08/02/2026
“We have never stopped requiring masks (though we’ve taken hits for that). We’re a small, owner-operated used and new bookstore in Western Massachusetts.” — Behind the KN95 is Hillary Hoffman, owner of Federal Street Books (Federal Street Books) in Greenfield, which provides free masks to customers of all ages.
“In 2019, my husband and I bought the bookstore, which has been around for nearly 40 years, and we are its fourth owners. We had our doors open for less than five months when the pandemic shutdown hit. We delivered books for free all over town as permitted and then slowly established pickup, by-appointment, and then mask-required open hours. We are a small space, and though we have two air cleaners and a Corsi-Rosenthal box, our ventilation is not the best.”
Hillary takes preventive measures seriously because she cares for her 89-year-old father and manages several at-risk health conditions herself.
“Keeping our mask requirement and being vocal about it has introduced us to many people in our city and region who are immunocompromised, have long COVID, or have loved ones who are at risk—and who, in many cases, have been shut out of most public and social events.”
Masking is community care and self-care! Hillary is inspiring the community to follow in her footsteps.
“I don’t want to worsen my health conditions or risk long COVID. I also want to provide a space where people can exist more freely, knowing that the people around them also care about transmission and are wearing a respirator. We’ve given away thousands of free masks at our own expense, and we’ve had customers visit from all over New England. Requiring masks has cost us business and ‘growth,’ and has brought us trolls and some toxic, in-person confrontations. But we are going to stand firm because we care about our customers, our friends, and our community. We also continue to mask in any public or indoor space that’s not ours. If masking is a ‘radical act,’ so be it—so is bookselling these days.”
Support mask-required bookstores together! Let’s do it! 📚✊🏽😷💗
