How do people and firms respond to the pandemic lockdowns? One particularly interesting example comes from Books-A-Million. As The New Publishing Standard reports (shared by Passive Guy), America’s second-largest bookstore chain, Books-A-Million, is readying for tomorrow’s Mother’s Day by opening almost all of its 200 stores across the country, the exceptions being states or counties where full lockdown continues.

But there’s a catch: the re-opening is taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic… and hinting at a possible future of publishing.

The old normal

As Books-A-Million CEO Terrance G. Finley said in a press release,

Through online ordering; the buy online, pick-up in store option; and curbside pick-up, our guests have continued to seek out great books, educational materials, puzzles and toys…

Now that we are able to welcome our customers back to the stores in time for Mother’s Day, our booksellers stand ready to share the rich assortment…