In his column in the Palm Beach Post, reporter Ron Wiggins tells about dropping into a used bookstore in North Palm Beach (FL), The Book Rack, and not only finding a couple of treasures to buy, but also finding the owners to be helpful and knowledgeable about books, music and well, lots of other stuff.
When he discovered that the owners, Joanne and Denny Hall, were planning to possibly close the shop, he was not happy. After twelve years, Joanne Hall, in her mid-sixties says, “We’re semi-retiring. The online side of our business is going so well that we figure we can work two to four hours a day and have an income. Whoever buys the store,” she notes, “will have to use the Internet. You can’t stay in business without buying and selling books online.”
One local bookstore down, how many more to go?
This has happened here on the North Coast of California, too. Our libraries, both public and academic, have no money to buy books. We do have a goodly array of used and new bookstores, even after the very fine Bohemian Books closed its doors last month because “we make all our money online.” I worry, though, that other local stores will soon feel the pressure to follow them. Our bookstores and libraries have been community centers, but the community no longer has the money to sustain them.
BTW, it amazes me that a web business with a site like this is raking in the money. They are piggy-backing off the abebooks site, but still. /shudder/ Their physical store was lovely!
Re:One local bookstore down, how many more to go?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (be forewarned) DO NOT SHOP THE BIG BOX BOOKSTORES. Shop at your local bookseller or if you prefer to shop online, order your books through Booksense.com that will send you any book you want. If it costs a buck more (than Amazon), it’s WORTH IT IN THE LONG RUN.