Even in our new age of e-readers and digital books, just stepping through the door at the Laughing Oyster Bookshop in downtown Courtenay is enough to make you fall in love with the printed word all over again.

This one-of-a-kind ambiance comes from floors well-worn by decades of visitors, personal reading suggestions and friendly conversation at the 100-year-old register.

And of course the real live bookshelves: full of carefully selected fiction and non-fiction, thought-provoking and entertaining, ranging from time-tested classics to the newest releases.

To help mark your place in your reading adventures, Laughing Oyster has partnered with local artist Joe Ziner for more than 15 years to design a collection of unique locally-produced bookmarks.

Laughing Oyster owner Evelyn Gillespie is excited to announce the brand new 40th anniversary bookmark series 鈥� The Readers鈥� Circle 鈥� that Ziner has created to mark this special occasion.

鈥淚n the 40th anniversary bookmark series for Laughing Oyster, I鈥檝e used a lithographic process that allows me to work directly with my drawings using a range of both colour and tone,鈥� says Ziner. 鈥淭he result is a brightly multi-colored scene that divides into a series of unique bookmarks. Each design is a creative print 鈥� meaning I鈥檝e done both the artwork and printing. My goal was to create the feeling of community spirit that Laughing Oyster brings to Downtown Courtenay.鈥�

Laughing Oyster invites the public to meet Ziner on Sunday, March 23 from 2-4 p.m. at their open house 40th anniversary celebration. A complimentary sparkling drink of Magick Mead from Hornby Island鈥檚 Middle Mountain Mead will toast the occasion. Ziner will discuss his artwork and sign personalized bookmarks.