{"id":6229,"date":"2020-04-15T12:09:06","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T16:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/?p=6229"},"modified":"2026-04-15T11:09:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:09:21","slug":"how-to-support-independent-bookstores-even-during-a-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/2020\/04\/15\/how-to-support-independent-bookstores-even-during-a-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"How to support independent bookstores (even during a pandemic)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted April 2020<\/em><\/p>\n

Allison Moore (COM\u201909) is an editor at\u00a0Bloomsbury Children\u2019s Books<\/a>\u00a0in New York, where she works with authors and illustrators to<\/em> create books that make kids and teens fall in love with reading, see themselves in great stories, and find windows to diverse experiences and points of view. <\/em>You can connect with her on Twitter at <\/em>@allisonm610<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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One of my favorite things to do when I travel and walk around the city (back when we all could travel and walk around the city\u2026) is visit local independent bookstores. I buy more books than could ever fit on my apartment shelves, collect coffee mugs from my favorite stores, and even keep a Google map of all those I\u2019ve seen and want to visit. From The Booksmith<\/a> in San Francisco, Elliott Bay Book Company<\/a> in Seattle, Green Bean Books<\/a> in Portland, and Books & Books<\/a> in Miami to Books Are Magic<\/a>, Bluestockings<\/a>, and Three Lives & Company<\/a> here in New York, each store has offered a unique personality and a common spirit of community and excitement about connecting readers with the perfect selections to enjoy. Some of my favorite stores from my time at BU were Brookline Booksmith<\/a> in Coolidge Corner, Trident Booksellers & Caf\u00e9<\/a> on Newbury Street, and Porter Square Books<\/a> right across the river.<\/p>\n

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A few souvenirs from Allison\u2019s bookstore visits<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s nothing better than indie bookstores. They tuck little recommendation cards all over, host book talks and book clubs and storytimes for readers of all ages, and sometimes even have cozy nooks you can sit and sample your selections in. They\u2019re filled with book people having spirited conversations about their recent favorites, and they always sell the very best tote bags. Their booksellers know the shelves inside and out, and countless times have offered me just the right recommendation for my next read or gift for a hard-to-shop-for family member or friend. And, most importantly, indie bookstores are part of the community, helping to grow the local economy, offering a place to gather, linking with school fundraisers and donating portions of their sales to local programs (like Greenlight\u2019s civic engagement series<\/a>), providing jobs to neighbors (like Words Bookstore\u2019s vocational training program for people with autism<\/a>), and getting to know every child, adult, and proud grandparent who walks through their doors. It may cost a few extra dollars to buy from an indie sometimes, but if you can swing it, it\u2019s worth it. You\u2019re paying for so much more.<\/p>\n

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An Instagram-worthy scene from The Last Bookstore in LA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Contrary to some people\u2019s beliefs, independent bookstores were not dying, even in the age of online entertainment. But now, as our country grapples with the COVID-19 crisis and each state sets shelter-in-place orders, these and other nonessential small businesses face particular hardship. Hundreds of stores across the country have been forced to close their doors to customers, losing money and confronting staff layoffs and fears they will not be able to reopen for months. While I\u2019m glad shoppers are staying off our busy streets and subways to protect essential workers at this scary time, it breaks my heart to think that some of these stores might not make it through to the other end.<\/p>\n

But all is not lost! There are many ways to support these wonderful stores from the comfort of your couch. Here’s what you can do (now, and later, too):<\/h3>\n