Independent bookstores are VAS Communitythe heartbeats of their communities. They provide culture and community, generate local jobs and sales tax revenue, promote literacy and education, champion and center diverse and new authors, connect readers to books in a personal and authentic way, and actively support the right to read and access to books in their communities.

Each week we profile an independent bookstore, sharing what makes each one special and getting their expert and unique book recommendations.

This week we have West Side Books & Curios in Denver!

West Side Books has been part of the Denver North neighborhood for 26 years. Founded in 1997, the store carries new and used books, as well as a wide variety of curios.

The eclectic collection is a major draw for the store — customers can find anything from rare titles to vintage maps among the West Side shelves.

Check out: USA TODAY's weekly Best-selling Booklist

West Side Books primarily focuses on partnering with local schools to provide books for the students. You can often find staff hosting pop-ups at local universities. The store also holds occasional author events — just this week they hosted local author Jill Carstens for a reading and book signing. And this past Independent Bookstore Day, West Side Books went all in with exclusives, giveaways and a sale. They also joined dozens of other indies participating in the Colorado Indie Bookstore Passport program, which encouraged players to visit every stop and collect stamps at each.

Lois Harvey, owner of West Side Books, revealed her favorite section of the store is the LGBTQ section. She also lamented the shortage of gay bookstores in Denver.

Harvey is proud to say that West Side Books has thus far survived the gentrification in the area. She says shopping local is vital and a unique experience because “shopping independent keeps the heart in the books. It’s not what the world is telling you to read, it’s what you are telling yourself to read.”

Check out these titles recommended by West Side Books:

"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

"Woman of Light" by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

And anything by TJ Klune