When the pandemic forced people had to stay closer to home, the escapism they found in reading became more important than ever.
But high streets have been hammered and libraries – already decimated by pre-Covid cuts – continue to be threatened. Luckily a new kind of hero has risen: the humble local bookshop.
Despite everything that’s happened, the number of independent bookshops has increased for the fourth year in a row, following two decades of decline. There now are close to 1,000 across the UK – the highest number since 2013 – breathing life into shuttered town centres, and serving as vital hubs for communities.
As we celebrate Independent Bookshop Week, we visit just a few of the people and places that stepped up through lockdown when they were needed most.
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When we went into lockdown my first thought was for those customers for whom we are a lifeline. One customer, for example, who we see daily has mental health issues and learning difficulties, also cares for his elderly mother. I made a point of reaching out to let him know that we were still here for him if he needed us – and not just for books!