Basically Books awarded book industry grant

A grant of $10,000 has been awarded to Petroglyph Press and Basically Books in Hilo to help implement innovations and improvements begun in response to the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Book Industry Charitable (BINC) Foundation announced that the Survive to Thrive grant initiative will make awards to 115 independent bookstores in 48 states, totaling $1.1 million.

“Bookstores and comic shops are vital to the cultural and economic fabric of their communities,” said Pamela French, BINC’s executive director. “We are proud to help these stores and their communities survive and thrive.”

As the pandemic unfolded the need to stay flexible and innovate resulted in the implementation of a new computer system at Basically Books that has modernized and streamlined inventory and sales, including an online store. Petroglyph Press installed new printing and bindery equipment to support and expand its line of books about Hawaii.

“The grant money will make an impact in offsetting these investments. It is aptly named because we have survived 59 years since Petroglyph Press opened in downtown Hilo, and 36 years since we started Basically Books. With the ongoing support of our community we plan to thrive going forward,” said David Reed, co-owner and company president. “This is like the rainbow after weathering the storm. We are grateful to BINC and its supporters, and our loyal customers, for helping keep our family business alive into its third generation.”

The guiding mission of Petroglyph Press and Basically Books is to perpetuate access to historic knowledge of Hawaii, its history, and its cultural and natural resources, through the curation and creation of relevant material. Petroglyph Press produces a line of 18 Hawaiiana books, manufactured entirely in Hilo, and Basically Books operates as a center for knowledge and learning for all ages.

For more information, visit www.petroglyphpress.com.