Hello and thank you for choosing Brain Lair Books!

We are currently experiencing delays in ordering due to complications related to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, and high order numbers from the recent upwelling of support for local and black-owned businesses. We cannot believe the number of orders we've received in the past month! Thank you so much for supporting us!   

Sadly, we have temporarily paused ordering on this site to give us time to catch up. 

Please refer to the following FAQ for more information:

Why is online ordering from the Brain Lair Books website temporarily paused? 

Brain Lair Books is primarily a one-woman operation. We gratefully received an influx of online orders in June, mostly due to high numbers of people ordering anti-racist books and supporting Black-owned stores. To help us process these orders, we have brought on a few new people part-time, and have decided it is best to temporarily pause ordering so that we can on-board effectively while processing the orders that have been placed.

When will online ordering from the Brain Lair Books website be resumed?

We estimate online ordering will be back by July 24th. Yay!

How else can I support Brain Lair Books while online ordering is paused?

You can order physical books from us through our Bookshop, which processes the books for us and gives us a percentage of the sales. You can also get audiobooks from our Libro.fm page and e-books from our Untethered Books page. Buying through any of these links supports our store, and allows you to get the books you want. 

Why are shipping and processing delayed?

We apologize for any inconvenience caused by shipping and processing delays. We are trying to get your books to you ASAP! Shipping and processing has been delayed in multiple ways:

• Brain Lair Books is currently processing more online orders than usual. This has delayed processing times as we work to get it all done. Additionally, we have limited warehouse capacity, and thus have had to wait for publishers to ship us books to send out, instead of being able to get them from our stock.

• Some books that have become really popular recently (like How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram Kendi and White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo) have had to be reprinted by publishers. This can take weeks.

• Shipping delays are occurring nationwide due to overall increases in online ordering, and other complications created by the coronavirus.

Where can I find the status of my order?

Please email us at statusupdaterequest@thebrainlair.com to find the status of your order. Be sure to include your last name and order number. 

What can I do if there is a problem with my order outside of delays and status checks?

If there has been a problem with your order, such as receiving the wrong book, please text us at 574-400-5572 with your last name, order number, and order problem. We are currently only answering text messages.

What is Brain Lair Books doing to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers, and customers as the pandemic continues?

As case counts surge around the country, including in Indiana where we are located, we continue to take every precaution to protect ourselves and our customers. Our brick and mortar store is currently closed in an effort to prevent spread. As we process online orders, we have no more than three individuals in the store working at a time, each with a mask and regularly hand washing and using hand sanitizer. 

Current CDC guidelines state that it is unlikely someone would get COVID-19 by touching mail or packages and recommends that individuals wash their hands after handling or opening packages. More information on safely handling mail and packages can be found here.

I am grateful for your support and patience! 

-Kathy from The Brain Lair Bookstore