Here's a gathering of ideas and links from across the internet that I believe could prove useful for booksellers:

Use an expense line item called COVID-19 in your operation and dump all extraordinary expenses in there--not just supplies, but also time (safety meetings). You may need it for relief programs from the government and it will help you and your financial support staff understand these unexpected costs down the road.

Continue to message your customers with COVID-19 sensitive promotions on all your newsletters and platforms. Keep them informed and act as a consoling and thoughtful community leader who understand the importance of safety, but wants to supply books during the quarantine, directing them to online sales platforms.

If you'd like to pursue essential business designation for your store within your community and state, we ask you to read this advice from the ABA and pursue grassroots efforts with your fellow booksellers to lobby for this designation if you choose. More info below:

Who do I reach out to regarding permission to carry on business?

• Consistently stores reaching out on the state level have been turned down
• Focus your efforts locally
• We have seen access granted to bookstores by local government including city council, mayors, city attorneys, and local assemblymen
• Contacting local government also encourages them to promote and support business in this time

What to do when making your request:

• Avoid requesting to be considered essential on social media.
• Emphasize public safety. Businesses remain closed to the public, only handling online orders with minimal staff maintaining safe distances

Keep in mind:

There is some question as to whether staying open in these ways might hurt your chances for loans or grants later. We have no information on this but it is possible showing a complete loss of income may give you a better chance at loans and grants. Something to consider though most likely your store, like others, will have evident losses to document regardless.

More great links:

• State Specific Resources for Small Businesses
• Pandemic—But Don't Panic
Addresses sick leave and other leaves of absence, work-from-home policies, health and safety, compensation, and discrimination.
• Update for Your Workplace
Looks at the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which creates the Family Medical Leave Expansion Act and Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act that goes into effect April 2.
Business Resource Hub (Facebook)
Note from Franklin Fixtures
• WhileAtHome.org
Stay up to date on tools, resources, and supports made necessary during this time. #WhileAtHome is a clearinghouse for credible information and action steps.
• COVID-19 BOOKSELLER IMPACT SURVEY

More info from the ABA:

Here's What you can do NOW

Email your senator: Here's a template letter your store can send to the Senate urging immediate action and outlining the best policy. Find your senator's contact information here.

Fill out this form: Join other retailers to tell your senators a "No" vote that needlessly delays passage of small business relief legislation is not okay.

Spread the word: Share the above-mentioned letters to the Senate with your customers and network. Ask for their help lobbying on behalf of your bookstore, small businesses, and the best interest of the local and national economy. Some sample social media captions:

• It's crucial to #SupportLocalNow with #GrantsNotLoans. Today, we sent our senators a letter urging immediate action to help small businesses like ours. See the letter here: https://www.bookweb.org/bookseller-template-letter-re-covid-fiscal-relief and find your senator's contact info here: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
• Small business owners, make your voices heard here: https://www.votervoice.net/NRF/campaigns/72865/respond

Start preparing documents you may need to apply for loans and grants:

• Three years of business tax returns and personal tax returns for all principles.
• Your 2019 tax returns or, if that's not possible, your 2019 year-end financials.
• Year-to-date profit and loss and balance sheets
• A personal financial statement for any owner who owns more than 20 percent of the company.
• A debt schedule for your business.
• Your monthly operating expenses from March through September of last year.

Note: Some loans and grants may make you ineligible for others. For example, a disaster loan may make you ineligible for the proposed forgivable loans that are in the proposed senate relief legislation. Ask questions and check ABA's Coronavirus Resources for Booksellers page for updates as we attempt to find out more.