The end of the bookstore?

Some said they would disappear, be out-boxed by the big-box bookstores in the twentieth century, or outmoded by digital books in the twenty-first. And yet here they are, a smaller cadre than 20 years ago, to be sure, but still here.

Welcome to your independent community bookstore.

For a generation and more it has been difficult to survive selling books out of a storefront. And yet, the independent bookstores that have survived still do. Today, on the precipice of digital-book free fall, many in the book industry wonder—again—if bookstores will go the way of downtown horse stables.

I'm rooting for the horse stables.

Thus it was a joy to hear the winning authors of the American Bookseller Association’s Indies Choice Book Award—Jerry Pinkney, Judith Viorst, Suzanne Collins, Rebecca Stead, David Grann, Kathryn Stockett, Abraham Verghese, and others—tell of how much they owed their success to their local bookstore. How these stable keepers listened to readers and made thoughtful suggestions, and on more than one occasion recommended a horse that gave a ride of a lifetime.

The author who raised the most hearts to throats was Kate DiCamillo, the author of The Tale of Despereaux. She told the audience at the ABA award luncheon in New York this story:

When I was in second grade, I fell in love with Abraham Lincoln.

The Clermont Elementary School library had a series of books called Notable Young Americans. And in this way, through these books, I met George Washington and Helen Keller, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, Amelia Earhart and Booker T. Washington.

I met them and I liked them.

But it wasn’t until Abraham Lincoln that I fell in love.

Something about his story (the poverty, the death of his mother, his love of words and books) resonated with me, moved me. I came home from school and told my mother everything that I had learned about the young Abraham Lincoln. I told her that I wanted to learn more.

My mother took me to the Cooper Memorial Library in downtown Clermont. They had there many books about Honest Abe, but there was nothing written for a reader my age. And so my mother checked out a thick volume on the life of Abraham Lincoln written for adults. The text was impenetrable. After a few pages, I gave up on it and contented myself with looking at photographs of the man, his sad and hopeful face.

That year, for my eighth birthday, my mother gave me a hardcover biography of Lincoln called Meet Abraham Lincoln by Barbara Cary. It was written at my reading level. There were wonderful illustrations, and I was smitten with the man anew.

Where had my mother found that book? At Porter’s Stationery and Gifts in Eustis, Florida. Eustis was the next town over from Clermont, thirty miles away. At Porter’s, they had looked for a book about Lincoln that was at my reading level and they had special-ordered it for my mother, for me.

Also, they had told my mother that there was another book I might like. It was called The Cricket in Times Square. And so, in addition to a book about a poor, lonely boy who went on to become president of the United States, I also received the story of a small cricket who loves music, a cricket who sings so beautifully that people stop to listen.

Who was that bookseller who thought, “Here is an almost-eight-year-old girl who loves Abraham Lincoln. What other book will she love? Oh, yes. This book about a cricket.”?

There was nothing logical about that decision. It was a leap of faith.

Those two books changed me.

Together, they cemented an idea in my eight-year-old heart. That idea was this: It doesn’t matter how small, how lonely, how broken or sad or poor you are. There is a way to make yourself heard. There is a way to sing.

A bookseller put those books into my mother’s hands, and my mother put them into mine.

Sometimes we forget that this simple, physical gesture can change lives.

I want to remind you that it does.

I want to thank you because it did.

—Kate DiCamillo*

How about you, dear reader? Is there still a place in your reading universe for a bookstore? I’d love to hear your story. Just click on the Comments link below with your submission. (If you’re reading this as an email, click here and you'll connect to Comments.

 
*Copyright 2010 by Kate DiCamillo. Reprinted by permission.

Comments

[Ellen Thronson]

I believe, in my world at least, there will always be room, a need, for a bookstore. I understand how people are lured in by digital books, but that's not for me. I like the feel of the page, to see the words written. In the town where I live, we have a Barnes and Noble and an independent bookstore. While they each provide the same service, the experience is completely different. My mood determines which one I go to at any given time.

[LaVonne Pockat]

Book stores are my store of choice and they have been as far back as I can remember. Browsing in a bookstore, owning my own books, and seeing them on my own book shelves, are some of my favorite activities. Running a grade school library has been a dream of a lifetime. Having a student come back and tell me they need another book like the last one I recommended is the most fulfilling emotion I can have. My life has evolved around books ever since my mother let me join the Weekly Reader Book Club in the early 60's.

[J Bradshaw]

Books have always been a big part of my life too. This b-day my children gave me the best present ever. My youngest put together a vase with beautiful glossy brown branches. On the branches were small cards containing a book memory that each child had shared with me. Three children, three spouses, and six grandbabies. .....And a tree of wonderful book memories. 'Cheaper by the dozen' read at the lake with my older children, trips to the book store with my teen gran girls for the mid-night opening of the last in the 'Twilight' series. The list went on. ---- No, bookstores will never go away totally. They are magical. It starts young and brings joy for a life-time.

[Royce Carter]

I THINK WE SHOULD SUPPORT SMALL LOCAL SHOP'S BUT HOW DO WE FIND THEM? WE GET E-MAIL FROM THE BIG BOX STORES.

[Sherrie Chapman]

I own a Kindle and an iPad; I use Amazon and an on-line book club for books that I know I want or need. But when I don't know what I want to read or I'm looking for something new, I go to an independent book store (Longfellow's in Portland ME) to find something I never thought of reading, to find out what their staff recommends or what authors they have invited to speak. I also find local authors or local topics at the bookstore. There is room in the world for all the options; we all just need to keep reading.

[Steve Leveen]

Thanks for sharing some marvelous memories and viewpoints, my friends. I agree that we are fortunate to have the options we have and want to help preserve them all. As for a fine indy you can be part of wherever you live, I recommend our local Books & Books founded by Levenger friend Mitchell Kaplan. You can sign up for his email list to receive some marvelous book happening news. Plus it's the home of the Miami Book Fair. http://www.booksandbooks.com/

Enjoy!

Steve

[Lynn E. O'Connor, PhD]

I am what might be categorized as a hoarder of books, and my home is wall to wall books. My amazon habit is huge. I used to spend time in bookstores (a decade ago, mainly Borders, and on occasion a local independent book store). I have a kindle and iPad, but if I need to spend much time with a book, I order hard copy. I am a speed reader if I can flip quickly through the pages, observing section titles, reading what is relevant, and I have not yet been able to do this smoothly on ebooks (I am not speaking of fiction reading here). So, overall, I am passionate about tangible hard-copy books. But for me, the bookstore is no longer important or viable. Amazon has replaced them --Amazon prints good descriptions of books, and readers have often rated the books I acquire. The price of the books on Amazon is lower, and since I am such a big customer, I have "Amazon Prime" which means I have an entirely free second day delivery. If a book is really expensive, there is the option of purchasing from a non-Amazon used books dealer, offered by Amazon. I can explore any topic of interest, through Amazon, and do so far more efficiently than what I was able to do in any bookstore.. While I am not ready to give up hard copy books, I have stepped into our modern method of book distribution, using a discount online company, Amazon. They serve me very very well, and I have never looked back. I feel sad for the independent book store owners, many of whom truly love books, but if I am any example of a trend, their days are numbered. Technology is changing all of us rapidly, why fight it.

[Joseph]

I don't think we will see the end of bookstores in the near future, but there will definitely be a smaller number, as new generations get used to reading in digital devices, people will buy less paper books, it is an unstoppable trend, I don't think bookstores will dissapear, but they will be very few. it will be a niche market, the paper niche.

[Bonnie]

I love bookstores. We have a huge Barnes and Noble close by. I love the ambiance, the quiet, the variety and the kindness of other book lovers. I use Amazon occasionally and other bookstores. I don't think I will ever buy a Kindle. My books are noted, marked and become a part of me.

[Rick Estep]

(My life has evolved around books ever since my mother let me join the Weekly Reader Book Club in the early 60's.) Wow, the Weekly Reader Book Club! I was enrolled in that in the 70's. It was one of the seeds that grew my passion for books, as well as the Book Mobile. As for local book stores, they just need to serve coffee and have free Wireless internet access for customers. Oh and wheelchair accessibility!!! (Yes, I use a wheelchair and I get around,... at least where I can.) ps. I've bought many used books from Amazon.

[Jenny Gholson-Morris]

I read a lot of books, and many come from used book stores. I see it as a form of recycling, and I try to pass all of my books along. I will, however, get an electronic reader one of these days, not only for the convenience and the green-ness, but also because I have arthritis in my hands and the readers are lightweight. I will not ever transition to ONLY e-books.

Reading would be SO much more pleasurable if you'd bring back the Reader's Tool Box! Isn't it about time?

[Elizabeth Cottrell]

Hear, hear!...what a powerful and moving spotlight to shine on our intrepid independent bookstore owners and the difference they make in people's lives! In our rural area, I have not had access to one close by, but whenever I visit the towns with those special bastions of literary passion, I make the visits a top priority, and I always come away having been introduced to a new-to-me title or author.

[Jeanie Fritzsche]

Living in Southern California, I'm fortunate to be within easy driving distance from Laguna Beach Bookstore. This small store packs a large wallop with a great selection of neatly, well-displayed books. They've also been very smart about making themselves part of the community by running a book club, sponsoring author visits, offering workshops, etc.

To the person who wondered about how to find indie bookstores, go to the website http://www.newpages.com/bookstores/ where they are listed by state.