Small Town Charm: Michigan Gains National Attention for Book Brigade

A Michigan city is gaining national attention for its 'book brigade'.

If you're wondering what a book brigade is, you are not alone. The term refers to a group of people moving books, literally, hand to hand. In this case, it was a group in Chelsea, Michigan, who did just that.

We all know that moving is a lot of work, which is why Michelle Tuplin, owner of Serendipity Books, reached out via social media to ask for help moving over 9,000 books to a new location.

The response from Chelsea residents was nothing short of remarkable.

According to NBC News, nearly 300 people (and one dog) showed up on Monday, April 14th, to form a human conveyor belt and move the books in under two hours.

There’s something special about small towns. The fact that a bookstore can survive in 2025, and that the community still cares about its existence, is pretty cool.

A video of the book brigade gained attention from countless news outlets, including the Today show. You can see a video of the segment below, and a video of Serendipity Books owner, Michelle Tuplin, on NBC News.

With this kind of attention, I have a feeling Serendipity Books in Chelsea, Michigan, will be seeing a lot of new faces. I am guessing the bookstore will be a destination for many Michigan book lovers.

Serendipity Books is at 108 East Middle Street, 48118. From the Flint area, plan on a one-hour drive, and from Lapeer County, plan on roughly one hour and 20 minutes.