Bookstores without books and booksellers without words. “There is nothing left”, wrote the owners of Passarella, in Picanya, one of the places that has suffered the consequences of the DANA. For some Valencian bookstores that is the dramatic situation they are facing after the storm reduced to reeds and mud what until just a few days ago has been their business and a meeting point for the neighbors of the area.
In order to write a future for all of them, in book and literary circles both in Valencia and other parts of Spain has begun to spread a list of small bookstores that need help to move forward in these difficult times.
The Gremi de Llibrers de València has already announced that they have set up an account number (with the possibility of Bizum) for donations that will go entirely to the reconstruction of the affected bookstores. In addition to this, here are other ways in which you can contribute to these spaces to continue adding pages to their history.
Valencian bookstores in need of help
Benetússer
- Librolandia. In their case, the way to do your bit is to order books, material or any other item through their website www.librerialibrolandia.com.
- Somnis de Paper. As one of its owners tells us, here the work of cleaning up mud and water has not yet given any respite to think of anything else. The most essential thing, he points out, was the arrival of machinery, which they have already started to see, and he emphasizes that “the volunteers are coming out in force and it’s amazing, it overwhelms us”. As for the bookstore, they are not sure what they will do, although they do not rule out “launching a bookstore campaign soon”.
Catarroja
- Bufanúvols. Pending specifications on what they need.
Paiporta
- La Moixeranga. Eva and Arantxa do not have the website up and running and do not know when they will open, but they have received so many offers of help that to accommodate them, “if anyone wants and can”, they have enabled an account number for transfers: ES 8631590029312902528526. Concept: DANA DONATION. “And when the doors of our, your, bookstore open again, we will celebrate all together”.
- Camacuc Edicions. The history of this children’s comic magazine dates back to 1984. The editorial office has been destroyed and, although they have received proposals for donations, their request is that anyone who wants to help should subscribe the youngest members of the household to the magazine. “Our goal is and will be to encourage reading among the little ones, and if you give us a hand in that, we will be very grateful”. Subscriptions can be made through this link.
Algemesí
- Samaruc Bookstore. In Samaruc they have “been lucky as far as it goes, because Algemesí is devastated”. In this bookstore they have already been able to remove all the mud and are in the process of removing the affected books and cleaning the shelves. According to what they tell us, people are helping them from all over Spain: “We are very grateful”. If you also want to help them, you can place an order.
- La Casa del Paper Bookstore (former Juan b Juan). For this bookstore at the moment (and until things get better and help arrives) something as simple as letting them know and sharing their profiles already means a lot. So do not hesitate to spread them to reach as many people as possible.
L’Alcúdia
- Esplai Books. Thanks to the “infinite collaboration of friends, family and customers” they have been able to reopen the bookstore today: “We still have a lot to do, but we have to start now or else we will die,” they tell Madrid Secreto. The way to help them now is by ordering through their website esplaillibres.com.
Picanya
- Passarella Bookstore. From this bookstore have launched a campaign for donations to carry out the reconstruction of the premises. “With the DANA we have lost absolutely everything in our homes, and in our store, from which three families live,” they explain.
Riba-Roja de Túria (Polígono Industrial Oliveral)
- Sembra Llibres. Pending specifications on what they need.
Other solidarity and bookstore initiatives
As we say, solidarity between bookstores has transcended the geographical limits of the Valencian Community and from Madrid one of the first voices that have spoken out about it has been that of the publishing house La Felguera.
Through a publication of Instagram with a resounding “Valencia, you are not alone!” has communicated that during this week all profits from sales through www.lafelguera.net “will go entirely to civil associations and aid groups working to alleviate the disaster of the DANA”.
It has not been the only one: the publishing house Círculo de Tiza has announced that 10% of sales on its website “will go to those affected by the DANA through the account set up by the Red Cross”, because “reading is also helping”. And Blackie Books, with the help of Blackwater illustrator Pedro Oyarbide, has launched an exclusive silkscreen inspired by the now legendary design of its covers: the proceeds will be donated entirely to the Horta Sud Foundation.
The Aragonese company GP Ediciones has also wanted to do its bit and has informed on its social networks that 30% of its online sales will go to the reconstruction of the Somnis de Paper bookstore and has launched the campaign “Apadrina una estantería” (Sponsor a bookshelf) to replace its furniture.
Librerías de Madrid has expressed its willingness and readiness to collaborate in any way necessary. For its part, the Spanish Confederation of Booksellers’ Guilds and Associations (CEGAL) has already announced that its legal department will offer “legal advice on insurance, labor matters, etc., free of charge, to the bookstores affected by this tragedy“.
And on the occasion of the Bookstores Day, which is celebrated today, a few days ago it invited all the bookstores that wanted to donate 5% of the sales they make this Monday in favor of the victims. Among them is the Madrid-based Tomos y Grapas, which has also launched a donation of books for children affected by the DANA. In this post they explain how it works.
Note: this article will be updated with more information as it becomes available.