Could bookstores soon become fiction?
Independent bookstores are few and far between, and chains like Borders already packed up and left a couple of years ago. Now, Barnes & Noble is shifting its resources from paper and ink to e-paper and e-ink. Store revenue has been declining along with print book sales, and even though the company says it's "fully committed" to the retail side of the business — it's shutting the books on unprofitable stores.
In the age of e-books and e-readers, as well as online deals, one reason that bookstores may be failing is that bookstore customers still love browsing — just not buying. They're going elsewhere for better deals or downloads.
So who has managed to keep shelves stocked during the literary apocalypse? Bookstores nearby include Berkshire Books and Half Price Books in Concord, The Storyteller in Lafayette and Sheila A. Grilli Bookseller in Martinez.
Do you still buy books from the bookstore, or do you just browse? How have you book-buying habits changed? Will you miss bookstores if they disappear completely? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
