The 20 best WordPress themes for libraries and bookstores in 2023

If you’re a librarian, bookseller, or author building a website or online bookstore, you need a flexible and time-saving solution.

You have a business to run, customers to serve, and many demands on your time. Building a website shouldn’t be one of them.

Choose an elegant, flexible WordPress theme with great features. They do most of the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to.

Install, customize to your tastes and publish for the world to see!

To help you with this noble venture, we’ve put together a list of the 20 most flexible and easy-to-use WordPress library themes.

We hand-picked themes that look great and simplify customization, allowing you to express your vision effortlessly.

There’s sure to be one here you’ll want to use!

Top WordPress themes for libraries and bookstores

We chose the 20 best WordPress library themes out of the hundreds available.

If you don’t have time to go through them all, we’ve highlighted the top 10 WordPress library themes. Try one of these if you want to build a website quickly!

1. Astra – Engaging and flexible theme with numerous professional academic library templates.
2. Divi – A versatile page builder with an elegant looking digital library theme.
3. Library Books – A compact and free wordpress library theme
4. Ultra – Multipurpose solution for library websites
5. Phlox – All purpose theme with a great outlook
6. Bookhouse – Minimal WordPress library theme
7. Booklovers – A library theme built for book-specific purposes
8. Kadence – Modern multipurpose theme with a page builder
9. Bookista – Minimal WordPress library theme for different institutions
10. Bookshelf – Simple and straightforward WordPress bookstore theme

Check out these modern and stylish WordPress themes designed specifically for libraries and bookstores.

1. Astra

With over 1.7 million active installs, Astra is the most popular WordPress theme right now. It is highly responsive, lightweight, and SEO friendly.

The theme offers 230+ professionally designed templates, including several for libraries and bookstores. Select a layout, install it and get going right away.

With Astra, customizing your website requires zero coding knowledge. You can simply use a drag and drop website builder to customize any aspect of your library website.

Astra is compatible with WooCommerce and relevant WordPress eCommerce plugins. Therefore, you can start a bookstore effortlessly and generate income from your business with minimal effort.

Here are some website templates that you might find useful:

Book Store

Book Store is a beautiful bookstore template you can use to create your library, book store, or author websites.

It features an elegant white space-based layout with bold black fonts and a variety of soft colors to grab your visitors’ attention. Perfect for bookstore website design.

It also has different menus, books, author profiles, and a well-organized blog section for your readers.

eBook Author

eBook author is a creative author-focused template for authors, ebook stores, or online library websites.

It has an attractive white space-based layout with black fonts, a combination of soft background colors, and book menus with author profiles.

It is simple, elegant, and highly functional. It also benefits you with a review option for readers and social media integration to help grow your audience.

Pros of Astra:

• 230+ readymade Starter Templates
• Fully customizable
• Drag and drop page builder
• 50 KB file size loads in a flash
• SEO-friendly and responsive theme

Cons of Astra:

• Numerous high quality themes make it difficult to choose

Astra Pricing

Astra is a free theme with premium versions starting from $49 per year.

2. Divi

Divi is an excellent solution for making any website, including a library or bookstore website. It is a visual editor for both experts and beginners.

It has 40+ library-focused layouts in the templates library and lets you customize colors, effects, shapes, dimensions, and everything with the Divi Builder.

Customizing is more fun when there is a lot of content and eCommerce features and Divi provides both. You can choose from 200+ elements to optimize any aspect of your website.

Pros of Divi:

• 2000+ layouts
• Fully responsive
• SEO-ready
• Real-time previews
• 100% customizable with Divi Builder

Cons of Divi:

• Part of a package, not a single theme

Divi Pricing

Divi costs $89 per year.

3. Library Books

Library Books is the theme you should consider if you want a primarily free WordPress library theme. It’s easy to install and highly customizable.

With multipurpose functions, the theme is perfect for bookstores, eBook sellers, publishers, journalists, and anyone who wants an intelligent library website.

Display your books in strategic categories with eye-catching images, and your WooCommerce bookshop will be ready in minutes.

Pros of Library Books:

• Minimalistic theme
• Library, author or institution focused
• Elementor/WPBakery page builder compatible
• 100% responsive
• WooCommerce ready

Cons of Library Books:

• Lacks templates

Library Book Pricing

Library Books has a free and a premium version starting at $39.

4. Ultra

Ultra is a multipurpose WordPress theme appropriate for creating private or research library websites. It’s fast, loads quickly, fully responsive, SEO friendly, and eye-catching.

You can choose from 30+ templates, 15+ predesigned headers and pages, and multiple footers, sidebar, and archive page options.

The theme works with most page builders, giving you complete website control and a flexible customization experience. Ultra also grants you free access to premium addons worth $120.

Pros of Ultra:

• 140+ pre designed layouts
• Extensive customization options
• Drag and drop page builder
• Fully responsive
• Compatible with WooCommerce

Cons of Ultra:

• Requires advanced understanding

Ultra Pricing

Ultra standard yearly plan starts at $59.

5. Phlox

Phlox, a primarily free Elementor WordPress theme, allows you to create any website, including a library or bookstore.

The theme comes with 190+ fully customizable website templates, a one-click demo importer, and 30+ innovative elements to start building your website immediately.

Phlox includes a visual editing option for precise customization. This theme is simple enough for non-coders and beginners once you get to grips with it.

Pros of Phlox:

• One click demo import
• Numerous customization options
• 100% responsive
• Compatible with leading page builders
• Social media buttons included

Cons of Phlox:

• Learning Phlox could take time

Phlox Pricing

Phlox has a free and $39 premium version.

6. Bookhouse

The Bookhouse WordPress library theme will give your library a minimal but compelling web presence. It is made especially for booksellers, librarians, authors, and publishers.

Bookhouse is an excellent website for a bookstore due to its simple templates, customizable features, and color schemes. On the homepage, you can also embed a bookstore video.

The theme sorts your library’s books into categories and makes a section for book reviews to benefit future readers.

Pros of Bookhouse:

• Multiple page templates
• 8 color skin options
• Review option for users
• Flexible customization
• Contact forms for book queries

Cons of Bookhouse:

• Lacks starter templates

Bookhouse Pricing

Bookhouse costs $79.

7. Bookshelf

If you are looking for a colorful wordpress theme for library websites, Bookshelf is a great pick.

This theme completely meets the needs of a library or an author’s website and could deliver everything you’re looking for.

The theme with multiple demos and homepages lets you change the design and add new features by dragging and dropping with the WPBakery page builder.

Pros of Bookshelf:

• Multiple premade elementors demos
• Advanced inner pages
• Powerful WooCommerce media and book store
• Online layout style switcher
• 100% responsive and SEO friendly

Cos of Bookshelf:

• Lack of features compared to other options

Bookshelf pricing

Bookshelf costs $69 per website.

8. Booklovers

Booklovers is an excellent WordPress library theme for libraries, publishing houses, individual authors, and online bookstores if you want to display or sell books.

It has four unique page layouts and is compatible with the Elementor page builder to help you create and customize your website.

It includes premium plugins like TI WooCommerce Wishlist and WooCommerce Advanced Category Sorting to improve your eCommerce experience.

Booklovers pros:

• 6+ prebuilt layouts
• Easy editing and customization
• Powerful admin interface
• Color scheme editor
• Highly responsive

Booklovers cons:

• The theme lacks advanced customization

Booklovers pricing

Booklovers costs $69.

9. Bookista

Bookista is a minimal, fast, and responsive WordPress library theme focusing on both authors and books. It’s suitable for creating websites for high school libraries, town libraries or university libraries.

You can customize the existing layouts and drag and drop elements with Elementor without handling any code.

Bookista meets any online library’s needs. The theme is also lightweight, SEO-optimized, and great for Google rankings.

Pros of Bookista:

• Several demos inner pages
• Drag and drop page builder for Elementor
• One click install demo
• Lightweight and fast loading
• 100% responsive

Cons of Bookista:

• Lacks user reviews

Bookista pricing

Bookista costs $48 per website.

10. Kadence

Kadence is an excellent, lightweight website theme to help you build your library website.

The theme includes starter templates, Kadence blocks, a page builder and a design library to help you completely control your website’s customization.

Kaedence prioritizes speed and performance, making website management more effortless. So build your library website quickly and get started.

Pros of Kadence:

• 50+ ready starter templates
• Lightweight and fast
• Header footer builder
• Kaedence blocks
• Responsive design

Cons of Kadence:

• Mostly compatible with the native WordPress builder

Kadence Pricing

Kadence is free and Kadence Pro starts at $79.

11. VW BookStore

VW BookStore is a minimal WordPress library theme, making it an ideal option if you want to build a simple and compact library website.

You can show books and prices on the same page, with different labels and a useful search system. Also, a live customizer makes customization flexible.

With its elegant look and responsiveness, browsing the website would feel like walking in a library!

Pros of VW Bookstore:

• Advanced color options and color palettes
• Live customizer
• Responsive layout for all devices
• Product category listing
• WooCommerce compatible

Cons of VW Bookstore:

• Not enough starter templates or demos.

VW BookStore pricing

VW BookStore offers free and $59 premium versions.

12. Mybook

MyBook is a WordPress library theme focused on eBook distribution and online libraries. It is perfect for organizations, publishers, or authors.

Using its drag and drop page builder, you can create landing pages, display books, and publish book reviews and blog discussions in minutes.

You can provide site visitors with free book samples, featured book sections, overviews, and opportunities for affiliate marketing.

Pros of Mybook:

• Simple design that displays your books
• Drag and drop page builder
• Featured book section
• Show reviews with quotes and photos
• Homepage blog post element

Cons of Mybook:

• The theme is single author focused

MyBook pricing

MyBook single-site license costs $49 per year.

13. Soledad

Soledad is another excellent option if you want a WordPress theme for a library website. It’s on our list because it has several predesigned library and book-specific templates.

It is lightweight and highly customizable. For a more personalized experience, you can use the drag and drop elements in the WPBakery page builder.

A built-in ranking and review system helps readers get recommendations on the best books to read.

Pros of Soledad:

• 220+ pre built websites
• Multiple homepage demos
• Live customizer supports other page builders
• Fully supports AMP
• Lightweight, fast and SEO optimized

Cons of Soledad:

• Less-than flexible customization

Soledad pricing

Soledad single-site license costs $59.

14. Booktap

Booktap is an eCommerce-focused WordPress library theme designed specifically for online bookstores and publishers. It works with the Elementor page builder to give you plenty of flexibility in customization.

The theme includes separate pages for books and authors. If your business needs a blog where people can discuss books, you have one.

Booktap is also compatible with WooCommerce, highly responsive, and SEO optimized.

Pros of Booktap:

• Multi use inner pages
• Elementor page builder compatible
• Fully reponsive
• Easy customization
• Lightweight for fast performance

Cons of Bookstap:

• Lacks features compared to others

Booktap pricing

Booktap single-site license costs $48.

15. OceanWP

OceanWP is a beginner-friendly, multipurpose WordPress theme which can help you create a great WordPress library website.

With its book templates, you can put books into different categories, like a virtual library, or show prices on one page for a bookstore.

The one-click demos let you launch your site quickly and customize any part of it. It offers flexible customization as it supports multiple popular page builders too.

Pros of OceanWP:

• 270+ demo websites
• One click demo import.
• Fast, responsive and SEO friendly
• Easy customization
• Multiple headers, footers, mobile menu, and blog styles

Cons of OceanWP:

• Free version has limited features

OceanWP Pricing

OceanWP costs $54 per year.

16. Avada

Avada is a very modern, multi-purpose WordPress theme. It includes 88+ pre-built websites, including some for stores, that you can use to create a bookstore website.

Its live visual builder helps you quickly design, build, customize, and launch your website. Customize any part of your site you want without needing to know code.

Avada is responsive, flexible, SEO-optimized, responsive, and visually appealing to give your website visitors a smooth website experience.

Pros of Avada:

• 88+ pre built websites
• 120+ design and website elements
• Off-canvas builder
• Single page parallax feature
• Highly responsive

Cons of Avada:

• The theme has no free version

Avada Pricing

Avada premium costs $69 per site.

17. Digital Books

Digital Books is an excellent WordPress library theme that is ideal for educators, authors, schools, librarians, and book stores.

Thanks to WooCommerce and a number of flexible customization features, you can set up a website for a library or bookstore in just a few hours.

The theme is suitable for SEO and can be linked to social media to reach more people. It is visually dynamic and attracts your users’ attention.

Pros of Digital Books:

• Minimalistic template
• Lightweight and fast
• 100% responsive
• Flexible customization
• SEO friendly

Cons of Digital Books:

• Lacks starter templates

Digital Books Pricing

Digital Books has a free and $39 premium version.

18. Sydney

Sydney is a highly rated multipurpose WordPress theme with beautiful colors and flexibility for libraries and authors. It is customizable and attractive and helps make building your library’s online presence a breeze.

Using Sydney’s demo websites and built-in page builder, you can quickly create and customize the pages of your website.

Sydney also has attractive graphics, layout options, a simple menu, and a contact page to connect with your users.

Pros of Sydney:

• Simple, clean, and modern design
• Beautiful calls to action
• Beautiful portfolio and blog section
• Compatible with most page builders
• Offers minimalistic design

Cons of Sydney:

• Few features in free version

Sydney Pricing

Sydney offers a free version and a single-site license for $69 per year.

19. Bridge

Bridge is a multipurpose WordPress theme for building any website without breaking a sweat. It offers endless benefits, and customizable elements help you create a more artistic website.

Choose several book-focused demos from 610+ grid-style templates and customize them with Elementor or WPBakery page builder.

The theme works with most WordPress plugins, including WooCommerce, to help you build your shop and a blog section where you can discuss or sell books.

Pros of Bridge:

• 610+ demo websites
• 100+ customization elements
• One-click demo installer
• Comprehensive admin panel
• Multiple content sections

Cons of Bridge:

• Somewhat lacks customization and flexibility

Bridge Pricing

Bridge Premium starts at $69 per website.

20. Hello

Hello Elementor is a multipurpose WordPress theme suitable for any website, including a library website. Currently, 1+ million people use this lightweight Elementor theme.

You can quickly create your library website using 100+ templates and relevant WordPress plugins. It’s easy to use and highly adaptable.

Hello gives you a blank slate on which to build your website from scratch. You can customize everything from the header to the footer.

Pros of Hello:

• Highly customizable
• Fully compatible with Elementor
• Highly responsive
• Lightweight and fast
• Responsive for all devices

Cons of Hello:

• No starter templates

Hello Pricing

Hello is a free theme.

The must-have features for a library website

Here, we will discuss features that every WordPress library theme should possess.

Responsive design

Roughly 50% of visitors access the web from a mobile device. So, having a theme that responds and adapts to all screen sizes is very important. Most WordPress themes are responsive but double-check!

Blog

While the website is about books, visitors would be interested in reading and writing book reviews. It would allow them to share exciting information and grow a community, eventually increasing your site’s traffic. So, having a blog page is very beneficial.

Author sections

Books written by famous authors always have a large readership. That readership is interested in exploring more about the author and their other works. Therefore, if each author had their page, readers could learn about more books and become more invested in the site.

Reviews

Book lovers look for assurance that a book is worth their time, money, and, most importantly, interest. Reviews provide all these answers. A section for reviews or ratings would help users get more involved.

eCommerce/Membership

If you’re in charge of a bookstore or library, you’re probably looking for donations or want to sell or rent books. In WordPress, plugins like WooCommerce or MemberPress solve that problem for you.

So, ensure that your WordPress library theme is WooCommerce-compatible. If not, you’ll have everything except cash flow!

Wrapping up

These 20 WordPress library themes include everything you need to launch a successful library or bookstore website.

Some may have appealing visuals, others emphasize user-friendly functions, and some focus on profitability.

Ultimately, all of them want to give you the best service possible.

Which WordPress theme do you think is the best for your website? Do you have any themes to suggest? Have a story to share? Tell us about it below!