Book Industry Charitable Foundation

The tenth volume of the Book Industry Charitable Foundation’s Bookseller Stories newsletter featured two bookstore owners working hard to keep their sales booming during a COVID-related shutdown.

The Indie Shindig is aiming to raise $15,000 for Binc by hosting weekly events that introduce booksellers to new and upcoming titles. All participating publishers split a donation of $10 per bookseller attendee.

Since the beginning of 2020, Binc has helped 556 families through hardship and emergency circumstances with more than $635,000 in assistance. 

Chuck and Dee Robinson, well-known booksellers long active in the industry, are offering a large collection of first-edition titles, advanced reading copies, and book ephemera.

Six $3,500 scholarships were awarded to dependents of booksellers, and one $5,000 scholarship went to a current indie bookseller who has overcome learning adversity or is a non‐traditional student.

The Book Industry Charitable Foundation will receive funds from an online auction with An Unlikely Story bookstore as well as a trivia game hosted by the Book Industry Study Group.

“This message of support from book lovers and from every sector of the book industry clearly demonstrates how deeply people value independent bookstores and the roles they hold in their communities,” said Binc Executive Director Pam French.

Booksellers are asked to share the donation link now on social media, in their newsletters, or wherever they are reaching customers.

More than 600 people have donated to the #SaveIndieBookstores campaign since its launch on April 2.

As part of the Bookscan Challenge, participating publishers have each identified one backlist title — an enduring hand-sell with a proven track record — for which they will donate 100 percent of the profit to the campaign.

Rick and Becky Riordan have announced a personal matching gift challenge in which they will match each dollar raised up to $100,000 beginning today.