Although it may seem odd, this year not every Galician bookstore will celebrate World Book Day with readers. The reason is that the holiday falls on Sunday, April 23, and in Galicia only shops with public display and sale space up to 300 square meters may open under the regional working hours law. Because of this, the Spanish Confederation of Booksellers’ Guilds and Associations (CEGAL) initially restricted shop openings in communities with limits like Galicia. A discount of 10 percent was planned to run through Saturday, the 22nd. Yet, just days before the event, the national confederation reversed course and kept the celebration on Sunday across all regions, prompting controversy and dividing Galician booksellers.
Although the Galician Libraries Federation has voiced strong displeasure about how the process was conducted—without consultation with the federation and with delayed communication to users—it has complied with CEGAL’s decision. It was reported to them in writing. “This dispute occurred outside of our involvement, and we cannot decide which days carry reductions because the Galician federation lacks the authority to set such dates. The information arrived very late. It would have helped to have more advance notice to avoid confusion or misinterpretation,” said Ramón Domínguez, president of Galician bookstores.
Today, the autonomous federation plans to issue a formal statement to present its position and to address any lingering questions ahead of CEGAL’s guidance.
CEGAL, meanwhile, contends that the discount can legally be applied only on the 23rd: “Book Day is April 23 and the Book Law is explicit: the discount applies on April 23. Stores that wish to open may do so as long as they remain within the 300-square-meter limit. The complication lies with a chain of bookstores that created the confusion,” said Pilar Rodríguez, a bookseller from Ourense and a member of the state confederation board.
The Cartabon de Vigo bookstore will be among those opening this Sunday, not primarily for profit but to accompany readers at the book festival. “The book world is not just commerce; it is almost a religion, a philosophy of life. For me, it isn’t work, it’s enjoyment. You should open on Book Day, but for us, Book Day is a year-long event,” said Domingo Pérez.
However, not all small booksellers welcomed the decision to move Book Day to Sunday. They faced the choice of working on their weekly rest day with little time to adjust, since moving the celebration to Saturday was not possible. Some argue that discounts might still be offered on Saturday.
“I don’t find it acceptable for the Confederacy to override its partners with a strict interpretation of the rules, and to decide something first rather than after broader discussion,” criticized Xurxo Patiño, president of the association. Vigo Bookstores, which supports booksellers who cannot open on Sundays due to Galician law, notes that Book Day feels like a special Christmas moment and provides a much-needed boost for a usually slow period. It also offers visibility for the trade, and some stores have chosen not to open Librouro this Sunday.
Due to its size, Casa del Libro in Vigo is among those that cannot open on Book Day. Its director, Jesús Garre, explains that there is a perceived legal vacuum in CEGAL’s stance. While the law prohibits discounts outside the designated date, there have been moves in the past to adapt, as seen in Turkey on April 24 and during 2020’s lockdown in July. He notes precedents where rules have shifted, and argues that this year’s controversy stems from a planned Saturday schedule that Galician regions attempted to honor by agreement.
Other Galician booksellers, including Garre, express regret over the abrupt change in CEGAL’s approach. The conversations reflect a broader tension between regional autonomy and national coordination in the bookselling sector.