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| Bertrand Bookstore in Lisbon | |
Independent booksellers in Portugal have warned that the government's measures are "insufficient" to survive the pandemic, according to Lusa news agency. Portugal Resident reported that RELI, the network representing independent bookshops in country, said measures announced last Thursday by the ministers of economy and culture "aimed at minimizing the negative impacts of Covid-19 did 'address' some concerns expressed by the network during the first confinement, but did not resolve the 'dramatic situation experienced for many bookstores.' The network said in a statement that it also expected a reinforcement of the measures."
The government's support program includes €42 million [about $50.7 million] in a first phase, providing "universal, non-competitive and non-refundable support" for collective entities (companies, theaters, promoters, agents, independent movie theatres, cinemas), as well as individuals, such as artists, technicians and authors.
RELI countered this was insufficient, and should be accompanied by the state's intention to continuously reinforce "purchases of books for libraries to local bookstores at normal retail prices." The organization added that the remaining measures announced, including a simplified "lay-off" and support for managing partners, "may contribute to mitigate the devastating effects caused by the closing of bookstores, but may not be sufficient to guarantee their survival."
Regarding the Portuguese government's extended ban on the sale of books in supermarkets and in other places like service stations and postal services, RELI contended that such a measure "will not eliminate the risk of disappearance of the nearby bookstores."
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Singapore publisher Epigram Books will stop publishing in the U.K. this month "to shore up the local business amid the Covid-19 slowdown," the Straits Times reported. Epigram Books UK launched in 2016 with three London staff members and has published more than 30 titles there.
"Our business in Singapore has suffered to such an extent that we are unable to support our U.K. arm any longer," said Epigram founder Edmund Wee. "We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped and supported us through the years."
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In a recent episode of BBC News World Service's program Worklife India, Devina Gupta spoke with author/columnist Chetan Bhagat; Chiki Sarkar, publisher and co-founder of Juggernaut Books; and booktuber Manpreet Kaur about "re-energizing your reading regime."
"For many people, spending time at home, indulging in a hobby helps to escape the stresses of a global health crisis--and what better way than books?" Worklife India noted. "A recent study says people across the world read more during the lockdown--but despite this, the publishing industry and bookstores struggled. Many had to put their shutters down.
"So, is 2021 going to put that ember of hope in book sales? What genres are set to capture the readers' imaginations? And what can you do to motivate yourself to read more or to inculcate a love for books in your kids? We bring you some easy-to-follow tips." --Robert Gray