Bookselling and publishing both faced unprecedented challenges in 2020 – from pandemic-related closures to appraisals of systemic racism. Yet books and bookstores found ways to capture and hold the public’s attention.

This week, Publishers Weekly announced nominees for Bookstore and Sales Rep of the Year.

“The five bookstore finalists reflect changes in the ways that bookstores serve their communities and the increasing role of activism in bookselling today,” reports Andrew Albanese, PW senior writer.

“They include two not-for-profit stores, a feminist bookstore, and several multicultural bookstores,” Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally.

The 2021 PW Award winners will be named in late May and will be featured in a June edition of Publishers Weekly magazine. An awards ceremony will take place at the inaugural U.S. Book Showa virtual conference presented May 25–27 by Publishers Weekly.