Oxford Bookstore on Park Street and city-based publishing house Seagull Books have lined up a range of activities to keep readers engaged during the lockdown.

Oxford Bookstore has launched various activities on its social media page, including book reading sessions on Facebook Live. This will not only engage readers but will also boost their morale, an official of the Apeejay Surrendra Group that owns the bookstore said.

Apart from book reading sessions on Facebook Live, the bookstore is hosting various workshops online that range from storytelling to dance.

Those interested to be part of the book reading sessions and the online workshops can log on to the store’s official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/oxfordbookstore.com/ and click on the “Live” icon. Alternatively, readers can follow the store’s Twitter handle and Instagram page for latest updates.

The Telegraph had on Wednesday reported about the New Town library opening its online section for booklovers to download titles for free. “We decided to engage our readers through various social media platforms because we felt we needed to cheer them up as well as give them something to do during the lockdown when most of us are staying indoors,” the official said. “The idea is to reach out to global readers and bind them together with their love for books.”

The bookstore has started a series titled, “Author Recommends”, where eminent personalities like Naseeruddin Shah and author Andrew Sean Greer have listed their top picks for readers.

All the sessions will continue till the lockdown is lifted, the official said.

Seagull Books, too, have embarked on a similar initiative to help people during the lockdown.

On Tuesday, there was a tweet from the official Twitter handle of Seagull Books: “Free downloads — to read on any device — in the time of isolation. To help you stay home and stay safe. Seagull Books offers you a free book a day, every day, from its library of world literature. Here are the first seven”.

Visit www.seagullbooks.org and click on Free PDF Downloads to get started.