April 2, 2020

ISOLATED PAGES #17

OOOPS!! MY APOLOGIES

I screwed up big time and I am upset. I included a list of C-19 myths in a previous issue that was supposed to have come from a medical expert from Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Boy was I wrong. One of our fellow Co-opera brought it my attention that it was wrong and misleading. I did a little digging (and I mean it did not take a lot) and it turns out it was fake and a scam. According to Snopes.com, a fact-checking website, this story is bogus I feel very bad about this as I have tried very hard to only include good reliable information mixed with a touch of humor to lighten our days. I AM SORRY!

As much as it pains me, please let me know if I make any other mix-ups or gaffes. I ask your forgiveness in such an event in advance!

BOOK NEWS

According to US News & World Report, James Patterson has a history of helping independent bookstores. The best-selling novelist has donated millions in recent years to booksellers, while also giving millions to schools and libraries and literacy programs. Now, with stores closed or closing nationwide because of the coronavirus outbreak, Patterson has launched a new initiative.
On Thursday, he announced #SaveIndieBookstores, a partnership with the American Booksellers Association and the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. Patterson is contributing $500,000 and is urging others to contribute this month.
“I’m concerned about the survival of independent bookstores, which are at the heart of main streets across the country,” Patterson said. “I believe that books are essential. They make us kinder, more empathetic human beings. And they have the power to take us away — even momentarily — from feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and scared.”
ABA member bookstores have from April 10-27 to apply for a grant on SaveIndieBookstores.com. Parameters haven't been set yet for the biggest and smallest donations, and will depend on how much money is raised. Funds are expected to be distributed by May 15.
“This support for independent bookstores is incredibly generous," ABA CEO Allison K Hill said in a statement. “It is especially meaningful to have this support from people who recognize the cultural contributions of independent bookstores, and who appreciate the vital role that independent bookstores play in connecting readers to books, and in creating community.”
On Thursday, NPD BookScan reported the second significant drop in sales in the past three weeks. According to BookScan, which tracks around 85 percent of the print market, sales fell 9 percent from the week before, when the numbers were relatively stable.
Independent bookstores have enjoyed a resurgence over the past decade, but many have thin or nonexistent profits. Some stores already have started GoFundMe drives, including Posman Books, which has closed its businesses in New York and Atlanta and laid off its workers. As of late Wednesday, it raised around $2,700 out of a goal of $4,000, with author Colson Whitehead among the contributors.

TUMBLEBOOKS AVAILABLE FOR FREE

New Mexico State Library is now offering TumbleBooks free for all New Mexicans, no library card needed! TumbleBooks’ databases are easy to use, and feature unlimited access from home! You can read as many books as you want, when you want, and on any device. There are no check-outs, holds, or bulky downloads. Books are available instantly. They are offering 5 different options, for different ages and interests.

TumbleBook Library– K-6 children’s ebook database
Tumble Math– K-6 math ebook database
Teen Book Cloud– grades 7-12 ebook database
Audio Book Cloud– all ages audio book database
Romance Book Cloud– a huge collection of steamy Romance novels for the older crowd
Click HERE to access through the NM State Library.

AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSN STEPS UP

The ABA is offering a variety of assistance to bookstores across the country, including:

How to Proceed With COVID-19 Financial Assistance
What you need to know: Act fast because demand for grants and loans will be high and funds will run out quickly.
Preparing for an SBA Loan Application Any small business that is planning to seek an SBA forgivable loan or grant during the COVID-19 crisis should be gathering its financial documentation now.
ABA Joins Broad Coalition of Trade Associations in Urging Congress to Create COVID-19 Business Relief Fund The Business and Employees Continuity and Recovery Fund would look to distribute federal funds and liquidity to impacted businesses and their employees.

HIT MY FUNNYBONE

SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS

We have been getting a lot of feedback and many comments on our HELP CENTER, including from Richard Griego, Roger Floyd, Lani Kyea, Robert Torrez, Deborah Snyder, Nancy King, Chris Marquez, Corinne Schieman, Patricia Smith Wood

Nancy King said: "Thanks for keeping the contact going. I appreciate you doing this."

Robert Torrez said: "Thanks for the regular "Help Center" notices."

Lani Kyea said: "I look forward to your newsletter. Your work is greatly appreciated during these difficult times that are lessened by your "Isolated Pages"."

Roger Floyd said: "I read the article in the Help Center #15 about coronavirus from Johns Hopkins, and I feel I have to write and say be careful about accepting anything there as accurate. There are so many errors and mistakes and just plain blunders in that list, there isn't room here to list them all. The list appears to have been written by an MD because he/she uses the terms 'ocular' and 'buccal' mucosa, which are medical terms. The writer also appears to be someone whose primary language is not English because there are so many errors in composition. The first thing that jumped out at me was that the writer says the virus has DNA as its genetic material, which is wrong. It has RNA. I would have thought that anyone at Johns Hopkins who knows anything about coronavirus would know that. That's one of the most basic things about viruses. In short, take the information in this listing with a grain of salt because there are so many errors."

Thanks to all of you!

A GOOD LAUGH

A FUN READ

The link to Jay Cutts' article called "Travel Adventures in the Times of Coronavirus" has been fixed— HERE

RESOURCES

Call For Input/Help
Chris Marquez said: "When we began marketing our first children’s books this last Summer we encountered a number of parents who were homeschooling their children. Jes was homeschooled in the 90s with a curriculum free itinerary. This past Fall she started “Unschooling You’re Weird. How Homeschooling Shaped a 90s Kid and the Future of Self-Directed Education.” She is 40,000 words into the manuscript and ahead of the curve before #flattenthecurve and #homeschool were part of the current lexicon. If there are NM parents out there with pertinent questions with the sudden influx of kids for those extra 8 hours a day she would be happy to answer alternative education questions. To contact Chris or Jes Marquez email to speciesmanager@gmail.com

FEDERAL HELP FOR AUTHORS, PUBLISHERS, AND BOOKSELLERS (& OTHERS)

Strauss Human Resources Consulting has some Q&A Information that may be of help:
Q: What unemployment benefits are in the $2 trillion Federal stimulus package the president signed into law Friday March 27 for workers?
A: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) includes a temporary Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program which provides workers the following unemployment benefits:
$600 for four months on top of state unemployment benefits through the end of the year.
* It also makes state and federal unemployment benefits available to independent contractors, the self-employed and those who haven’t hit the minimum hours (have a limited work history).
* Workers who are furloughed (temporarily laid off) can collect unemployment while remaining on shuttered employers’ books, then they can be easily brought back on once the business re-opens.
* It also provides up to 13 more weeks of payments to workers whose state benefits end before they can return to work. (Source: https://www.law360.com/employment/articles/1257885/an-employer-s-cheat-sheet-for-the-854-page-virus-relief-bill-?nl_pk=e2d5c521-5f45-4b74-bd92-4ddc9c42eef7&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=employment&read_more=1)

Q: What is the Paycheck Protection Program and who is it for?
A: The PPP is a loan program that incentivizes struggling small- and medium-sized businesses to continue paying workers and providing benefits by helping to cover salaries, insurance, rent and other business costs:
Employers with fewer than 500 workers would be forgiven (acts like a grant) the amounts they put into payroll costs and mortgage payments and interest for eight weeks after loan origination, with some limitations. This forgiveness is also available to businesses that rehire workers who have already been laid off.
The bill also provides non-forgivable loans (you have to pay it all back) to businesses that reasonably maintain their current staffing through September. (Source: https://www.law360.com/articles/1256933)
Employers can borrow up to 2.5 months of payroll.
It should be announced where to get loans by the end of this week. The goal is for most small businesses to go to their normal lender/bank.
Beware of unknown resources that say they can fulfill your loan request now, as these are possibly opportunistic fraudulent claims. (Source: NMACI and US Chamber of Commerce webinar March 31)

Q: Where is my stimulus check for $1,200?
A: A payment of $1,200 for single taxpayers ($2,400 joint) with income up to $75K ($150K joint) will be on the way as provided under the CARES Act. Any non-dependent adults who have income under the limits are eligible; people who filed 2018 or 2019 taxes and who gave direct deposit information on their tax forms will get the payment as a direct deposit to their bank account. Find out here: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/31/coronavirus-stimulus-checks-answers-to-your-most-pressing-questions.html The US Treasury Dept also announced late Wednesday evening that anyone who currently receives Social Security benefits will automatically get the check if they meet the income guidelines and they do NOT need to file a tax return if not typically required to do so.

Q: What is the option for employers to defer payroll taxes and is it worth it?
A: The CARES Act grants employers the option of deferring their share of this year’s Social Security payroll taxes (= 6.2%) until next year and 2022. While deferring payroll taxes in the present may provide businesses with cash on hand, they will need to be paid later. It may also interfere with a business’s ability to take advantage of the PPP. Sole proprietors, you can take advantage of this deferral. Talk to your payroll administrator, or the software company you use for payroll, or talk to a tax accountant. (Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/27/coronavirus-bill-gives-small-businesses-time-to-meet-payroll-taxes.html)

Q: What is available in the Albuquerque Micro-Business Relief program?
A: The City of Albuquerque Economic Development Department is offering up to $5K for qualifying small business in ABQ with up to five employees that are seeing a reduction in revenue because of COVID-19. Funds can be used for day-to-day operating expenses, such as payroll or losses. There are further eligibility requirements and restrictions. (Source: https://www.cabq.gov/economicdevelopment/small-business/micro-business-relief-program)

KEEP SAFE & HEALTHY—Wash Your Hand and Don't Hoard TP
Paul Rhetts

NM Book Co-op's main mission is to foster community and support for authors and publishers and books.