March 17, 2020

NM Book Co-op HELP CENTER #4

The New Mexico Book Co-op is here for authors, publishers and booksellers to share ideas, and some humor; if you have any ideas that you might share on how to keep our beloved books on the minds of readers and stores, send them to LPDPress@q.com and if appropriate they'll be shared with our wider 1,500+ member book family.

BOOK INDUSTRY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION (BINC) COMES THROUGH: Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc) seems to regularly come through for booksellers, bookstores and comic bookstores in need and is already helping in this emergency. Binc said over the weekend that it "will continue to help booksellers according to our policy for public health emergencies. Assistance may be available for the medical expenses of booksellers and to help booksellers in specific cases where store closure and/or loss of scheduled pay leads to the inability to pay essential household bills for an individual or family." Those circumstances include if a bookseller or member of a bookseller's household contracts an illness and can't go to work or must be quarantined; a bookseller loses more than 50% of scheduled work hours because residents are told by authorities not to go to work or a mandatory quarantine; if a bookstore loses a significant amount of business due to forced store closure or restrictions on residents' movement and the store is unable to pay store rent and/or utility expenses.

... AND ABA STEPS UP:
In a letter to members, American Booksellers Association has discussed steps stores can take immediately, as well as initiatives the association is working on to support members. They include:
* Asking landlords for rent relief
* Promoting their e-commerce site (if stores don't have one, they can sign up for ABA's IndieLite e-commerce for free through May 31 or become an affiliate of Bookshop)
* Asking publishers sales reps for help with extended dating, a billing grace period, the removal of a return cap
* Lobbying local government officials for loans, grants, and other support for small businesses.
And, the letter emphasized, booksellers should come to the ABA for assistance and advice, and notify the ABA if their stores have closed "so we have critical info for our lobbying and advocacy efforts." The ABA is also working on initiatives that include advocating for bookseller support from publishers and vendors; exploring funding support for both bookstores and booksellers who are furloughed or laid off; lobbying federal officials on the needs of small business as they draft legislation to address the COVID-19 outbreak; publishing a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal (compliments of HarperCollins) promoting shopping local with indie bookstores; offering setup of IndieLite for free through May 31; and sharing best practices.

CONTEST #1 OPEN NOW:
Let's have a little fun and create a list of end-of-times type books authored or published right here in New Mexico and Arizona that we can share with everyone — readers as well as stores and libraries. Use End-of-times" in the subject line and email me:
Title/Author/Publisher/ISBN/Price/genre
I will send out as a Cover•Reads list to everyone.

Don't forget. I'm still taking names for our "Best New Mexico/Arizona Reading List for While Being Quaranteened"! Names so far are:
* The Big Wipeout
* Quarantine Quartos
* Clean Hands, Dirty Mind
* From My Bookie
* Isolated Pages

Help us give this list a name. Once we come up with a name for the book list I'll put out a call for the books that should be on that list. We can all promote it to possible buyers and even to stores (if there are any left when the dust settles). Let's all pitch in an idea for a name. Give me your suggestions.

LIBRARIES MAKING ADJUSTMENTS: Many libraries are closed, but they are finding ways to accommodate checking out of books by phone or online, increasing the number of books that patrons can take out, and extending the time patrons can keep the books.

HELPING LOCAL BUSINESS: I saw this on Facebook from James R. Scarantino — "Started buying gift cards from my favorite restaurants and cafes to help them now. They are so appreciative. I'm not spending more, only what I would probably spend in a couple weeks anyway eating lunch or dinner out a couple times. This is an easy way to love your community. You can do this over the phone."

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS: Chimayo Weavers sent out the following message: "We will miss our visitors but will be busy working at our looms & catching up w/myriad tasks we always seem to be behind on. Our on-line shop is always available & full of enticing Chimayo & Rio Grande weaving (+ more), so please visit us virtually! http://www.chimayoweavers.com/

REVERSING DIRECTION?: The NY Post ran an article March 14 called "Using tote bags instead of plastic could help spread the coronavirus". Wow. Just when we were getting used to having multi-use bags with us when we shop and having reusable coffee cups when we go to Starbucks. Apparently the virus can rub off the tote bag surface onto our hands. And we all now know about hand washing. So if this is true I guess I'll be cleaning my tote bags every couple of days at a minimum.

APPLE THINKS ABOUT ITS CUSTOMERS: Apple Computers announced on March 16 that Apple Card holders will be allowed to skip their March payments without paying interest (although you’ll need to enroll in the program).

BEWARE: Be alert. There are many scams out there. Here are a few I have heard of:
* Questionable DIY Hand Sanitizer Recipes -- it needs to be at least 140 proof. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have access to a sink, using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-70% alcohol can kill the virus, experts say, but it shouldn’t serve as a hand-washing substitute.

Best advice:

GREAT SOCIAL DISTANCING IDEAS:
Wild Birds Unlimited in Albuquerque has instituted a new CURB-SIDE PICKUP program. This is how it works:
-Phone in your order during normal business hours.
-Pay with a credit card over the phone
-Same day pick-up. Staff will let you know when your order will be available for pick-up
-Call the store when you arrive and they will load your bird supplies and payment receipt into your vehicle

Flying Star Cafes in Albuquerque: "Guests can always order online for pickup or delivery from any of our locations. For the time being, we will also make curbside pickup available for to-go orders – simply park in one of our designated curbside pickup parking spots, call the cafe to let them know that you have arrived, and we will bring your food out to you."

LOCAL BUSINESS ROCKS!!

ON-GOING LIST OF SUPPORT IDEAS: As a reminder of previous notes, here are things we all can do to support each other:
* Sign up for bookstore and local business email lists/blasts about current news
* Use curbside pickup and online ordering
* Buy gift certificates from local businesses for later redemption
* Don't forget emergency food programs — www.nmfoodbanks.org
* Talk with local business owners to explore other ideas -- by phone or email
* Cover•Reads — http://nmbookcoop.com/CoverReads/CoverReads/CoverReadsPromo.html

SW FESTIVAL OF THE WRITTEN WORD: The Southwest Festival of the Written Word has announced it will help you to spread the word about your publications and book appearances that have been postponed. When you're ready to reschedule, they'll help you get the word out about your appearances. Send your book news to krisneri.news@gmail.com. Include when you're appearing, where, and the time. Include a short description of your book, a short bio, and a description of the talk if that's applicable. Please allow a few week's lead time. I'll share your news with the Festival's contacts. I can also share new publication news. Catalina Claussen will send out press releases of your publications and book events to our press release list. Send photos of the author and the book cover, book information, bio, and event information to catalinaclaussen@gmail.com. Please include a quote from the author about the book or the writing of it.

LOCAL INGENUITY: I saw this on my Tweeter feed — Friends canceled their son’s Bar Mitzvah this weekend but decided to keep the contract with their caterer, a tiny Hmong-owned business. They delivered the food to friends in quarantine & sent pans home with others.

SUPPORT LOCAL: I got the tweet below and thought it appropriate to share.

SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS: We have been getting a lot of feedback and many comments on our HELP CENTER, including from Jaima Chevalier, Slim Randles, Maida Tilchen, Sherry Robinson, Irene Blea, RJ Mirabal, Paul Ré, Mary Neighbor, Larry Greenly, Charlene Dietz, Ann Zeigler, and Ruthe Francis.

Larry Greenly said one of his friends also got the call about being a 2nd Place PCH winner (scam).

Charlene Dietz said: "I want you to know what you're doing gives us a sense of still being connected. I'm very concerned about our smaller independent bookstores. I was to do a book talk in Taos on Wednesday for Op-Cit Book Store, and yesterday three members of their Mystery Readers Book Club contacted me to say they were sorry they would have to miss. Usually about fifteen members attend. These three were in the high-risk category, as am I. After calling the book store this morning and inquiring on how many would be attending, we mutually agree it was best to postpone until July. Thankfully, even though the reservation cancellation deadline had passed, Taos Inn readily agreed to change my reservation to the new date. I plan to go to Treasure House Books and Gifts on Friday just to buy a huge bunch of children's' books. I have no need for them, so I'll send them around the country to my grandchildren. John Hoffsis, during this very slow year, had counted on income from our postponed Rhys Bowen Conference. Anyway, thanks for holding us together as a group and maybe keeping some of our minds from going to too many crazy, dark places."

Paul Ré said: "Here is a bit of humor from my upcoming book, The Récycled Dictionary: Aphorisms, Puns, Micro-essays and Art to Promote Peace -- http://www.paulre.org/dictionary.html

Mary Neighbor said: "You’re doing a great job. I know I am among hundreds who appreciate this!"

Irene Blea said: " Perhaps, for now, authors can volunteer to do live streaming via Facebook. They can present 20-minute poetry readings, readings from their books, or give advice. I will volunteer after I get my 13-year-old granddaughter to help me set it up."

Thanks to all of you!

BOOK BIZ UPDATES: We have heard that the following book & public events have been cancelled or postponed:
Holy Week pilgrimages at Chimayo and Tomé hill
New Mexico Press Women Conference and Awards Banquet
NM restaurants and bars — cut back to 50% seating capacity
New Mexico Writers Dinner
Albuquerque Antiquarian Book Fair
Public libraries
Public museums
Tucson Book Festival
Moriarty Author Event
Natl Hispanic Cultural Center Bilingual Children's Book Festival
Historical Society of New Mexico Book Exhibit (and Conference)
NM Book Assn events
NM Book Co-op events
SCBWI-NM events
SW Writers events
All public schools in New Mexico

A growing list of book event cancellations and bookstore closings — http://www.feedspot.com/?dadi=1#feed/fof_fo_1203053__f_494016/article/5952308191?dd=4311523006858716

NOTICE: Visiting library and church have already been moved to the "Avoid" column. Especially like #5 on the "Safe" column.

Is Delivery Safe During the Coronavirus Pandemic? (by Chris Hoffman, How To Geek)
Stephen Morse, an epidemiologist at Columbia University, told The Atlantic that “cooked foods are unlikely to be a concern unless they get contaminated after cooking.” You might want to avoid uncooked foods like salad, but “there should be very little risk” with cooked foods that are properly handled. Morse continued: “There can be transmission through contaminated inanimate objects, but we think the most important route of transmission is respiratory droplets.” That’s how the CDC says COVID-19 spreads, too. Based on this, your main risk is likely through infected individuals coughing, sneezing, or perhaps even just breathing near you. The interaction with your delivery driver might be the riskiest part.

That’s one reason why more delivery services are adding “contactless” deliveries. You can ask them to leave the food at your door, so you don’t even have to interact with the delivery driver—and, of course, you can tip online. Even if a delivery app doesn’t offer a special “no-contact” delivery option, you can send a message to the delivery person through the delivery app and ask them to leave the food at the door when they arrive.

If you do get food or anything else delivered, it’s a good idea to wash your hands right after you touch the container and before you eat. Transfer the food from the takeout container to another dish.

Many states are allowing restaurants and bars to stay open for delivery and takeout, even if those restaurants aren’t allowed to seat and serve customers. Many delivery services are now waiving delivery fees for independent restaurants to better support small businesses during this challenging time, too. With what we know right now, getting delivery food from a restaurant is a good way to support local businesses and give yourself a break from cooking.