German booksellers could still operate under the federal government's new "emergency brake" amendment to the Infection Protection Act, which would allow the same Covid-19 restrictions to apply nationwide in areas with an incidence rate of over 100, the Berlin Spectator reported. Though the restrictions state that "all non-essential shops must close," bookshops and garden centers may open along with supermarkets, pharmacies, drug stores, hairdressers and gas stations. The Berlin Bundestag and the Bundesrat still have to approve the amendment to the law.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "The 'emergency brake' will not be a matter of interpretation anymore.... The nationwide 'emergency brake' was overdue. Even though it might be difficult to hear it yet again: The situation is serious, and all of us should take it seriously."
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The London Book Fair, which had been scheduled to take place in person at the Olympia June 29-July 1, will be held virtually, the second year in a row it will be digital only. Organizers plan to return next year to an in-person format with the fair's usual spring timing, April 5-7, 2022.
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On Monday, bookshops in England and Wales "experienced a successful first day back after lockdown, with booksellers reporting queues ahead of trading hours and consistent selling across all areas," the Bookseller reported.
"We had customers waiting outside, which was very heartwarming," said Sue Lake, director of White Rose Book Cafe in Thirsk. "The sun shone and customers started coming thick and fast into our book-café garden.... Lots of well-wishers are saying they are going round all the shops today 'because you need us don't you?'... Everyone leaves wishing us a great day which feels very encouraging. So it certainly is business as usual with a bang!"
Jane Angel of Gullivers Bookshop in Wimborne noted: "We're open, it's busy, noisy and our displays have been messed up. It's perfect."
In Wales, Matt Taylor, owner of Chepstow Books, said lots of regulars visited, with the highlight being "a mum coming in with her toddler for the child's first trip into a bookshop to choose a book.... [It's been a] steady stream and expecting it to be a busy week and beyond--we've stayed open behind closed doors throughout the lockdown and have been working very intensely but it so refreshing to be able to let people into the shop to browse and find something they didn't know they were looking for."
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| Cogito Books | |
With bookshops reopening, the Guardian asked U.K. readers "to tell us about the bookshops you are longing to browse." Here's a sampling from their responses:
"My Christmas present this year from my daughters was a year-long subscription to Mr. B's Emporium in Bath," said Taylor Joyce of Fiskerton. "I have been shielding so couldn't go out, but I love reading. I filled in a questionnaire so they could find out my tastes and I have received a book every month. The choices have been excellent, both unusual authors and subjects. I look forward in anticipation each month. It has been a life saver."
Cogito Books in Hexham "has operated a postal and local delivery service for their customers over the past year, working long hours behind closed doors," noted Jane Torday of Hexham. "Competition continues in the time of Covid--Amazon, Waterstones in the town center, another fine independent bookshop, Forum, three miles away. But I nail my colors to the mast of Cogito--I am so glad they are reopening!"
Londoner Clodagh Hayes said Lutyens & Rubinstein "is a small gem of an independent bookshop. It has a proper neighborhood feel.... I miss popping in almost every day as I just 'happen' to be passing, inevitably leaving with another book or 10; taking my nieces to the shop to choose a book; the book clubs (which luckily we've managed to continue on Zoom); and running into another regular, having a great chat and feeling part of a community. I miss everything about the bookshop. For me, it's 'essential.' "
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Posted on Facebook yesterday by the Book Keeper, Sarnia, Ont., Canada: "Did you know that April 14, 2021 is the International Day of Pink? The 2SLGBTQIA+ community is no stranger to the bullying and violence that stems from hateful beliefs. While progress has been made towards removing these social barriers from our society, discrimination still persists. So, every year, on the second Wednesday of April, people around the world are urged to put on a pink shirt and stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. We need to keep fighting for acceptance and equity!" --Robert Gray