Mastodawn

Caz Mockett 1d ago

A feel-good story in the news today...

Residents of all ages in a small Michigan community formed a human chain and helped a local bookshop move each of its 9,100 books – one by one – to a new storefront about a block away.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/17/book-brigade-us-town-forms-human-chain-to-move-9100-books-one-by-one

The “book brigade” of about 300 people stood in two lines running along a sidewalk in downtown Chelsea on Sunday, passing each title from Serendipity Books’ former location directly to the correct shelves in the new building, down the block and around the corner on Main Street.

“It was a practical way to move the books, but it also was a way for everybody to have a part,” Michelle Tuplin, the store’s owner, said. “As people passed the books along, they said ‘I have not read this’ and ‘that’s a good one’.”

Tuplin said the endeavour took just under two hours – much shorter than hiring a moving company to box and unbox the thousands of titles. The brigade even put the books back on the shelves in alphabetical order.

‘Book brigade’: US town forms human chain to move 9,100 books one-by-one

A small Michigan community banded together to help a beloved local bookstore move its stock to a new storefront

The Guardian

@exador23 Thanks, we need more warm and fuzzy stories. :)

@CStamp @exador23 Then I suggest mixing in https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/ to your news feeds. :)

The Good News Network: Positive Stories 24/7

Your daily source for only good news: Inspiring stories and images from around the world will make you feel uplifted, optimistic and positive about life.

Good News Network

@exador23 This is incredibly awesome!!

markc568 2d ago

@exador23 @LibertyForward1 Nice!

We did an internal version of this, going up multiple floors when I worked at the college bookstore many moons ago.

We had to move all the used book backstock from the basement to the second floor. But the only elevator was not “certified” yet, so not usable.

This brigade worked perfectly.

THMcGuire 2d ago

@exador23 Thank you for bringing this story to me.

Iris Young (he/they/she) (PhD)2d ago

@exador23 that's probably the most effective community engagement event they'll ever have. Well done!

@exador23 that is amazing to hear :) love it

This is honestly a remarkable feat of logistics, and without any fancy engineering...

Amazon and other too big corporations could learn a thing or two... many hands make light work; there's no justification in squeezing every last drop out of each employee and then discarding them to the wind...

@A1MVP @exador23

Well said.

🇨🇦 OhOkKay 2d ago

@exador23
What a beautiful thing to do for a local business.

Future’s Present 2d ago

@exador23 good way to run society, human chains. Effective. Practical, eco friendly, no electricity, likely blocks roadways, and also talks about their experiences repeatedly. Good job! Books. Humans. Together. Centipedes. Hoarding. Chattering.

Buzz. Buy. Buzz.

@exador23 love this

@exador23 wow unbelievable!!

Just Tom...2d ago

@exador23
That's absolutely brilliant.
@afewbugs

What?? Are spontaneous mass gatherings still legal in the United States of America??

🤔 😀 👍

Priscilla Haring-Kuipers 1d ago

@exador23 I am amazed this works! And then I am amazed I didn't know this works and that I've never seen one or have been part of one. Clearly the preferred way of moving many things over a short distance 🙏🏼

Hippy Steve 1d ago

@priscillaharing

We do it for moving wood piles all the time. never seen it done with books.

@exador23 it made the Dutch news https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws/opmerkelijk/artikel/5504697/menselijke-ketting-chelsea-boeken-verhuizing-boekwinkel

Menselijke ketting verhuist 9100 boeken in VS: 'Het was zo ontroerend'

De eigenaresse van een boekwinkel in het Amerikaanse stadje Chelsea wist niet wat haar overkwam toen ze om hulp vroeg. Ze verhuisde van winkel en moest alle 9100 boeken verhuizen. Dat lukte dankzij een menselijke ketting binnen twee uur. "Dit is precies wat we nodig hadden."

RTL Nieuws

@exador23 A few years ago we moved a community bookshop from one shop unit to the one next door - books and bookcases, and furniture and all. Took a good few hours.

Risotto Bias 1d ago

@exador23 so a little more than a book a second?

Chris Dolunt 1d ago

@exador23 Chelsea is the hometown of actor Jeff Daniels, and known regionally for its theatrical performances at the theatre Daniels built. Not surprised the people there care about books.

WarmasterPalak 1d ago

Good for them. I haven't been back to Chelsea in years.i should go and visit the bookstore again.

Klaudia (aka jinxx)1d ago

@exador23 Awwwww! What a wonderful it must have been for everyone involved. =)