Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, bookshops in Italy closed on March 12 and reopened on April 15. By the end of February, though, the fear of the coronavirus had already emptied bookstores.

Indeed, some indie booksellers spontaneously closed their stores before March 12 by choice, in order to protect the health of their customers and staff. At the same time, all the independent bookshop members of the Italian Children’s Booksellers Association (ALIR) started meeting on Google Meet and pursue a multitude of new projects.