tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post947458212861028239..comments2023-11-26T08:55:00.075-05:00Comments on Steph Su Reads: Why Indie Bookstores Will Survive the ApocalypseSteph Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09834692034486125015noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-42939625251493367092013-03-13T00:19:54.459-04:002013-03-13T00:19:54.459-04:00You are lucky to have such a community-oriented in...You are lucky to have such a community-oriented indie store near you! B&N seems to perform the bare-bones of book shopping as far as I'm concerned, but I never feel much warmth from the staff or environment when I'm there. I would love for it to be more a place where local bookworms can hang out and discuss books, but it doesn't have that, sadly.Steph Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834692034486125015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-12103800337088625232013-03-12T22:40:27.545-04:002013-03-12T22:40:27.545-04:00Awesome post. I am super lucky to have a very well...Awesome post. I am super lucky to have a very well established indie bookstore in my city, and they do exactly the community events you are talking about. There is a B&N near by, but they never host any sort of author events or book clubs, so I have no reason to walk in! Schuler (the indie) on the other hand hosts awesome author events (with pizza!) for free, because they know that that will win them new customers. They also have lots of comfy couches and a really easy system for book clubs to organize around! They will definitely survive, even if I have to support them all on my own, haha<br /><br /><a href="http://www.onstarshipsanddragonwings.com/" rel="nofollow">Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwings</a>Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11966260114472122150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-4596122695245355172013-03-07T08:16:37.169-05:002013-03-07T08:16:37.169-05:00Main Point Books in Bryn Mawr. Cathy only just sig...Main Point Books in Bryn Mawr. Cathy only just signed the lease so no definite opening date yet. I'll let you know. Thanks for the help!Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-64142031565054264982013-03-06T23:11:31.517-05:002013-03-06T23:11:31.517-05:00Ahh, literary YA that would cross over to an adult...Ahh, literary YA that would cross over to an adult audience! What's the name of your friend's bookstore? I have a lot of friends in that area, and I could probably organize a bunch of them to visit upon its opening.Steph Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834692034486125015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-89995560579126130842013-03-06T23:01:34.283-05:002013-03-06T23:01:34.283-05:00I agree with you. I'd be devastated if B&N...I agree with you. I'd be devastated if B&N had to close: they're also the only bookstore that my hometown has. My thinking, however, is that if B&N wants to remain relevant, they can't just keep on following the footsteps of Amazon, which is doing everything first, and doing everything better. It's not enough to play catch-up with Amazon. I think that if B&N also recognized the importance of it being a source of community within their community, they'd maintain their relevance far more. Sometimes B&Ns frustrate me because the environment's very sterile and the workers sound like they'd rather be doing anything else than help you. If B&N also emphasized its communal importance by promoting more gatherings of local book lovers and having more focus on the human, I think that would be a better company strategy than simply trying to beat Amazon at its thing.Steph Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834692034486125015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-43336068848590760882013-03-06T22:09:30.566-05:002013-03-06T22:09:30.566-05:00I agree! I grew up pretty much in bookstores (and ...I agree! I grew up pretty much in bookstores (and libraries for that matter) and it's a little scary that bookstores (where indie or chain) are going under. Humans are social people and I agree that we will have an age of community. <br /><br />Also, I really liked this line: "As bookstores and libraries scramble to find a new role for themselves in the twenty-first century, what will make them last is the continued emphasis on community, and optimism in the belief that humanity's desire to create small and beloved communities for themselves will eventually triumph, once the flashiness of corporate-owned but faceless services passes."Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05049528405493946804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-39107713275914842662013-03-06T15:21:43.068-05:002013-03-06T15:21:43.068-05:00I have to agree, people do enjoy actually leaving ...I have to agree, people do enjoy actually leaving the house and browsing stores and feeling items in their hands before buying them, so I think, and hope, that book stores will continue to stick around :)Vegan YA Nerdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11244310544451371368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-15998847685323910402013-03-06T13:56:47.629-05:002013-03-06T13:56:47.629-05:00"I have faith that when the Corporate Age end..."I have faith that when the Corporate Age ends, a new age will begin, and it will be the Community Age."<br /><br />I agree with your entire post, really, but this line is just absolutely perfection. Sure it looks dire now, but I believe that this future - a future of community - is totally possible.Alexa S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13185723439360170259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-16315343975858462002013-03-06T12:47:10.919-05:002013-03-06T12:47:10.919-05:00Yeah for indie bookstores! I'm feeling hopeful...Yeah for indie bookstores! I'm feeling hopeful too. After Borders shut, an old friend of mine decided to open a brand new indie bookstore outside of Philadelphia, coming later this year. She's asked me and a children's librarian to recommend literary YA books that would cross over well to an adult audience. I also recommend books to my local bookstore which has survived for more than 30 years. The personalized care indie bookstore owners put into their selections makes their stores more valuable than big chains and online retailers. Still, it is a worrying economic sign to see B&N foundering. It's important that we book lovers keep buying books from bookstores. Wonderful post!Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-45223183091958501952013-03-06T10:16:42.220-05:002013-03-06T10:16:42.220-05:00I'm glad that many indie bookstores have been ...I'm glad that many indie bookstores have been doing better lately, but I think as a reader and someone who values the publishing industry, I think it is equally important that Barnes & Noble survive. B&N is the only bookstore in my community. The nearest indie bookstore is two hours away. And regardless of my own community, I hate to think of all the people who will lose their jobs if B&N (or any other big corporate store, book related or not) goes under. I agree with you - part of me is cheering that the demise of big corporate stores is better for indie bookstores, but the bigger part of me thinks that it's important for all physical bookstores to be retained.Alison Can Readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17908868606441539344noreply@blogger.com