History Professor Jennifer Evans weighed in on the importance of independent book stores, many of which are struggling during the coronavirus lockdowns. Prof. Evans’ comments were made in light of the financial hardship that local small business are facing at this time of uncertainty. The full article, “The impact of COVID-19 on Octopus Books” by Emma Jackson, can be found online with a short excerpt below.
The health concerns of COVID-19 are just one of the many fears small business owners are facing.
Last week, Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency for Ontario due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, ordering all non-essential stores and services to close starting March 24 at 11:59 p.m. in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Among those non-essential stores forced to close was one of Ottawa’s small bookstores, Octopus Books.
Octopus Books has a close relationship with many students and professors at Carleton, who use the store to sell many required textbooks for their classes.
“I have always used community bookstores for my course books. It is a way to support local business and build bridges between the academic community and the city,” said Dr. Jennifer Evans, a history professor at Carleton.
Evans believes the closure of Octopus Books would be a terrible thing for Carleton and Ottawa, explaining that large chain stores can’t replicate the personalized attention and care offered by local booksellers that she wants her students to receive when buying their textbooks.
“Small independent bookstores are the lifeblood of any intellectual community,” said Evans, who believes the best college towns have connections with vibrant local bookstores.