With everything going on, there have been a few things I have seen on Twitter regarding the book community that has kind of bothered me a little bit.  I have seen tweet after tweet from members of the community about how to still support local and independent bookstores through this situation.  While I do think it’s important to show support for indie/local bookstores, what has bothered me is that some of these people have yet to acknowledge the fact that there are so many people that can’t afford to buy books from local and Indie bookstores and rely on libraries.

What I haven’t seen a lot of people tweeting is how to show support for libraries during this time (I do have a thread which you can read here).  All 24 branches of the Boston Public library have closed along with many other libraries in the Commonwealth.  All schools in the Commonwealth are also closed.  For some students, school and public libraries are their only source and access to books. School libraries do offer online resources and eBooks, however, eBook selections might not be as extensive as public libraries but should still be utilized.  Also, for others, libraries aren’t just a place to get books, it’s their source of internet access, a place to get help, answers to questions, learning how to use technology.  I also have to acknowledge that there are people who don’t have any access to libraries at all.  During this time it’s important to support both local/indie bookstores and your public library.  You can support your public library by using OverDrive/Libby, Hoopla Digital, Kanopy, RBdigital or whatever eBook/Audiobook service your library uses.

I hope through this time everyone stays safe!