Comments on: Killing Indie Bookstores (and Local Economies)

By: Decatur DD

Decatur DD — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:17:24 +0000

Technologies are changing. Our habits for reading, shopping and just about everything else are changing. That said, I think Wordsmith’s underscores the need to really think hard and deep about where we buy. It’s a reflection of how we live and our deeper values. I am not anti-Walmart, and big box stores do employ our neighbors and are vital for our economy. As a society, I think we need to balance our need to save money or try a new technology, with the need to support our community. Sometimes we will choose Amazon or a big box store. Sometimes we will go to the farmer’s market or a local boutique. Every purchase we make reflects who we are.

As for books becoming obsolete (and I was just debating this with a librarian, who sees the eventual end of the road for her job), it is important to develop new technologies and keep people reading in whatever form. However, (sigh!) I can’t imagine curling up with a good Kindle at night!

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:55:39 +0000

Author’s can already deliver content digitally, the Kindle is just another way to read it. Publishers will exist post-Kindle, or similar ereaders, for the same reasons they exist today.

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:20:08 +0000

I think it’s very possible for electronic book readers to not only harm publishers but actually kill them off. If a writer can deliver his book directly to a human reader who owns an electronic reader, then why does a publisher need to exist? Yes, an author will still need certain things done to assist him in production and release of a book, but those roles can be much smaller and performed by people who specialize in those areas of work.

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:09:39 +0000

Do you really think “those of us” will be enough to support the existence of bookstores and record stores? Apple is the number one music retailer in the country and will only continue to gain market share for the foreseeable future. The baby boomers are slowly exiting the music buying period of their lives, the gen-x’ers are tilting away from store-bought purchases, and the younger generations are fast becoming online only consumers of music. A study I read said that half of all teens didn’t buy a single CD last year.

I know the original post was about bookstores, but I think in order to see into the future of the book industry and bookstores it helps to look at what’s happened to the music industry.

By: MermaidM

MermaidM — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:07:26 +0000

I second Eagle Eye. I have had the best luck there. Everyone is very nice and helpful. They have new and used books with a huge selection of used. Plus I find it well organized.