Indie booksellers were flexing their collective sense of humor on April Fool's Day. Here are some highlights:
Content Bookstore, Northfield, Minn., shared its very clever April Fool's Day "prank," a bookstore-themed spoof on an airline safety video: "Welcome aboard, and thank you for choosing Content. The health and safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority and a shared responsibility of everyone in the shop. So, before we depart, please pay attention to this important safety video.
"Please take a moment to review the bookseller recommendation card in your seat pocket. As we finish our safety check and get ready for takeoff, please settle into your literary destination. And from all of our crew, thank you for choosing Content."
Ellie Ray, the bookstore's literary marketing & events manager, noted: "So far we've gotten a great response from our customers, and we hope the rest of the bookseller community enjoys it too!"
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The April 1 edition of the e-newsletter from Country Bookshelf, Bozeman, Mont., opened with this gem: "Hi Former Readers, After many weeks of deliberation, strife, and anguish, Country Bookshelf has made the decision to stop carrying books. We will change our name to 'Country Store,' a name some of our customers already call us by, to reflect this change. Instead of books, we will stock our shelves with props and costumes for tourists to dress up in cowboy drag during their visit to Bozeman. Think Westworld but in real life. On that note, we will also be replacing our staff with robots powered by AI. You'll never have to interact with a human bookseller again. If you have any additional suggestions, please let us know! We want to remain a community institution through this transition and welcome your feedback. April Fools! Wishing you a holiday full of harmless little jokes and pranks that make you smile."
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Lovebound Library, Salt Lake City, Utah: "SURPRISE! We've been working on this concept for a LONG time (15 minutes) and we wanted to introduce to you all our brand new logo! We really wanted you to feel transported into your reading world. Like a step through our doors is a step up this creepily realistic book staircase. By combining two of the most beloved (hated) fonts, we've made a stunning visual that we feel truly represents what Lovebound Library stands for. Merch coming soon! #aprilfools"
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The Book & Cover, Chattanooga, Tenn.: "We were so thrilled when our recent hiring cycle unexpectedly brought to us two new team members: Rupert Giles, who has decided to watchedly pursue bookselling after a stint as secondary school librarian, and Buffy Summers, who looks forward to connecting readers to their next favorite read after most recently standing against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. Y'all welcome them to The Book & Cover team!"
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City of Asylum Bookstore, Pittsburgh, Pa.: "We've heard your feedback, and we're making a change. From now on, our bookstore will only stock bestsellers! No more small press titles, no more new translations, no more local poetry. Just the same five books on display at every airport! (Just kidding, we'd rather close the doors than stop carrying our unique and wonderful books!)"
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Name changes:
Deadtime Stories Books & Gifts, Lansing, Michigan.: "IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! With all the doom and gloom in the world today, we've decided to pivot our business model. Instead of the dark and disturbing, we'll be filling the shop with all things love and light. Who's excited for Bedtime Stories Books & Gifts?"
Betty's Books, Webster Groves, Mo.: We've got a HUGE announcement we've been dying to drop!! The shop has been going through lots of changes lately, and we think you're ready for one more.... We are now officially.... ALEX'S BOOKS!!! If you're scared of change, don't worry! We'll still have all our amazing reads available, just with a different name above the door!! As for what happened to B*tty.... don't ask. We'd prefer not to discuss it."