Serving communities in crisis: The bookseller’s role

Independent bookstores play a crucial role in supporting their communities and never have communities needed more support than over the past year. COVID brought job losses, children home from school, and a general increase in isolation and anxiety. Faced with unprecedented closures, bookstores still found ways to maintain connections with their patrons through virtual events, home delivery, curated lists, and personalized guidance. In this event, you’ll hear how four bookstores stayed connected in order to support their community and sell books. This session is the launch of the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association’s Discover & Develop webinar series that will help booksellers define their ‘new normal’ — what their day-to-day operations look like now that the industry is finding its new rhythm; better understand and improve their stores and operating procedures; and consider how adaptations they made during the pandemic might continue post-COVID.