Large bookstore chains like Borders and Barnes & Noble have edged out independent bookstores in Louisville. Some readers lament the trend toward corporate domination but others, like Simon Rindy, say, "It comes down to: does the bookstore carry what I want?"
The selections offered by chain stores often have serious limits. Many of them overlook small press and self-published authors.
"It's going to be more difficult for people like Sarabande [Books], Ron Whitehead and other self-published authors to find space in the bookstores," said Harold Maier, owner of Twice Told Books. "When a big chain buys books they want thousands of copies."
Chain booksellers don't generally carry used books, either.
This is a huge oversight because, as Judy Fout, owner of A Reader's Corner, points out, "Seventy-five percent of books are out of print."
For example, try finding a new copy of Robert E. Howard's Conan anthologies. Used books aren't as expensive as new books and used bookstores usually buy and trade.
Independent bookstores also have more freedom in what they carry. They can specialize in a particular genre, whereas a chain store must stock a general selection. Additionally, independent bookstores can carry controversial items that national chains would never risk.
Therein lies a major concern. The dwindling number of bookstores and the leviathan of "Borders & Noble" are a good example of media consolidation.
"Corporate individuals make decisions about what we read and don't read," Maier said. "That scares me."
Independent bookstores, such as Carmichael's and Twice Told Books, have advantages other than their selection. They can cultivate a personal atmosphere that extends beyond the prefabricated hominess of places like Barnes & Noble. Stuffed chairs and a fireplace aren't enough. Independent bookstores are usually locally owned and therefore have a greater investment in the community.
Furthermore, the owners and clerks of independent bookstores are often more approachable and interested in their stock. Clerks at the national bookstores, however, are often just workers doing their job.
Regardless, many readers are now ignoring both the chains and the local bookstores for the Internet. Sites like Alibris, at www.alibris.com, link used and new bookstores to users worldwide. A recent web search for an elusive textbook found a used copy in an Australian shop.
While the physical stores are limited to their actual inventory, websites can draw on a vast constellation of bookseller inventory.
This shift away from actual stores has helped many independent bookstores. When local buyers aren't enough, they can depend on web users making purchases. The chain stores also have their online counterparts, though these sites may lack personal touch or may not benefit the community.
If selection is the only criterion, chain store websites could be the best bet. But when such a selection is coupled with gracious service, warm atmosphere, and value-added peace of mind, it becomes obvious the choice to shop for a pleasurable read or that hard-to-find piece of literature is the friendly neighborhood book store.
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