Independent Bookshop Week 13-20 June

On the 10th of June there was a drop in organised by the Booksellers Association celebrating independent bookshops, supporting reading, high streets and communities to highlight Independent Bookshop Week which runs from the 13th to the 20th of June. 

The week is a celebration of the bookshops that bring books, authors, events and reading communities to high streets across the UK.
• Bookshops are High Street anchors.
• They keep in touch with local authors, work with schools and make reading visible in communities.
• 85% of booksellers said they are now less likely to invest in stock staffing events all their premises, as a direct result of business rate changes.
• Fewer than 10% feel more confident about their trading sustainability. Over the next 12 months business rates is an important issue for booksellers and they’re asking for reform of small business rates relief and index link. Relief threshold so small shops are not pushed out of eligibility by fiscal drag. They’re also asking for more resources for the valuation office agency so rateable values are accurate and appeals are resolved quickly.

So bookshops matter because:
• 92% of independent book shops run community events.
• Nearly half host 20 plus events annually with average tenants of 43 people.
• 85% engage with primary schools and 76% with secondary schools.
• 99% contribute to town centre attractiveness.

https://www.booksellers.org.uk/

Meryl Halls is the Managing Director of the Booksellers Association.

I was pleased to pick up a copy of The Cultural Role and Value of England’s Independent Bookshops, which was produced by the Booksellers Association and the Arts Council England, who make a number of recommendations.