Booksellers Around the Country Show Off Their New Normal

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, bookstores across the country are taking to social media, blog posts, and e-newsletters to share what their new “normal” will look like for the time being. In accordance with state guidelines, many bookstores are still in various states of closure to the general public, offering instead home delivery and curbside pickup, and others have reopened with social distancing measures in place.

The sneeze guard at Main Street Books in St. Charles, Missouri.

Here are how some member stores are working to safely conduct and promote their business:

• Gramercy Books in Bexley, Ohio, wrote a blog post on the silver lining of COVID-19 for booksellers. “We have found some of our new practices to be worth continuing into our future,” wrote owner Linda Kass. “We’ve learned new and, in some cases, better ways to serve our customers.”
• Volumes Bookcafe in Chicago, Illinois, is offering curbside pickup for books and sidelines; in a post on Instagram, one of the store’s booksellers is pictured wearing a protective mask.
• To promote safety and curbside pickup, Bookmans Entertainment Exchange in Tucson, Arizona, participated in a #MaskedMonday Instagram challenge.
• The King’s English Bookshop in Salt Lake City, Utah, set up a free book cart outside of the store with the following requests: Take only one, only touch the one you take, and leave a donation if you can.
• Avoid the Day Bookstore & Cafe in Rockaway Beach, Queens, posted to Instagram: “Book delivery day! Thanks @lifeeclecticapparel for masks to keep us safe.”
• Split Rock Books in Cold Spring, New York, shared on Instagram that, after checking with the town supervisor, the store will be scheduling pickups in 15-minute increments to allow for social distancing; customers are encouraged to wear masks when visiting Main Street.
• Our Town Books in Jacksonville, Illinois, set up a selection of books for customers to purchase outside, with a note to knock on the store’s window with questions.
• Schuler Books in Grand Rapids and Okemos, Michigan, updated customers on how the store is currently running, from how web orders are being processed to curbside pickup.
• Novel Bay Booksellers in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, posted on Instagram that masks and gloves are required for customers who wish to visit the store; visits are by appointment only, and gloves are supplied for those who don’t have them.
• Maria’s Bookshop in Durango, Colorado, updated customers with an Instagram post that said the store will continue to offer curbside service only. The bookseller pictured is wearing a mask and gloves.
• Main Street Books St. Charles, Missouri, opened for limited browsing. The store had hand sanitizer, Lysol, and a sneeze guard.