelburne Falls.

For the owners of Imaginary Bookshop at 365 Main St. in Greenfield, the national event doubles as a celebration of the business’ one-year anniversary. In addition to special sticker books and books of short stories that will be available at many bookstores in honor of Independent Bookstore Day, Imaginary Bookshop has designed anniversary stickers with a “haunted-looking cat,” according to co-owner Crista DeRicco.

Aside from there being “no substitute for being able to walk into a bookstore or library and asking for something new to read,” the spaces serve as a social “cornerstone” for gathering and conversation, Shilliday noted.

“We’re a real community place,” DeRicco said. “For us especially, we have folks who come and hang out and write while they’re there. You can’t get the same type of curation and recommendations that you do at a small independent bookstore.”

She added that Independent Bookstore Day offers bookstore owners “the chance to give back to the community” that supports them.

“We’re excited by the special stuff we have going on,” DeRicco said.

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne. Reach Julian Men doza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.

An earlier version of this article included an incorrect address for the open house pop-up event being held in the parking lot of the Franklin County Community Development Corporation, which is located at 324 Wells St. in Greenfield.

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