Australian bookshops and other retailers can continue to trade for now under the new "non-essential services" lockdown measures put in place yesterday by the federal government in response to COVID-19. Australian Booksellers Association CEO Robbie Egan told Books+Publishing he is "waiting for clarification on whether the state guidelines would include a specific ruling on retailers such as bookshops, but that he was drafting a letter to request an exemption for bookshops in the event that state governments decide that bookshops come under the term 'non-essential services.' "
He added that while some bookshops have decided to close their doors, others are trading "as best they can" by introducing hygiene measures and floor markings to promote social distancing. "It's a moral decision by owners with their staff; we shouldn't be angry at people for doing either."
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Booksellers New Zealand has released a COVID-19 response that focuses on what the association can do that will have a material impact on the lives and business of members.
"This is just the beginning," association manager Dan Slevin said. "If you have any other ideas for how we can leverage the power of the association to do things that individual members don't have the capacity to do for themselves, please talk to us. We have been in contact with Retail NZ and they are working on sector-wide issues like rent relief and Paywave. In our discussions with publishers, they signaled that they see some difficulties getting stock into NZ over the next few months as freight capacity is impacted but they are also realistic about the pressures being faced by booksellers on the front line and made it clear that we are all going to have to work together to get through this.
"I'll close by saying that, while a pandemic might be unprecedented, we have all been through crises--and even recessions--before. I know this isn't my first rodeo! One thing I have learned about recessions is that they eventually end. In the meantime, continue to provide great service to your customers and look after your people. They will remember you when the good times come back. This too shall pass. Noho ora mai rā."
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Dieter Dausien, owner of the bookstore Buchladen am Freiheitsplatz in Hanau, Germany, told the BBC he understands why his bookshop has been told to shut down, but that doesn't make it any easier: "The worst thing is the uncertainty as to how long the closures will last. We deliver books to customers at home, or leave ordered books in front of our door for customers to collect, making sure there is no human contact. But it's a much greater effort to prepare books for shipping than to sell in store."
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Toronto Life featured seven of the Canadian city's bookstores "doing delivery--plus their quarantine reading recommendations," noting that "there's only so much Netflix you can watch in a day. As Torontonians hunker down in self-imposed isolation, bookstores are seeing increased demand for reading material."
"Indie bookstores are incredibly vulnerable right now," said Joanne Saul, co-owner of Type Books. "We need all the help we can get, frankly. We don't have an online platform to help us out. This is our equivalent."
"We've never experienced a loss of income so dramatically before, without any ability to plan and prepare," Michael Erickson, co-owner of Glad Day Bookshop, observed, noting that Glad Day has launched an emergency fund for LGBTQ artists, performers and tip workers in the community, with 15% going toward keeping Glad Day alive. "We know the community wants us to be here when it's all over."
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In Sweden last Friday, Uppsala English Bookshop in Uppsala posted on Facebook: "IT'S BEEN A WEIRD WEEK, but we thought we'd take a moment to sum up the gratitude we feel towards you--our amazing community of booklovers--for the support you have offered. All week you have been worried about us; stopping in to ask how we're doing and at the same time making sure to stock up. You have been contacting us from all around the country--placing big orders (3 customers with orders over 35 books per head just this week!!!), stating your support and joining our curated book club for a full YEAR in advance.... The list goes on.
"These are tough times but with your love and support we will come through this--stronger than ever before even. So--thank you everyone. We feel humble. Judging from you guys humanity is a pretty good crowd to hang out with. The way a community can come together in a time of hardship is truly inspirational."