Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap

Now starting its ninth year, The Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap is a promotional tool celebrating the thriving independent bookstores in our region.

The artist Kevin Cannon creates a custom image of each of our member stores and features them on a beautiful Roadmap-inspired drawing of our region.

On the back of the map, we feature promotions from our industry partners as well as a bookstore directory.

We send 100,000+ copies to our bookstores, at no cost to them, to distribute to their customers for free on Independent Bookstore Day and thereafter as long as supplies last. Many book lovers consider the Roadmap a collector's item!

We also host a contest to give away cash prizes to customers. See below!

2026 Roadmap Cover

2026 Roadmap

 

Independent bookstores put their towns on the map. The shelves of a bookstore are a destination, and each purchase is a new journey. That's the magic of a bookstore. It celebrates where it is while taking you anywhere you want to go.

We randomly select one entry each month to win a $50 gift card at the member bookstore of your choice. On every Indie Bookstore Day (the last Saturday in April) we randomly select one winner from all of the year’s entries to win a $500 gift card. The more stores you shop at and tag, the more likely you are to win the grand prize! Check out some of the submissions from the past year below.

Roadmaps and store art are free to all current bookstore members.

Join MIBA by January 1 to get your custom store art, a spot on the map, 

and free maps shipped to your store.

Getting started

• When you join MIBA, you will receive a welcome e-mail. In that e-mail, you'll find a link to our New Store Artwork Form.
• Once your store is in-operation and has signage, please fill out that form to be added to the queue of stores for Kevin to illustrate.
• We produce and print the Roadmap to be shipped to your store the week before Independent Bookstore Day (last Saturday in April).
• Each member stores receives 250 free copies with the ability to purchase more at a discounted rate. 
• We release each year's map artwork to owners before IBD, so you will be able to use it in your promos and help drive traffic to your store. 
• Give away Roadmaps to your customers starting on Independent Bookstore Day! 

All things artwork

• When your art is complete, you will receive 4 free files to use across your social media and website
• Have questions? We have answers! Check out this FAQ article about artwork, roadmap timelines and contest information. 
• Unsure how to use your artwork? Find inspiration here.

Promote the Roadmap all year long

The info below is for 2025

• We have a robust offering of assets based on this year's design. Click the button below to access all files (please note this is a member only page).
• If you post your promotion on social media be sure to tag us!
• View the ads to order the products advertised on the back of the map.

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