Buying Books During the Age of COVID-19

We’ve been spending a lot of time at home these days and you know what that means: more time to read! While quarantine and social distancing measures pose no problem for fans of e-readers, other book nerds might be missing the days when you could aimlessly wander the bookstore aisles.

Are you looking to get your hands on a new (or used) book and support small businesses in the process? Read on for our top tips on buying books during the age of COVID-19.

Support Independent Bookstores
The pandemic has hit independent bookstores hard, especially given the dominance of the e-book market. Buying books from independent bookstores is a great way to support the mom and pop shops that make bookselling so special! Luckily, you can do this online. With Bookshop​ and ​IndieBound​, you can buy virtually and still support bookstores all across the country.

Keep it Local
You might also want to support your local bookstores. Check in with the bookstores in
your town and see if they’re offering a curbside delivery service in case it isn’t safe to shop.
Bookstores have also converted most of their events to a virtual format; most of these are free!
Your attendance will remind your beloved local bookstores that you’re thinking of them (and
don’t forget to send the Zoom link to a friend!).

Buy Used Books
Times are tough, and not everyone can drop $20+ on a new hardcover. Luckily, there
are plenty of online options to buy used books. Check out Powell’s, a local bookstore based out of Portland. You might also try Better World Books, which donates a book to someone in need whenever a purchase is made.

Do a Book Swap
Not looking to make a purchase, but desperately need a new read? Try doing a book
swap with your friends. Gather a group of readers and plan who will send what book and to
whom. This way, you can enjoy the weight of a new book in your hands without losing any money from your wallet. The best part? You’ll feel close to your friends, even if you can only see them over Facetime.

Read e-Books
Maybe COVID-19 has made you realize you really are desperate for an e-reader. With a
Kindle, Nook, or any old tablet really, you can buy books whenever you want. If you’d rather not drop the cash on these expensive devices, you can always use the Kindle or iBooks app to
read from your mobile device or computer.

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By Sydney Meve, Intern