High Springs entrepreneur Stacey Fischer’s vision to bring a local bookstore and homeschool resource center to the “Gateway to the Springs” kickstarted last week with a crowdfunding campaign.
According to the campaign’s page on Indiegogo.com, Fischer aims to raise $130,000 by Sept. 25 in order to fund a $98,580 lease or $179,109 purchase of a storefront.
Fischer said she hopes A BookSmith would provide an inviting space for the community to find new releases and rare collectible books while also meeting homeschool needs by providing curriculum and materials that are difficult to find.
“We’re losing our gathering places, our community heartbeat, our sanctuary for dreamers and thinkers and wanderers,” she said in a press release. “A BookSmith is more than a business—it’s a lifeline for our community.”
Fischer said A BookSmith plans to offer homeschool educational resources rooted in the Charlotte Mason philosophy, a method aiming to educate the whole of the student’s atmosphere, discipline and life.
The store would also offer new release books for all genres and age groups, rare, collectible and out-of-print titles, clubs and reading programs, author events and community programming like educational workshops and resources for homeschooling support.
As a homeschool mother of five kids, Fischer said she has first-hand experience with the struggle of spending hours online every year trying to source homeschool books and materials.
She said Florida’s high number of homeschool families makes this a reality for many others.
The Florida Department of Education (FDE) reported that over 155,000 students were homeschooled during the 2023-24 year, an increase of over 11,000 since 2020-21. In 2022-23, 1.6% of students in Alachua County were homeschooled.
According to the release, homeschool families often travel long distances to find quality educational materials and curriculum resources. This creates a need for local access to specialized learning materials and community programming, especially in rural communities like High Springs.
Having benefitted from her husband’s employment at homeschool curriculum companies and already starting her own social media marketing business, Fischer came up with A BookSmith as a solution to homeschool material sourcing and the need for a literary community resource center.
“While the city has a well-used public library that provides children’s programming, it cannot replace the browsing, shopping, and community engagement experience of an independent bookstore specializing in both contemporary releases and rare finds,” she said. “My dream for A BookSmith is to be a charming haven brimming with wonder, warmth, and carefully curated books that captivate readers of all ages.”
Supporters of the campaign can receive various rewards for their contributions, such as bookmarks, book subscriptions, homeschool consultations and coaching, launch party access and a book bundle.
For more information about A BookSmith or to support the campaign, visit the Indiegogo campaign page, A BookSmith’s website, or contact Fischer directly at stacey@abooksmith.com.