Midwest Independent Booksellers Association Logo

Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap


Released every year on Independent Bookstore Day (the last Saturday of April), the Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap celebrates the beautiful diversity of bookstores in MIBA's 9+ state portion of the Midwest

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, without a 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 host a contest to give away cash prizes to customers. See their posts on social at the hashtag #bookstoreroadmap

2025 draft front cover roadmap

2025 Roadmap Draft Cover

2025 Roadmap Draft

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.

Enter our consumer Roadmap contest in two easy steps:
  1. Post a picture of yourself on Instagram or Facebook inside or in front of any bookstore featured on this map. If you are shopping at one of our pop-up or online bookstores, post a picture of your visit and/or your purchase. 
  2. Use the hashtag #BookstoreRoadmap, tag us using the handles listed below, and tag the bookstore.

social media handles

We’ll randomly select one entry each month to win a $50 gift card at the member bookstore of your choice. On every Indie Bookstore Day (always the last Saturday of April) we’ll 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.

Book guy with pizza slice




Whichever bookstore gets tagged the most on social media between now and the next Indie Bookstore Day will win a staff pizza party on us.

Booksellers, you know what to do! Spread indie bookstore love and encourage your customers to participate in the Roadmap contest. 

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 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, which is celebrated on the last Saturday in April. Each member stores receives 250 free copies with the ability to purchase more at a discounted rate. We also release each year's new art to owners before IBD, so you will be able to use it in your promos and help drive traffic to your store. 
  • Give away the Roadmaps to your customers starting on Independent Bookstore Day! (Or whenever you receive them. That's up to you.)

Once you have your art

When your art is complete, you will get a free png. In addition, you can request two upgrades to the basic art.

  • Order a vector package to receive high quality images for merch with an address badge.
  • Order updated artwork for sign changes, location changes, etc.
  • Both are available 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.