Recent health emergency has prompted policymakers around the world to provide recommendations on how to best protect ourselves from the COVID-19 pandemic – maintaining strict hygiene, limiting unnecessary travel and time spent outside, as well as banning public gatherings. As more and more countries impose movement restrictions, businesses that rely on physical presence of customers are left in precarious position. Book industry as whole is dealing with a substantial impact: cancelled trade fairs, seized supply chains, and frozen rights sales. For booksellers in particular the current situation is already resulting in a slowdown in sales: a Chinese bookstore chain reported an 80% dip in sales, book sales in Italy are down by 25%, UK’s W. H. Smith issued £40 million profit warning due to travel restrictions, while Belgium’s largest bookshop Filigranes is projecting a 33% decrease in turnover per week. Spanish book industry is projecting a loss of nine billion euros for the first six months of 2020. 

As countries around the world introduce measures to try and contain the spread of Coronavirus, many independent bookshops are announcing closures of part, or even whole, businesses. However, to ensure they can survive this large and unexpected shift in their business model, booksellers are encouraging their customers to buy books online – with substantial impact. Many booksellers are coming up with innovative measures to support local communities during times of social distancing, self-isolation, or even full lockdowns. 

In recent weeks, we heard about bookstores pairing with a food delivery app to help get books into the hands of readers in China, UK bookstores are hand delivering books to customers in self-isolation by skateboards and bicycles, while Sweden and Belgium are also seeing a spike in online orders, which are being hand delivered.

The book industry is not idle in these trying times. Events are moving online – a great example is a recent book launch, via Instagram Live, hosted by author Javier Castillo and journalist Maria Gomez in Spain. Book clubs are moving online, providing an opportunity for people to safely engage with others and discuss books they have been reading while staying at home. Booksellers are exploring options how to digitise activities they would have otherwise organised in their stores - some are providing book recommendations through live broadcasts, others are hosting reading hours for children staying at home.

Get involved: Digital reading initiatives 

Reading has positive impact on both physical and mental health, and many countries are launching digital campaigns to encourage their citizens, especially those with young children, to pick up reading while staying at home. Reading helps strengthen our brains, increases our ability to emphatise, helps us to improve our vocabulary, and helps in preventing age-related cognitive decline. In addition, reading can help reduce stress levels, alleviate depression symptoms, and prepare us for a good night’s rest.  

Below you can find various initiatives launched recently, from supporting local booksellers to reading competitions: 

          •     Austria: 'support your bookshop online' campaign, providing a list of local bookstores with online stores

          •     Australia: list of local bookstores with activities and services they are still offering

          •     Belgium: collection of online reading platforms 

          •     Italy: Italians are using many hashtags on social networks through which the whole book sector shares its book recommendations, while readers are invited to share their current read: #libriaperti, #ioleggoacasa, #iostoacasa, #conunlibro, #librichecisalvano

          •     Germany: Börsenverein is promoting its interactive overview of local bookstores, which includes information about online stores. A lot of publishing houses are helping to raise awareness among its readers to buy books in local bookstores: #findyourbookstore, #buchsolidarität. Börsenverein is also promoting #stayathomereadabook

          •     Netherlands: 'I read at home campaign' by the Dutch CPNB Foundation 

          •     Norway: 'whole Norway is reading'

          •     Spain: #Buidemlesllibreries (‘Let’s empty the bookshops’ in Catalan)

          •     Sweden: #hemmamedenbok 

          •     UK and Ireland: #ChooseBookshops

Resources for booksellers

This health emergency has substantially shifted our way of living and many effects are already being felt by communities and businesses alike. EIBF members are at the forefront supporting the independent bookstores in their countries and regions to ensure they can overcome the current situation. 

Below you can find information on ongoing initiatives from our members. Please note that this database is being updated as more information becomes available: 

          •     The Bookseller Association of the UK and Ireland launched a webpage with dedicated resources, including business support helpline 

          •     The American Booksellers Association’s Coronavirus resources are available here 

          •     Syndicat de la Librairie Française is publishing daily updates and measures to support businesses  

          •     Swedish Booksellers Association is providing advice to Swedish booksellers here

          •     Börsenverein, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, has pulled together important links and information on Coronavirus  

          •     Union of Czech Booksellers and Publishers is mapping the impact of Coronavirus pandemic on the book sector in country. They are sharing potential ideas to soften the negative consequences of lockdown here. 

          •     The Danish Booksellers Association is sharing latest news and retail restrictions on Coronavirus here

          •     The Bookseller Association of the Netherlands is collating useful information for booksellers regarding Coronavirus

          •     The Swiss Association of Booksellers and Publishers shares updated information for booksellers here 

          •     Australian Booksellers Association is collating information for booksellers on COVID-19 here 

          •     The Association of New Zealand Booksellers is providing Coronavirus information for booksellers here

Support to small- and medium-sized enterprises

The COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak is having a severe economic impact on many businesses across Europe and the world, including the bookselling industry. On 19 March, European Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager presented the State Aid Temporary Framework, a plan devised to ensure the continuity of economic activity in the EU and for member states to provide financial assistance to businesses of all types during and after the Coronavirus pandemic. This temporary framework enables countries to make use of the ‘full flexibility’ foreseen under pre-existing EU State aid rules and to complement them with the following measures. The State Aid Temporary Framework is to remain in place until the end of December 2020.

We are collating resources around what measures governments across the EU have launched to help small- and medium-sized companies during the COVID-19, Coronavirus outbreak. Find out how your business can claim financial support during the outbreak, and what rental agreement measures have been announced to help SMEs (both articles are available to EIBF members only). 

We are thinking of everyone struggling in these uncertain times. We hope you are keeping safe and reading a book!

Joint statement from the European Writers’ Council, the Federation of European Publishers, the European and International Booksellers Federation, and the European Council of Literary Translators' Associations

The European book sector, represented by the European Writers’ Council, the Federation of European Publishers, the European and International Booksellers Federation and the European Council of Literary Translators' Associations, has learnt with consternation of the proposed savings on culture from the Flemish Minister for Culture. Besides a linear cancellation of 6 %, especially the reduction of 60% on the project grants deprives beginning and advanced artists who want to build their narrative about Flanders, Europe and the world. The social benefits and individual emancipation effects of reading need an active reading promotion program with the support of all the actors in the book sector.  

Together with our Flemish colleagues and members, EWC, FEP, EIBF and CEATL have been supporting a rich and diverse literary landscape with a wide and inclusive range. The cooperation with the entire cultural sector is paramount, to look beyond policy areas and boundaries and to the support of the artists, in particular the writers, so that they can build their oeuvre and have a decent life.

These reductions affect also the authors who often have incomes deriving from many sources. Literary events’ organisers have been reporting for years the lack of indexing of allowances, with a direct negative impact on income and opportunities for contact with readers. 

The non-indexing – loss of 3 % - and the striking-out of 6 % of the budget of Literatuur Vlaanderen seems to be compensated by extra money. In fact, it is destined  for new missions that serve more the ideological and promotional objectives of the government than the real necessities of the partners in literature for whom the 3 % + 6 % deliveries damage the dynamical development of the literature and Flemish authors, translators and illustrators.        
In order to be able to support the existing growth opportunities and necessary dynamics, an adequate financing of the entire cultural and arts sector is essential. We call on the Flemish government to positively address the issue and properly fund culture for its vital role in society.

Signed by: 

European Writers’ Council President Nina George
Federation of European Publishers President Rudy Vanschoonbeek 
European and International Booksellers’ Federation co-Presidents Fabian Paagman and Jean Luc Treutenaere 
European Council of Literary Translators' Associations President Morten Visby  
 

The European and International Booksellers Federation issues a following statement:

As COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic continues to spread around the world, many countries are imposing drastic measures to try and contain it. In countries such as Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Belgium, all stores considered as non-essential, bookstores among them, have been required to close. This prescribed closure of bookstores is a threat to financial sustainability of many businesses in the bookselling industry. 
 
Health and safety of all people and communities is top priority for all, but we need to recognise the impact prolonged closure will have on small- and medium-sized businesses that rely on physical presence of customers. Booksellers offer an important contribution to communities and society as a whole from educational, cultural, and financial point of view. 
 
Many booksellers are going above and beyond to sustain their services to customers – who are currently self-isolating at their homes – but they face numerous challenges. Many bookstores that our members represent have limited, or no, infrastructure to support online sales in these unprecedented times. In addition, while offering home deliveries, they are exposing themselves to higher risks. 
 
Closure of brick and mortar bookstores compromises their profitability and puts under question their, already fragile, economic situation. Local bookstores greatly contribute to communities and districts, offering needed services, providing job opportunities, and contributing safe meeting spaces that online retailers can’t provide. Ensuring these businesses can overcome these uncertain times is critical to continuous sustainable development of local communities.  
 
All booksellers are anxiously waiting to reopen their stores, but they are not willing to compromise their health or the health of their customers and communities they enrich. This puts them at a disadvantage compared to giant online retailers, whose businesses are operating with minimal adjustments. 
 
We are appealing to governments worldwide to remember the importance of books in our society, and the positive impact bookstores have on local communities, and provide support and financial aid to protect the bookselling industry. 
 
It is critical we stand together in these uncertain times, as only by supporting each other we will come out stronger in the end. 

Ahead of the World Book Day on 23 April, we are spotlighting national reading initiatives – from long standing ones to recent ones launched during the Coronavirus outbreak – follow #EIBFreads

On 23 April we are celebrating the World Book Day – an initiative promoting enjoyment of books and reading. Organised by UNESCO since 1995, the World Book and Copyright Day “encourages everyone, but especially young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contribution of those, who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity”. 

Read our joint press release on this World Book Day -  authors, publishers, and booksellers call for international support

The marking of this day will be even more important this year, when most schools around the world are closed, many booksellers have closed their doors, and people are being asked to stay inside as much as possible to help contain the spread of COVID-19, Coronavirus pandemic. In these bleak times, we can channel the power of books to combat isolation, forge connections between people, and expand our horizons, while stimulating our minds and creativity.

Reading has a positive impact on both physical and mental health by strengthening our brains, increasing our ability to empathise, help us improve our vocabulary, and helps in preventing age-related cognitive decline. In addition, reading can help reduce stress levels, alleviate depression symptoms, and prepare us for a good night’s rest.  

Since the spread of Coronavirus, and the launch of containment measures, many countries have been promoting various reading initiatives to engage with their citizens – from reading competitions between students in schools and/or families to general calls to all to stay at home and read. 

At EIBF, we recognise the importance of books and reading in people’s lives. Books, and bookshops, are one of the cornerstones of our civilization. Booksellers enrich the communities they are part of, offering cultural, economic, and educational contribution to society. This is why we are spotlighting various national reading initiatives ahead of this year’s World Book Day. 

Join us in sharing the love of books and reading, and help us feature reading initiatives from every corner of the world. We encourage you to share this message with others through #WorldBookDay, #EIBFreads, and dedicated # of national initiatives:

     -    Bulgarian: #ЧететеКниги 

     -    Dutch: #ikleesthuis, #ikverspreidhetleesvirus 

     -    English: #ChooseBookshops, #StayHomeAndRead, #ReadAloudCanadian, #AustraliaReadsAtHome

     -    Finnish: #kirjankanssakotona

     -    French: #JeResteChezMoiEtLire 

     -    German: #findyourbookstore, #buchsolidarität, #StayAtHomeReadABook, #bücherhamstern, #buchmoment

     -    Italian: #ioleggoperché #leggiamounastoria, #ioleggoacasa, #conunlibro

     -    Latvian: #lasamgramatasmajas 

     -    Lithuanian: #skaitaupalaikau #liknamiesuknyga

     -    Norwegian: #helenorgeleser 

     -    Polish: #TerazCzasNaCzytanie

     -    Portuguese: #leyaemcasa, #lerdoceler

     -    Romanian: #citimacasa

     -    Spanish: #YoMeQuedoEnCasaLeyendo, #YoLeoEnCasa

     -    Swedish: #HemmaMedEnBok

     -    Turkish: #evdeyimokuyorum

     -    global: #behindeverybook 

Throughout April, we will be spotlighting this page and sharing reading initiatives on EIBF social media channels on Twitter and Facebook. Follow us there, and keep an eye on #EIBFreads, to stay up to date with our campaign. We will also collate all produced material here. 

Social media material 

Here you can find all material we have used on our social channels since the launch of #EIBFreads campaign:

Cover photo: InstagramFOTOGRAFIN/Pixabay  

 

We, the undersigned representatives of the global book industry urge governments all over the world to recognize, support and celebrate the importance of books, learning solutions, and professional and scholarly content by adopting economic stimulus packages to sustain their respective publishing sectors and the value chains that surround them.

Today, on 2020 World Book Day, we acknowledge the vital role that books play in society. Through books we learn, we meet other cultures, we dream. We understand each other. Through books we learn how to empathize. Books are necessary for scientific research, to educate our children and in lifelong learning. Books help us become better human beings. 

Books need authors to write and illustrate them, publishers to invest in them, booksellers to get them to readers, and collective management organizations to protect their copyright. This chain, so vital to society, is under imminent threat. 

In this time of social distancing, the importance of books has been re-emphasized. Staying at home and reading a book is a way of caring for others. Newspapers and blogs around the world have put together lists of books to read while you are in isolation, whether that be to escape or to understand what is happening. Books are what people turn to in difficult times. 

Parents in many countries have had to become educators. Teachers have needed to find new ways of bringing their lessons to pupils. Authors and publishers around the world have responded by licensing their content and digital services. Online book readings like ‘Read The World’ have exploded online, with publishers and authors quick to give parents support. The world is relying on research published in specialist journals to guide its health policies and develop a vaccine. Journal publishers’ investments in the verification of research and its wide communication are crucial here. And they have stepped up, voluntarily making research related to COVID-19 freely available and amenable to reuse.

Whether we are talking about books for a general audience, children’s books, educational resources, or scientific research, authors, publishers, distributors, booksellers and collective management organisations have reacted quickly to adapt where necessary and play a responsible role in society. 

The COVID-19 virus is having a disastrous effect on people everywhere. Economies are shutting down and nobody knows for sure when we’ll return to normal, or even if that’s possible. The impact on the world’s creative industries, including the book sector, has been devastating. 

In many countries, our industry is already struggling for oxygen. We must find ways to ensure the future for authors, publishers, editors, designers, distributors, booksellers and those who work in collective management, so that the book industry can bounce back once this pandemic is conquered.

A world without new books would be a sad and impoverished place. We are working hard to come through this crisis, but we need help to survive. We need governments to help us get through it together.  

Signed by: 

    -    Jean-Luc Treutenaere, Co-President, EIBF    

    -    John Degen, Chair, IAF    

    -    Yngve Slettholm, President, IFRRO    

    -    Hugo Setzer, President, IPA    

    -    Ian Moss, CEO, STM

Booksellers and publishers call for support ahead of the video conference of culture ministers from 27 EU member states

The cultural and creative sectors have already suffered from a negative economic impact as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. They are facing unprecedented challenges now and in the long term, particularly in the light of a possible second wave of the pandemic.

The EU ministers for culture are meeting to review measures implemented to support the culture and creative sectors, and discuss further action in support of the industry. Ahead of the meeting, the European and International Booksellers Federation, together with the Federation of European Publishers, is sharing possible measures to help the book sector recover.  

We are proposing two measures that could immediately bring relief to the actors in the book industry, thus helping them to deal with the negative impacts of the COVID-19 crisis: 

     •    Book vouchers
Book voucher scheme is designed for citizens to buy books (print, digital, and audio) from their local bookshops. Such a voucher will be an incentive for citizens to have access to more books and will create positive market conditions for the sector – authors, booksellers, publishers, and translators. 

     •    Public purchase of books 
This scheme looks at massive purchase of books (in all formats) on behalf of public institutions (libraries, schools, etc.). Such a scheme will revitalise the entire book value chain while replenishing and updating the collections of libraries, schools and other institutions, and ultimately increase citizens’ access to books.

Find out more about these two proposals in the attachments. 

The European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) recognises emerging fiction writers from across Europe. During a cycle of three years, the award includes 41 countries participating in the Creative Europe programme – an initiative aiming at strengthening Europe’s cultural and creative sectors. The EUPL was launched in 2009, and since then it has recognised 122 writers, through 11 editions.

We are pleased to announce the thirteen laureates of the 2020 edition:

     •    Nathalie Skowronek, La carte des regrets (The map of regrets), for Belgium (French-speaking)
     •    Lana Bastašić, Uhvati zeca (Catch the rabbit), for Bosnia and Herzegovina
     •    Maša Kolanović, Poštovani kukci i druge jezive priče (Dear insects and other scary stories), for Croatia
     •    Σταύρος Χριστοδούλου (Stavros Christodoulou), Τη μέρα που πάγωσε ο ποταμός (The day the river froze), for Cyprus
     •    Asta Olivia Nordenhof, Penge på lommen (Money in your pocket), for Denmark
     •    Mudlum (Made Luiga), Poola poisid (Polish boys), for Estonia
     •    Matthias Nawrat, Der traurige Gast (The Sad Guest), for Germany
     •    Shpëtim Selmani, Libërthi i dashurisë (The Booklet of Love), for Kosovo*
     •    Francis Kirps, Die Mutationen (The Mutations), for Luxembourg
     •    Stefan Bošković, Ministar (Minister), for Montenegro
     •    Петар Андоновски (Petar Andonovski), Страв од варвари (Fear of barbarians), for North Macedonia
     •    Maria NavarroSkaranger, Bok om sorg (Book of grief), for Norway
     •    Irene Solà, Canto jo i la muntanya balla (I sing and the mountain dances), for Spain

The 2020 laureate for each country was selected by a national jury of literary experts. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the announcement of the winners was made digitally for the first time since the Prize was launched in 2009. The winning books and authors were revealed in a video published on 19 May 2020 at noon on the EUPL website and social media channels.

The winning laureates received congratulatory messages from the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Ms Mariya Gabriel, and the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, Ms Nina Obuljen Koržinek.

In her announcement, Commissioner Gabriel said: “In the current crisis we rely more than ever on artists and authors to help us cope with the isolation of confinement. Reading is a powerful way to feel strong emotions, be transported to a different universe in time and space, and meet new characters, all while staying at home. Congratulations to all this year’s winners of the European Prize for Literature!”.

“The far-reaching effect of literature in everyday life and its social significance, which we recognise day after day, is reflected in the European Union Prize for Literature. Through all past winners of this valuable award, but also through the reading translations of other awarded works by local publishers, Croatia had the opportunity to witness the power of beautiful contemporary European literary word, as well as the importance of sharing new, different, unknown ideas and perspectives. With this year's European Presidency, unexpectedly more marked by the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted all previously planned activities, which included an extremely rich cultural program in many European countries and beyond, Croatia joins the support to the organisation and resumption of the awarding of prizes, as well with its contribution through election and presentation of its most interesting literary voices,” said Ms Nina Obuljen Koržinek, the Croatian Minister of Culture.

The EUPL is organised by a Consortium comprising the European Writers' Council (EWC), the Federation of European Publishers (FEP), and the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), with the support of the European Commission. The award is funded by Creative Europe, and accessible to all countries participating in this EU funding programme for the cultural and creative sectors.

Ms Nina George, President of EWC, said at the reveal: “The European Union Prize for Literature in 2020 is a special award: in the midst of the greatest rupture in world society and a fundamental challenge for the European cultural landscape, we celebrate voices and authors of a united and yet diverse Europe. On behalf of the European Writers’ Council we warmly congratulate the nominees and winners of this year's EUPL! Your books are also the means of survival in a time of isolation in which we can only travel in thought – to our neighbours and friends in Europe. Observation, imagination, discipline, creativity and professional craftsmanship combine in your novels and short stories to create award-winning literature. We thank you for your courage and perseverance – because you, dear writers, you are the backbone of free speech. You are the sources of the book value chain, and your works are the basis for democracy, cultural exchange and a true European community.”

Mr Rudy Vanschoonbeek, President of FEP, commented: “Reading is a key component of our lives especially whilst we go through a dramatic crisis. I am reassured that one of the consequences of the confinement is that the Europeans are reading much more. We will be bringing to their attention these thirteen 2020 EUPL laureates. Their winning books come from all over Europe and soon, with translations into many more languages, EUPL will play its role of multiplicator, of an echo chamber for emerging authors. Good luck to them all.”

Mr Jean-Luc Treutenaere, co-President of EIBF, added: “It is with great pleasure that I can offer my congratulations to this year’s winning laureates on behalf of the European and International Booksellers Federation. These 13 authors and their winning novels showcase Europe’s outstanding talents and diverse cultural contribution. This is especially important now, as the book industry, like many other cultural sectors, faces the effects of the Coronavirus lockdown. As many European countries slowly re-open, I am looking forward to welcoming our winning laureates to many bookshops in their winning countries, and across Europe when possible.”

Watch the video announcement here.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

The European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), organisation representing booksellers associations from across Europe and worldwide, is issuing the following statement: 

Last Friday, 29 May, legendary bookstores among the community of science fiction, fantasy, and mystery readers, Uncle Hugo's and Uncle Edgar's, were burnt to the ground in Minneapolis, United States, during the civil unrest. EIBF deeply regrets and strongly condemns such actions of violence, which resulted in the loss of unique resources and cultural material housed in these independent bookstores. 

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The EIBF co-President Jean-Luc Treutenaere said in a statement: “I was deeply shocked to read that Uncle Hugo’s science fiction and Uncle Edgar’s mystery bookstores have been burnt down and destroyed by flames in the ongoing unrest in Minneapolis and many other places across the United States. I know that many other bookstores have been impacted by these events and I want to express my concern and support to all booksellers. Bookstores have always been a place for education, culture, and entertainment and booksellers encourage freedom of expression.”

Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental human rights and booksellers offer access to material that can provide insights into sensitive topics. This is especially relevant in these times, when human rights are under threat. Many booksellers and bookstores across the United States, but also around the world, have took a stand against racism, and are showing support for the protests over police violence against black people, and other minorities and at-risk groups. Bookstores are offering safe spaces for sharing one’s opinions and thoughts. Some bookstores in the US have provided first aid, promoted reading lists on antiracism books, and donated a portion of sales to organisations fighting mass incarceration. 

Booksellers offer a critical contribution and support to local communities, so the perpetrated looting and intentional damaging of bookstores is even more shocking and striking. It is important we stand together against police brutality, and against racism, violence, and hatred. By ensuring access to literature and wider material to educate why these issues need to be addressed, we can build a more inclusive and united world. We can only accomplish this by having more, and not less, bookstores around the world. 

Sharing positive and successful stories from the bookselling sector, celebrating the innovation, resilience, and resourcefulness of booksellers from across the world

Bookselling community is quite large and diverse, but predominantly it consists of small- and medium-sized businesses. These include brick and mortar bookshops, online bookshops, independent bookshops, and chains. Through providing access to literature and culture, contributing to financial sustainability in their local areas, and helping to improve reading outcomes for all, booksellers are an integral part of their local communities. However, they are also competing for their customers’ attention with large online retailers, which have resources to completely re-shape the market, to the detriment of local communities. 

Celebrating the innovation, resilience, and resourcefulness of booksellers 

We’re launching a new campaign to highlight the successes of these small- and medium-sized businesses, which were really in the spotlight during the Coronavirus outbreak. Despite being forced to close their doors to customers, booksellers found multitude of different ways to continue engaging with their customers, and keep providing their local communities with access to books and culture.  

Our campaign aims to highlight different activities and initiatives from the wider bookselling industry, thus raising awareness of why bookshops are essential to our lives. Some of these initiatives have been running for a while, while others have been launched specifically to help booksellers engage with their communities during the Coronavirus outbreak. 

Social media material

Flore Gautron, owner of the Florilège Librairie in France, explains how a board game helped her customers see a funny side of hygiene regulations (view and share posts on Twitter and Facebook)

Romanian booksellers Oana Doboși and Raluca Selejanexplain how they decided to build their online store around the idea of travelling with books - during a time when their La Două Bufniţe bookshop was closed due to the pandemic (view and share posts on Twitter and Facebook)

During Coronavirus outbreak, the English Bookshop in Uppsala organised an innovative auction of books– engaging with their followers and bringing joy to winners across Europe. Co-founder Jan Smedh explains their approach (view and share posts on Twitter and Facebook)

“Being able to connect grandparents with their grandchildren through books during lockdown was something that really touched us,” Trish Hennessy, owner of the Halfway up the Stairs children’s bookshop in Ireland, discusses how an initiative started during #COVID19 lockdown has transformed the business, continuing even after restrictions eased (view and share posts on Twitter and Facebook).

Nic Bottomley, co-owner of Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights bookshop in UK, discusses environmentally friendly initiatives booksellers can adopt, and how the #COVID19 pandemic might accelerate the adoption of #green activities through the book industry (view and share posts on Twitter and Facebook). 

Speaking at an EIBF webinar in May 2020, Iris Hunscheid from Buchhandlung Hoffmann highlighted the importance of the connection between bookshops and local customers: “The smaller the bookshops are, the closer is their connection to customers.” (view and share posts on Twitter and Facebook)

View and download all multimedia material for social channels. 

Cover photo: (c) Halfway up the Stairs children’s bookshop in Ireland