the way of the dodo
With A Clean Well Lighted Place For Books being sold and now Cody's books closing it's "flagship" store on Telegraph, the closing of Valencia Street Books and last fall's near-save of Kepler's.. I've started to wonder about bookstores.
Do I shop at small independent bookstores? sometimes. It's not even about the money. Much like organic or local produce, I'm willing to pay a little extra. I think it's mostly about convenience for me. I work in Emeryville, near two very large chain bookstores. The nearest independent bookstore my house is open mostly only while I'm at work. Maybe I need to make more of an effort, like I'm trying to make an effort to shop at the farmer's market more.
Do I shop for books online? Only at Powells, which makes me feel less guilty about it, though I'm not sure why. Perhaps because I've been to one of their stores, or because I buy many books used through them, or maybe it's just a feeling I get about that company versus the big chains.
How can we make small bookstores viable?
Honestly, I don't know.
I just know that I love bookstores; the smell of them, the comfort of them, the discovery of books I didn't know existed, didn't know I needed..
I miss them when they're gone, or when I've moved away from them.
Do I shop at small independent bookstores? sometimes. It's not even about the money. Much like organic or local produce, I'm willing to pay a little extra. I think it's mostly about convenience for me. I work in Emeryville, near two very large chain bookstores. The nearest independent bookstore my house is open mostly only while I'm at work. Maybe I need to make more of an effort, like I'm trying to make an effort to shop at the farmer's market more.
Do I shop for books online? Only at Powells, which makes me feel less guilty about it, though I'm not sure why. Perhaps because I've been to one of their stores, or because I buy many books used through them, or maybe it's just a feeling I get about that company versus the big chains.
How can we make small bookstores viable?
Honestly, I don't know.
I just know that I love bookstores; the smell of them, the comfort of them, the discovery of books I didn't know existed, didn't know I needed..
I miss them when they're gone, or when I've moved away from them.