Getting books to housebound readers
Jigaw puzzles are also in demand
Riverstone Books in McCandless closed on March 16, when government officials said only “essential” and “life-sustaining” businesses could stay open during the COVID-19 crisis.
But owner Barbara Jeremiah applied for an exemption — and got it on March 23.
The doors of the independent book store are still closed to the public, but Ms. Jeremiah and her staff are working reduced hours inside to provide housebound book lovers with all the books they need, as well as games and jigsaw puzzles.
“The governor agreed we are an essential business and we are getting wonderful support from customers,” Ms. Jeremiah said.
On March 23, the first day of business during the pandemic restrictions, the store received 23 online orders from people getting between one and six books. While that’s nowhere near the normal volume of business, she said, it’s something.
Customers have three ways to get books: The store will mail them for free — no shipping or postage charges; customers can schedule curbside pickup in the McCandless Crossing shopping center, where the store is located, during the new store hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; staff also is providing free home delivery for people who live in the North Hills.
Riverstone usually has dozens of events each month, but those have all been canceled until the COVID-19 threat is over.
Meanwhile, demand for jigsaw puzzles has skyrocketed in the past week, according to Ms. Jeremiah and owners at another independent bookstore, Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont.
“Right now jigsaw puzzles are as popular as toilet paper,” said Kristy Bodnar, who owns the store with Tara Goldberg DeLeo.
The owners are working now, but their three parttime employees are not.
“We have 10 million [book] titles to choose from,” Ms. Bodnar said, and the shop is currently offering 20% off all orders.
The Oakmont shop is averaging about 20 orders per day.
“It’s not like normal times, but we hope this is enough to weather the storm,” Ms. Bodnar said.
Orders go out with the U.S. Postal Service, and there is no charge to customers who live within a 5mile radius of the store.
Check the websites of indie bookstores for their current status. Many are taking orders online.
Some, like Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley, which closed March 20, suggest ordering online through bookshop.org or libro.fm — which requires a membership.
A Facebook post last week from White Whale Bookstore announced that the Bloomfield store is no longer shipping books.