Many temporarily shuttered indie bookstores are finding innovative ways to serve their customers, spark engagement and keep lines of communication open during this challenging time.
Today at 2 p.m.: #AskABookseller. "You might have questions about how to best support independent bookstores during the COVID-19 pandemic or what's happening to them behind-the-scenes. Join award-winning bookseller Nicole Brinkley and her friends on March 23 at 2 p.m. to get your questions answered " Brinkley, of Oblong Books & Music, Rhinebeck, N.Y., tweeted: "Hi, friendos! There's a lot of questions going around about independent bookstores, from what's happening to how best to support them. Join me and my bookselling friends... for #AskABookseller. We'll answer all the questions you throw our way!" Stephanie Heinz of Print: A Bookstore, Portland, Maine, agreed: "Hey y'all! Some of my favorite humans and I will be answering all your bookselling questions Monday.... With the lack of face to face hand selling our extrovert energies are fully charged and ready to help."
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"SURPRISE! We put 15 grab bags outside of the shop," Avid Bookshop, Athens, Ga., posted on Facebook. "For a suggested donation* of $20-30, you can grab a bag of goodies that will entertain all ages. (These are kid-safe: no profanity.) We'll split the donation with the Athens Area Homeless Shelter. Should your stroll take you through Five Points, get a grab bag, book, or greeting card! *Venmo, PayPal, or some cash in an envelope under the door; if you can't give but want one of the things we have outside, please take what will make you happy."
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The Bookies bookstore, Denver, Colo., shared a revealing video: "We promised to show you a secret area in the Bookies and here it is! Our phones lines will turn on at 10am and we are still doing curbside pickup so we'll see you all soon!"
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| Orders waiting to be packed at Old Town Books. | |
At Old Town Books, Alexandria, Va., "We've restaged the bookstore to become online only. What was our 'new in fiction' section is now online orders awaiting packaging. We cleared the front table too, now that is mission control for printing shipping labels and weighing packages.... More updates and opportunities to celebrate books with us soon! Thank you for staying connected, for the tweets, the shares, the kind words of encouragement. We need them. We love them + you + books + we're not giving up. No matter how bleak things get a book can do some good, for someone, somehow."
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How about a "virtual bookstore visit" inside Aaron's Books, Lititz, Pa.?
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Books and shoes! "If our ever increasing Web orders are any indication, you consider books an essential item during this pandemic," Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, Mich., noted. "Now, thanks to our friend and neighbor Mast Shoes, in addition to web orders and curbside pick-up, we have a local delivery option as well! When you order both shoes from Mast Shoes and books, games, and puzzles from Nicola's Books, Mast Shoes will deliver everything to you! They'll deliver to your porch, knock, and wave (with gloved washed-100-times-today-hands), then leave a delivery that comforts body and soul."
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"And lastly, here's a little something to make you smile" from Hickory Stick Bookshop, Washington Depot, Conn. "Our curbside pickup team who have been hard at work this week, and a group of our toys having their own version of Storytime! We miss you all... stay well."