The Inaugural Lehigh Valley Book Festival will be held March 26 – 28, 2021. The festival was originally scheduled in March 2020—and rescheduled for June 2020—before being cancelled for this year. Over 70 authors, illustrators and special guests were scheduled for this year’s festival. “Although obviously disappointed, we are excited to have time to work with our event partners to bring an even better festival to the Lehigh Valley next spring.” said Kirsten Hess, Director of the LV Book Festival and owner of Let’s Play Books Bookstore. This years’ partners included the Bethlehem Area Public Library, PBS39, Moravian Writers’ Conference, Lehigh Valley Engaged Humanities Consortium, A Storybook Party and Inner Child Fun. The Festival will be adding more Lehigh Valley businesses and non-profits as partners in 2021.

 

“Our Nation’s Independent Bookstores are in Danger.”

From The New York Times to Publisher’s Weekly, the publishing industry has rallied behind independent bookstores. The national #SaveIndieBookstores campaign, led by James Patterson, has raised

$981,645.00 for the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC). Although Let’s Play Bookstore is closed, they have continued to get books into the hands of readers in a variety of different ways, including direct-from-warehouse shipping, as well as online and phone-in orders that are either shipped or hand delivered by family staff. The bookstore hired a number of new booksellers in January to help the business in its growth, so furloughing all staff was difficult. “Our objective at this point is to cut expenses wherever possible, be smart with our spending, and plan for at least a year of sales running 25% of what we did in 2019. If we can manage that, I see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. My main objective is preventing our doors from closing for good. Bookstores already have one of the lowest profit margins in retail. Surviving this will require creativity and practicality—along with a lot of good will!” – Kirsten Hess, owner.

The bookstore has been in Emmaus since it opened in December of 2013. It relocated to its current location in the fall of 2016. The quaint building presents challenges when producing events and book fairs, but it makes for a fabulous retail shop. In order to stay afloat, however, the shop may have to change how space is used, relocate to a more accommodating site, or pivot the entire business model and start anew. “Everything is on the table. All I know is, I am not ready to give up.” said Hess.

Business stopped – GLVCC helps local business stay afloat.

As of today, 5/1/20, the bookshop has been closed for over 6 weeks. Although Hess has applied for both the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), no federal loans have materialized. Book fairs and events generate more than 60% of the bookshop’s revenue. “Even if the store re-opens to foot traffic, without events, there just isn’t a way to generate sales needed to support our current brick & mortar business.” Hess said.

The bookstore received a $1500 grant from the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce in early March. That, along with a temporary rent reduction from the landlord, gave the shop just enough cash to take a deep breath, think, and get creative. The idea: a school district-wide book fair fundraiser. After planning with publishers to secure the supply chain (due to COVID-19 disruption, just getting books is a challenge), LPB Bookstore pitched the idea to East Penn School District (EPSD) library chair, Molly Magro. Ms. Magro is passionate about reading and interested in ways to encourage students dealing with the current stay-at-home scenario, was highly supportive. In addition, all librarians throughout the district—elementary schools, middle schools and the high school—are selecting Best-Pick Books to help students and parents find a great read.

The EPSD Virtual Book Fair will run May 11–22, with books being hand-delivered to students during the first week of June. If successful, the bookstore hopes to offer the same program to other area school districts.

Let’s Play Books Bookstore will host events with three private authors sponsored by Penguin Random House for the students of EPSD:

• Caldecott Honor Winner Lauren Castillo, Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us. Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 5, 2020)
• Award-Winning & NYT Best-Selling Author Chris Grabenstein and co-author J.J. Grabenstein,

SHINE! Random House Books for Young Readers (November 2019)

Let’s Play Books Bookstore is a full-service, general interest independent bookstore serving the Lehigh Valley. Located at 244 Main Street in Emmaus, the shop provides programs books and programming for adults, children, and schools, fostering a sense of community through reading for education and entertainment. www.letsplaybooks.com

 

Information and image provided to TVL by:
Kirsten Hess
Let’s Play Books Bookstore
244 Main St.
Emmaus, PA 18049
610-928-8600

 

 

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