The Traverse City Commission has declared Traverse City a Book City, to help strengthen its arts, culture and tourism economy and to be annually celebrated by readers and writers and the National Writers Series (NWS). In a letter to Traverse City Mayor Michael Estes and city commissioners, NWS co-founder Doug Stanton, who proposed the Book City desigation, wrote, "A declaration that Traverse City is, among many great things, Book City, will reinforce the expectation that meaningful things are expected and can happen here when it comes to literacy, reading and writing, especially as our city's cultural economy continues to grow."

Stanton also says that as part of the declaration the NWS, working with its media partners, publishers and authors, civic and trade groups, will take the Book City message on book tours, speaking engagements and appearances on national TV, radio and in print. The designation will also be celebrated annually during a nationally promoted event.