Our Nonprofit Mission

We believe independent bookshops can change the world. As your nonprofit independent bookshop in Cookeville, Tennessee, we are committed to improving literacy and elevating book culture in the Upper Cumberland.

How can a bookshop be a nonprofit?

Plenty Downtown Bookshop operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the fiscal sponsorship of the Upper Cumberland Entrepreneurial Foundation. From a practical standpoint, that means that every purchase or donation to the store goes back to the bookshop and out to the community.

We aim to improve literacy and elevate book culture in the Upper Cumberland. We're working toward this by partnering with schools, nonprofits, and other organizations to make books more readily available to kids and adults alike.

We host hundreds of events every year to celebrate reading and book culture. When you shop with Plenty, you're supporting your local community.

Community Outreach

You can visit us at 41 W Broad Street, but you're also likely to encounter Plenty out in the community as well. Here are some examples:

We've planted 11 Little Book Libraries stretching across Cookeville, Baxter, Algood, and Monterey with libraries in Byrdstown and Sparta on the way.
We collaborated with the Highlands Economic Partnership to distribute "Oh the Places You Can Work" coloring books to first graders across the county. Participating first graders can collect a free book from Plenty.
We've gone into local schools to read, and hosted Spirit Nights for Algood Middle School, Upperman Middle School, and Prescott Elementary.
We donated books at the holidays for students at Jere Whitson, Upperman Middle, Algood Middle, Prescott South Middle, and Capshaw Elementary Schools.
We've donated books to Jere Whitson, Burkes Elementary, Cane Creek Elementary, and Prescott South Elementary Schools.
We've donated books to The Stephens Center, Chance Group Home, Genesis House, the Cookeville/Putnam County Animal Shelter, and Cookeville Queer Closet, among other organizations thanks to generous donors at our Literacy Gala.
We're partnering with Restoring Childhood in Putnam County for a community read of The Anxious Generation in an effort to give kids time away from screens for better physical and mental health.

This is what Book Culture Looks Like

Book Culture is a term that, loosely applied, means building a community and conversations around reading. At Plenty, our events are focused on elevating book culture in the Upper Cumberland.

We host weekly story time sessions that encourage kids to imagine and learn from the books that are presented.
We currently host seven book clubs, from teen to fantasy, to clubs where you bring books you've loved to share. There's something for everyone.
We partner with various other local book clubs: Powered by Her, The Literary Libations Society, The Silent Book Club in Cookeville, and Books & Brews Cookeville.
We host dozens of authors each year. Past authors include Rea Frey, Meg Shaffer, Jeff Zentner, Ruta Sepetys, Sharon Cameron, Jennifer Moorman, M Hendrix, David Bell, Jeremy Finley, Hannah Whitten, Rachel Moore, Jeffrey Rosen, and too many others to list here.
Second Saturdays allow local authors to sell books in stores and connects them with passionate readers.
Our Wine & Words event partnered with a local winery to host a book fair featuring a dozen authors and brought in over five hundred guests.
We have writing workshops and write-ins, allowing aspiring and seasoned writers alike the opportunity to further their craft and write in what may be one of the most inspiring settings. (We may be a bit partial.)
Lisa and Ashley host the Life of Plenty podcast in which they and invited guests discuss the books that have contributed to their life of plenty.
In 2025 we're launching a summer reading program for adults, bringing back the nostalgia of the Book It! program. And yes, we're incentivizing it with a pizza party.
We celebrate major book releases with Midnight Release Parties. There's games, food, and sometimes special guests before the books can be distributed at midnight.
We partner with Sawmill Poetry to host a monthly poetry night. Sawmill brings in featured poets, followed by an open mic.
And we're always looking to do more, because our love for books and reading has no end.