RISE Bookselling, a network program organized by the European and International Booksellers Federation and co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the EU, has launched a 'Bookshops as welcoming & inclusive spaces' campaign to spotlight booksellers from across the world who go above and beyond to ensure that their bookshops remain that way.
Beginning with Raluca Selejan of La Două Bufniţe in Romania, each week until June 10, the campaign will focus on different booksellers who will highlight the following themes:
- Bookshops make people feel represented
- Bookshops are safe havens where all are welcome
- Bookshops are spaces for education, dialogue and literacy promotion
- Bookshops foster a sense of community and belonging
"At a time of increased political and ideological polarization, with rising censorship and the freedom of expression under threat, we recognize the need to use our voice to defend the spaces we love the most: bookshops," RISE Bookselling noted. "Bookshops have a unique role in fostering values of peace, democracy, and tolerance. In the lead-up to the European elections, now more than ever it is vital to remind policymakers and stakeholders how crucial support from democratic institutions and book friendly policies is not just for bookshops, but for the vitality and vibrancy of society."