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The Aussie bookstore crowned best in the world

Readings Bookshop in Melbourne’s inner-north suburb of Carlton has been crowned the world’s best at the London Book Fair on Tuesday night.

The cult Lygon Street store was awarded International Bookstore of the Year as part of the International Excellence Awards, beating out famed book havens such as Shakespeare and Company in Paris and Tsutaya Books in Tokyo.

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Judges awarded Readings the prestigious gong in recognition of its community outreach and support of local authors.

An understandably chuffed Readings boss Mark Rubbo said they were “delighted and extremely honoured” to receive the award.

“It’s a reflection of the quality of Australian independent bookshops,” he said in a statement.

With five stores across Melbourne, the independent chain has bucked the overwhelming trend of of a shrinking retail book industry, and has done so without relying solely on international authors.

The company is expanding again in 2016 with a children’s store next door to its Lygon Street shop and another at Westfield Doncaster shopping centre.

Readings also has a thriving online presence, with a blog and $3 shipping throughout Australia.

The award comes just days after The New York Times decreed the world’s best croissant to be from Lune Criossanterie in Melbourne – another coup for the southern city.

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