The Canadian government has committed to providing C$32.1 million (about US$25.6 million) in funding for initiatives that will help booksellers sustain and increase their online sales. This funding will also make it easier for customers to support indies.
"We're grateful to Finance Canada and Canadian Heritage for this decision to invest in Canadian booksellers," the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association posted on Facebook. "We also want to thank Canadian readers, whose fierce dedication shows just how important indies are to Canada. Now we have even more to celebrate on #IndieBookstoreDay this Saturday!"
The funding will be distributed over the next two years by the Department of Canadian Heritage, with C$32.1 million dedicated to helping bookstores increase sales online and C$7.2 million (about US$5.8 million) in additional funding to promote Canadian books at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Quill & Quire reported.
"This is great news for indie booksellers and their customers," said Douglas Minett, CIBA's executive director, adding that the association teamed with French-language booksellers on a proposal to the Department of Finance advocating for local booksellers.
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In the first week since bookshops were allowed to reopen across England and Wales on April 12, "readers rushed to benefit," with Nielsen BookScan reporting print market growth of 33% in units and 32.5% in value week on week. In total, 3.7 million books were sold in the seven days leading up to April 17, the Guardian reported.
"Opening our doors again was utterly joyous," said Waterstones COO Kate Skipper. "Being back amongst the shelves, touching the books and talking about books, is the best--recommending books is something that I think everyone's just been desperate for."
Paul Angel, owner of Westbourne Bookshop in Bournemouth, said, "We've had people trying to smell the books through their masks, and perfectly respectable middle-aged people acting like kids in a sweet shop. We've had a great first week. It was so nice to see some familiar faces again. We worry about some of our older customers, as they can be lonely at the best of times and their regular visit to a bookshop is an important part of their week."
In Holmfirth, Read. bookseller James Ashmore noted that "just about everyone was breathing a huge sigh of relief as they walk through the door.... You can really tell that everyone is well-practiced at shopping safely, too. It's fantastic to be back in business."
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Strict Covid-19 measures "have drastically impacted book sales" in the Netherlands, resulting in 16% fewer books sold between the start of the year and now, the European & International Booksellers Federation's NewsFlash reported, adding that restrictions imposed by the Dutch government "saw all non-essential stores closed, with click & collect services banned. First comparisons with the previous year show 10% drop in sales."
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The 23rd Fête de la Librairie Indépendante will take place this weekend, with more than 480 booksellers in France, Belgium and Luxembourg participating.
"This Saturday, April 24, 2021, is the independent bookstore holiday. Like every year, on the occasion of San Jordi, you will receive a book and a rose," Belgian bookseller Librairie Pax in Liège posted on Facebook. --Robert Gray