Impact on community literacy, local bookstore hosts tattoo event

Aislyn Mayse books tattoo appointments during the Tiny Tattoo Pop-Up Event at Elleinad Books on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Photo by Izzy Lewis.

Readers crowded a local bookstore to purchase a permanent marking of their favorite hobby, a tattoo. Offering a flash sheet of small tattoos to select from, Aislyn Mayse of Inked Illusion welcomed a long line of customers in Elleinad Books during the Tiny Tattoo Pop-up event on Nov. 4.

The evening featured snacks, drinks, book browsing and the purchasing of bookish tattoos. The tattoo slots were bought on a first-come, first-serve basis for $50. Only temporary tattoos were given out the night of, as Mayse will be tattooing those who purchased a tattoo on Nov. 17.

“There's so much joy to be found in reading and celebrating books and literacy,” Danielle Eby, the owner of Elleinad Books, said. “Kids sometimes don't have the opportunity to have books at home. So partnering with a nonprofit like Linked2Literacy helps us get books in the hands of the youth that don't have access to owning books.”

One hundred percent of proceeds from Mayse’s tattoos went to Linked2Literacy, which provides books and literacy education through community-based programs. Fifteen percent of Elleinad’s book sales the night of were also donated to the nonprofit. Together, they raised just over $1,300.

“I've helped out with Linked2Literacy before in the past … and we were like, ‘This would be an awesome idea to get people in and doing things that people love,’ like tattoos and reading and bringing more exposure to the books and the event,” Mayse said.

While checking out, customers were also given an option to buy a book for the Malone Community Center’s youth book clubs. The Malone Community Center offers programming and services that provide unity throughout Lincoln.

“You can go to a different world when you read and explore and escape real life sometimes,” Mayse said. “I feel like everyone needs to have that opportunity. Books are knowledge.”

The idea for the pop-up evening stemmed from another bookstore in Ames, Iowa, Dog Eared Books, who hosted a banned book tattoo event. Both Mayse and Eby had worked with Linked2Literacy before and were connected through a mutual contact within the organization.

Inked Illusion is 23-year-old Mayse’s tattoo and permanent makeup business. Mayse studied graphic design while in college, but found that the field lacked the physical aspect of drawing, so she decided to experiment with tattooing. She is licensed both for permanent makeup and tattooing, specializing in fine line tattoos.

Before Eby was the owner of her own bookstore, she was a stay-at-home mom who had always fostered a love for reading. She took a chance on her dream of owning a bookstore, and opened Elleinad Books in September 2022.

Eby said she utilizes books as a supplement to her own parenting. An example she used was helping teach her children how to potty train through books.

“I would always turn to books. I have always loved children's books, illustrations, the stories (and) how they connect families together,” Eby said.

Elleinad Books is a welcoming environment for kids, encouraging them to engage with reading. There are also toys, puzzles and coloring books to interact with while at the store.

“I wanted to create a space where moms, caregivers, dads and grandparents could feel comfortable bringing their kids, even if (the kids) were a hot mess,” Eby said.

Elleinad Books hosts other, more kid-centered events every week. There are storytime events for different age groups, as well as themed events around holidays. The store is open on Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mayse can be booked for permanent makeup and tattoos through appointment only.

Published in the Daily Nebraskan, read here.