Tim Nekritz nekritz@gmail.com
Reading in a Pandemic: How Has it Impacted the Community?
‘With reading books among the reported trends as people spend more time in their homes, how did that impact local booksellers and libraries?’
Tim Nekritz is director of news and media for SUNY Oswego, where he spearheads telling the stories of the campus community. 64
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he pen, the old saying goes, is mighty than the sword. But is the pen mightier than the pandemic? With reading books among the reported trends as people spend more time in their homes, how did that impact local booksellers and libraries? It was somewhat complicated by the initial — necessary — restrictions, but people still found ways to go local in seeking out reading material. The river ’s end bookstore in Oswego was able to maintain service for clients, thanks to a robust web presence that allowed for online ordering followed by touchless delivery or curbside pickup, store manager Emil Christmann said. Used bookstores Backstreet Books in
Fulton and Time and Again Books and Tea in Oswego, however, have remained closed throughout. Local libraries have adjusted as well, as important community touchstones that provide access to wide audiences. Christmann said the river’s end bookstore needed to change its operations with the initial shutdown, but credited their customer loyalty for weathering the early part of the pandemic. “Through the initial lockdown right up to the present day, our community has responded by taking advantage of our curbside service, home delivery and competitive shipping rates,” Christmann said. “Some orders are placed over the phone while
Tim’s Notes
Staff at the river’s end bookstore in Oswego. “Through the initial lockdown right up to the present day, our community has responded by taking advantage of our curbside service, home delivery and competitive shipping rates,” said store manager Emil Christmann. OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021
