Local bookshops at forefront of bringing communities together during lockdown

Local, independently owned small businesses are so important to our communities and local economy and I’m pleased that Independent Bookshop Week gives us the chance to celebrate the hugely valuable contribution bookshops make.

I know that over the course of the week great efforts have been made to celebrate our independent bookshops and Argyll & Bute is lucky to have such great ones including The Celtic House in Bowmore, Bookpoint in Dunoon; Print Point in Rothesay, Loch Fyne Gallery in Tarbert, the Argyll Book Centre in Lochgilphead and Tackle & Books on Mull, as well as many other smaller outlets and visitors attractions selling books.

The lockdown period has been very difficult for all businesses especially small ones depending on regular footfall and it has been great to see how innovative they have been in these challenging times. Online book groups, virtual bookshop ‘crawls’, quizzes and children’s activities are just some of the ways in which our bookshops have reached out to their customers and enabled continued interaction.

Independent Bookshop Week is part of the Books Are My Bag campaign and run by the Booksellers Association, and seeks to celebrate independent bookshops in all nations of the UK and Ireland.  To find out where your local, independent bookshop is visit https://indiebookshopweek.org.uk/