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Healthy Readers Policy


We believe it is important that people who are sick or vulnerable to being sick be protected from unnecessary exposure to diseases.
This means that sick/contagious customers will be required to wear masks. 
We provide free masks and cough drops to everyone.


Why we have a Healthy Readers Policy

This comes down to five important points:  
   1,  We have a small shop (less than 600 sq ft).
   2,  We don’t have enough air flow to prevent disease from spreading between unprotected customers.
   3,  We have children, grandmothers, and immune compromised customers who may not have the ability to fight off the cold/flu as well as you can. 
   4,  It is cold and flu season.  This means that disease is spreading like crazy and no one wants to get sick.
   5,  We care about our readers.  We don't want them to get sick.  We know that the public can be dirty, careless, and/or malicious.  We are trying to help.  We see sick people every day, even if you don't.


Mask Policy Q&A

Do we require masks? 
Only if you are actively sick.
If you are not coughing, sneezing, or sniffling we will assume you are healthy.  If you are showing symptoms we will offer you a free mask or a cough drop.

Do we provide masks? 
Yes. 
We offer free disposable masks, tissues, and cough drops to any customers who needs or wants them.

What can I do to help? 
If you know you are sick (with cold, flu, or covid) and still want to browse our shelves, you should wear a mask to prevent the spread of coughs and sneezes.  We can provide you with a free disposable mask at any time.

What if I forget? 
If you sound contagious, we will approach and offer you the tools you need to both continue shopping and keep others healthy.   
If you have forgotten your mask, we provide a free disposable one at the front desk.

What if I have allergies? 
We understand that allergies are different. If you have allergies, we take this into account.  For some, a mask can help protect you from book-borne dust and mold spores.  For others, masks do Not help and can exacerbate symptoms.  We will follow your lead and do our best to accommodate everyone.

How long will you have this policy? 
We don't know.  At the moment, it seems irresponsible for us to remove the policy.  If we were to move into a larger location, we would definitely remove it.


What if I don’t want to wear a mask? 
If you are clearly sick, contagious, AND refuse to wear a mask, you will be asked to leave.  Please come back in a few days when you have recovered from your illness.


What are symptoms of being sick?
Contagious symptoms include excessive sniffing, coughing, throat clearing, and sneezing.  Yes, there is a difference between colds and allergies.  



I still have questions you didn't answer.
If you have any questions, please reach out through our “contact us” page.  Our inbox is monitored during our normal business hours, and we will respond as soon as we can.

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