Our Mission

The Asbury Book Cooperative (ABC) is an independent nonprofit bookstore serving as a hub for literature and the arts in the heart of Asbury Park. Our mission is to promote literacy, provide access to books and offer a community space for everyone.

We sustain our efforts with the help of a dedicated volunteer staff, the sale of new and used books, events, and the generous support of our members and donors.

ABC is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Our Model

Are you a business? Are you a nonprofit? The short answer: We’re both! ABC is a nonprofit bookstore operating under a self-sustaining business model. That means that every dollar you spend in the store or donate to ABC goes directly to supporting our mission. In addition to sales and donations, we also support our work through grants, ticketed events and fundraisers, memberships, volunteer hours, used book donations, corporate sponsorships, major gifts, and community partnerships.

This blended funding model gives us the stability and flexibility to stay mission-driven while growing sustainably. It allows us to try new ideas, meet evolving community needs, and operate with autonomy instead of being tied to just one source of funding. Your support—whether as a customer, member, donor, volunteer, or partner—helps keep our work thriving and responsive to the community we serve.

Our Impact

There’s a literacy and loneliness crisis in our community, and they’re more connected than you might think.

Literacy is more than just the ability to read—it’s a path to opportunity, self-expression, confidence, and belonging. Books create connection, and access to a welcoming, inclusive space to explore them can change lives. That’s why our mission is built on a simple but powerful belief: books and literacy are foundational to building strong, connected communities. We’re proud to be more than a bookstore—we’re a gathering space, a learning center, and a grassroots effort to build a stronger, more connected Asbury Park.

Through our programs, events, partnerships, and store space, we aim to:
📚 Provide affordable (often free!) access to new and used books
📖 Promote literacy across all ages and backgrounds
🎭 Celebrate literature and the arts
🫱🏽‍🫲🏿 Create a safe, inclusive space for meaningful connection
🎓 Support lifelong learning, curiosity, creativity, and empowerment