A campaign has been launched to save one of the most popular bookshops in York.
The Amnesty Bookshop on Micklegate is threatened with closure by the charity that runs it, Amnesty International UK.
Its plan has shocked and dismayed both the volunteers who run it and the shop’s many loyal customers.
A petition calling on Amnesty International to reverse its decision and keep the shop open has been signed by more than 800 people.
It was started by Barbara Lodge. She told YorkMix: “The Amnesty Bookshop has been a lively part of York for well over ten years.
“In addition to a wide, often unusual and quirky selection of secondhand books it is a focus for human rights campaigning and awareness raising – the local Amnesty group holds meetings there.
“It fits well into York as a City of Human Rights and City of Sanctuary from which it would seem a nonsense to remove a human rights-focused shop.
“The proposal to close the shop came as a complete surprise at the start of June, despite the fact that, as we have subsequently learnt, the review of all bookshops’ viability began 18 months ago.”
The Amnesty Bookshop traded for many years on Goodramgate before moving to its present site.
Amnesty says the shop is not financially viable, but Barbara disputes that, saying the charity’s analysis “failed to take into account a seven-month closure due to the change of venue, with all the associated costs of closing and then re-opening the shop”.
Volunteer shop workers Hilary Bryans, Margot Brown and Steve Phillips gave their thoughts on the planned closure.
“Everyone who comes in here says this is the best charity bookshop in the region,” Margot said.
“It’s really important that Amnesty has a presence on the high street in a Human Rights City, a City of Sanctuary. The decision to close this shop seems very short sighted to us.”
She said their reaction to the proposed closure was “shock”. The Micklegate shop is much bigger than the Goodramgate one, and the manager went full-time two years ago, “so to suddenly have a much bigger shop, a full time manager and then to about face and decide to close, seems crazy really.”
Hilary said there has been a lack of consultation. “There was no consideration, no talking about things that could be changed that might help, none of that. It’s been a top down process.”
Steve agreed. “A key ethos of the organisation is that you work collaboratively with your colleagues, and they haven’t involved us.”
He also disputed claims the York bookshop didn’t pay its way. “The stuff we sell, against the rent and the direct cost of the shop, makes a profit. It only makes a loss if you start to include our share of the central office costs.”
Many customers have been making their views known. Here’s one comment from the petition: “This is a true asset to a city of erudition and reading. Its loss would be a terrible shame for the city.”
Barbara added: “York supports many bookshops and will become even more a Bookshop Town with the arrival of Topping & Company next year – within this the Amnesty bookshop should continue to offer good value, choice and character to book lovers.”
We have asked Amnesty International UK for a comment and will update when we get a response.
