As most shopping comes to a halt under shutdown rules meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus, an Australian bookstore is getting its goods out by bicycle to readers in quarantine or reluctant to leave their homes.
Libby Hogan has more.
Australian bookstore peddles books to those in isolation
As the shutters rolled down on shop windows across Australia this week, one book shop -- GleeBooks in Sydney -- is turning to the power of the pedal to get the lifeline of books to people in this time of self-lockdown.
Australia's government has brought in tighter restrictions to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
But Nerida Ross says she's happy to do her bit during this stressful time: (SOUNDBITE) (English) GLEEBOOKS CYCLIST NERIDA ROSS SAYING: "I think people are really grateful.
I think there's a lot of anxiety.
People are pretty uncertain and so being able to receive something without having to leave their houses, they're just really grateful to still be able to access the things that give them joy but not having to leave the house." From Monday (March 23) all retailers were order to shut - except for essential services.
Gleebooks wasn't sure if that meant them - but they decided to pull ahead of a possible shutdown to get customers their books.
It's one book seller among thousands around the world that have been forced to reinvent themselves virtually overnight.
They've got to survive the biggest disruption to a sector already hit hard by the arrival of large internet rivals like Amazon.
The store made postage free for orders over $50 Australian dollars and manager James Ross says they'll keep pedalling books as customers embrace the service.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) GLEEBOOKS EVENT MANAGER JAMES ROSS, SAYING: "Books are a refuge.
I think everyone I've spoken to has talked about how having that amount of time to themselves means that they need a place they can go that is comforting, but is also stimulating.
In terms of social interaction being more limited, and it's really important that we can get those sorts of exchanges." Gleebooks saw an immediate spike in online sales with a noted rise in children's activities and craft books.
Nerida says for those cooped up inside the books she pulls around town are a safe way to escape.