Aotearoa NZ Bookshop Day

Schrödinger’s Books celebrates its ‘more than a bookshop’ community role on Aotearoa New Zealand Bookshop Day

Schrödinger’s Books will celebrate its pivotal role as a community hub for Aotearoa New Zealand Bookshop Day on Saturday 12 October. The day’s festivities include free baked goods, a Jackson Street-wide treasure hunt, a lucky dip, multiple competitions and giveaways where you can win bookish prizes and a special hour-long workshop with author and illustrator, Kimberly Andrews.

Schrödinger’s Books owner Mary Fawcett says that her shop, together with independent bookshops across the motu are community and cultural powerhouses.

“We are much more than just a retail space. Schrödinger’s Books enriches the cultural lives of our community members here in Pito-one. We help to keep retail on Jackson Street alive, promoting a positive sense of place and bringing foot traffic to town.”

“For Aotearoa New Zealand Bookshop Day we’ll be celebrating our community, while offering treats, giveaways and lots of fun activities. We look forward to welcoming everyone along!”.

Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand (BSANZ) association manager Renée Rowland says Schrödinger’s Books is a fantastic example of an independent bookstore with owners that go out of their way to create a welcoming and safe space for all.

“Booksellers are match makers of sorts, skilled at curating events and offering book titles according to the wishes of their communities. They’re nimble and innovative.”

“Much of the work undertaken by independent bookshops is at a small scale but collectively it is extremely powerful. These shops, run by hardworking and enthusiastic community-minded people are hubs of activity with a ripple effect of increased social cohesion and positive impacts on attendees’ intellectual and emotional health,” says Ms Rowland.

The events organised by Schrödinger’s Books throughout the year reach across generations, bridge their local and online communities, help to combat social isolation and loneliness, and support the needs of diverse and sometimes historically marginalised groups.

A recent BSANZ Pulse Survey found 80 percent of its members held at least one public event a month, with one third of respondents holding more than 20 events a year. These events, curated according to the needs of the community, include book clubs, author talks, book launches across a wide variety of genres, poetry readings, and panel debates on issues of the day.

All booksellers in the survey said they supported community groups and organisations with fundraising, donations and volunteering efforts.

The importance of independent bookshops to their communities can be seen in trading results provided by Nielsen BookData: sales volumes increased by three percent in August on the month prior. This compares with an increase of just 0.2 percent in New Zealand retail sales overall for the same period, following decreased activity over the previous six months*.

“The fact that physical bookstores are holding steady in a tough retail environment is largely due to their role in communities as places that bring people together,” says Ms Rowland.

* Source: https://www.interest.co.nz/business/129699/electronic-card-spending-rose-august-first-time-seven-months-statistics-nz-says