[Laer Carroll]

I was jolted out of bed by an earthquake, so stayed up a while in case of aftershocks. Read my email, had a notice from Barnes & Noble that the sequel to Moon's "Deed of Paksenarrion" trilogy was waiting for me to come pick it up.

I could have had it mailed to me and bypassed the store. But I want to support my bookstore and the exploring-through-bookshelves experience, and online buys don't do that. I buy online only in certain circumstances. (Buying backlist books not in the store, etc.)

I urge others to support their bookstores the same way.

[Yjar]

I live in a city where there is no real bookstore. Blegh.

[tdnewton]

You really consider B&N a "local" bookstore?

[Laer Carroll]

Are bookstores dying, growing, what?

My B&N has been doing thriving business, apparently, for the 15+ years I've been going to it. The next city over (Glendale, California) has a Borders (looking a bit wilted lately), a B&N (which recently moved into larger, nicer quarters), and two large nice used stores (one of which specializes in F&SF, mystery, and historicals).

This is So Cal. When I stopped off from Ireland in New York I spent some time in a B&N near Times Square. It seemed fine, too.

And in Dublin and London the Eason's and Waterstone's chains also seemed fine. Kind of fits in with the Pub Wkly report I came upon a few months ago saying readership has been slowly growing for the last couple of decades, little affected by the recent financial problems.

Yet for years I've read reports saying games, the Web, and movies are killing the publishing industry. Anyone have an idea about these conflicting reports?

[JT Billow]

You really consider B&N a "local" bookstore?
There's two ways to look at it. I do agree; the large chain retailers did push the 'mom & pops' out of business some time ago. Although, at a local B&N, there are several local citizens earning their living there. It just depends on how you see it. As for me, I prefer the individually owned stores, since Barnes & Noble would close that location in a second if it saved money....

[Window Bar]

Although, at a local B&N, there are several local citizens earning their living there. ....

Not really. They're earning a bare breath above minimum wage. If the store is profitable, the profits leave town.

[JT Billow]

Not really. They're earning a bare breath above minimum wage. If the store is profitable, the profits leave town.
Well unfortunately, I know two people that work at B&N in our city, where they make 3 dollars above minimum wage, and both live solely on their wages. Now as I said, I don't support the 'giant' retail chains; I give heed to mom and pop stores. But since there are no more of those in my area, the bottom line is: a job is a job, and as long as the B&N is there, people will get a paycheck.