From Joanna Parzakonis, co-owner (with Derek Molitor) of this is a bookstore & Bookbug, Kalamazoo, Mich.:
"This picture was taken of us two weeks ago, by a friend who understood both our reluctance--and need--to be photographed as representative of the store. When she asked me (a month ago) what it was I hoped for the picture to say, I said that I wanted it to indicate our welcome into a space that we tend but that belongs to all, for it to not be about Derek and me as individuals, but about the space we inhabit and community we welcome.
"One week after closing the bookstore to the public and now understanding our redefined role in urgent service to community, the picture of us in this space has new meaning. We hope it can offer our personal promise to our customers and staff that we will move daily and with our highest level of care and capacity to serve both you and our knowledge of the value of a soonest possible day in the future when we can see you in this space again."