Indie Booksellers Responding to California Wildfires

Powerful Santa Ana winds and extremely dry conditions continue to fuel several major and deadly wildfires in California, with residents of many inland and coastal communities forced to evacuate. Independent booksellers in the state have been offering what assistance and consolation they can under the tragic circumstances.

"We've had several booksellers reach out to us who are strategizing ways to send books and other assistance up north," Northern California Independent Booksellers Association administrator Ann Seaton told Bookselling This Week. "We're collecting information and working on this outreach." She also noted, as an example, that Readers' Books in Sonoma has been keeping a jar on the counter to collect donations for the California Fire Foundation, which helps victims of the fires.

Pam French, executive director of the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, said Binc has been calling stores in the affected areas. "The good news is that the 'Binc grapevine' has been fabulous and bookstores are letting other stores know about Binc, and we're using social media, too," said French. "Like the hurricanes, we anticipate it will take booksellers several weeks to access their situation and then get in touch with Binc.

"We've also talked to the owner of the Paradise Found bookstore. It's a used store, and the owner entirely lost both the store and his home. Once he is let back into the town, we'll begin to work with him on how Binc might be able to help. And so far, we have not heard of any injury to booksellers or their pets."

Yesterday, Children's Book World in Los Angeles shared a link to a Go Fund Me campaign for one of its booksellers, Cherry O'Meara, who lost her house to the Woolsey fire.

Mrs. Figs' Bookworm postponed a recent event at the Camarillo Library, saying it would be held at "a time that would be better for our unsettled and grieving community. I will let you know as soon as the new date has been established. Thank you for your understanding." The bookstore also posted a moving video, "I Choose Love."

Last weekend, pages: a bookstore, Manhattan Beach, posted: "We are thinking about our neighbors in Malibu and throughout the state who are affected by these devastating fires. We are grateful for the heroic firefighters who are working so hard and courageously. On Sunday, November 11th @pagesabookstore will donate 10% of our sales to The California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund."

Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, said: "Our hearts are breaking. Between the tragic events in Thousand Oaks and the fires all over California, no one in our community has been left untouched by this terrible week. If you're in need of shelter tonight, click here for info: https://www.vcemergency.com/. If you would like to help those in need from this week's events, donate to https://vccf.org/ or https://www.hsvc.org/ or https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief/wildfire-relief.html. We are deeply grateful for the first responders protecting Southern California this week. Please stay safe."

DIESEL, A Bookstore in Brentwood shared several ways that people could assist with donations to help firefighters and victims. 

For booksellers affected by the fires who need immediate assistance, Binc will take disaster applications for individuals and stores over the phone or by e-mail. The organization can be contacted by calling 866-733-9064 or by e-mailing or texting to help@bincfoundation.org.

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