This week saw two articles mentioning Square Books and Oxford. One in Smithsonian magazine "The 20 Best Small Towns in America" and the other in Canada's second largest newspaper The Globe and Mail, "The Best Bookstores in North America." They both said really nice things about Square Books that caused us first to blush, then to worry that we would live up to the promise, then to begin tallying all the great bookstores not mentioned. After further reflection, we wondered if these mentions of Square Books and Oxford in the same week really coincidental? Independent bookstores all over North America are essential, active, contributing members of their communities helping make their home, be it city or town, the best place to live.