During my August book tour, I visited lots of different bookstores and talked to many different managers.
Several of them mentioned, with some concern, the e-book revolution. One manager went so far as to say that their bookstore would likely resemble an Apple store or a cell phone retailer in a few years—with e-readers and e-reader accessories on display.
She added that bookstore staff would be needed to sell and offer customer support for the readers. They’d have a service department to fix or replace broken e-readers.
And she said, of course, they’d need a lot less retail space. Although they might keep the cafes open since that brought people in. So customers could read books on their e-readers and drink coffee and study.
Although I’ve thought a lot about the e-reading revolution, I’d never really thought of bookstores actually changing. I think I’d just sadly written them off as closing their doors and having an online storefront only.
The one thing that I did hear consistently from the managers was their concern over book browsing. Which is understandable—you wouldn’t be able to pick up an e-book, feel it, or flip through it.
Or could you?
I’m not going to get into the e-reader debate, mostly because I’m resigned to the fate of books at this point and just planning on going with the flow—at least, in this computer-centered future, people are still reading—but I have noticed that my own book-buying habits have been changing, even with the physical books that I buy.
I look online a lot for book recommendations. In fact, I look almost exclusively online for book recommendations. Our newspaper here seems determined to review books that are heavy lit fict (not my current cup of tea), so I’ve had to find reviews elsewhere…and the book bloggers do a bang-up job at it.
I like sites like “What Should I Read Next” which help direct readers to books similar in style and genre to books they’ve enjoyed.
You can frequently read an online preview—a first chapter or an excerpt of the book you’re interested in—of the book you’re interested in. Not quite the same as flipping through a book at the store, but I could get used to it.
And for those of us who say covers can make a difference in our book buying? The covers aren’t going away—they’re right there, online, in living color. So we can judge a book by its cover as often as we like.
I’m fond of the automatically-generated “people who bought this book also bought these books” lists. Frequently I find some really interesting series that way.
What about those specialty bookstores and Mom and Pop bookstores? It kills me, it really does. I love those bookstores. But eventually—maybe they’ll move their stores online? Maybe they’ll still be offering their incredible expertise to readers and directing them to great books…just in a new and different way.
No, there’s nothing like picking up a book—or a pile of books—and flipping through them at the bookstore. Bookstores and libraries have always been my favorite places. I still hope that there would be a need for libraries a long time into the future. It’s hard to be upbeat about all the changes.
But as long as we still have books and readers—that’s the most important thing. We’ll just have to find new ways to discover good books.
How do you shop for books? Online? In a bookstore? How are you finding books to read?
Very recently, I discovered that one particular online bookstore has many more titles that I want than any real bookstores. So for the books I know I want to buy, I use that.
HOWEVER, that doesn’t take away from teh fact that one of my favoourite places to browse in is still a real bookstore.
When I get an e-reader, I guess I will continue buying online the books I have read reviews of online, but still go to a store for “real” books.
I read reader reviews mainly. I’ve also been going to the library and taking out books there. In these economic times I just can’t spend $100 a month on books like I used to.
I keep eyeing the iPad evertime we pass the Apple store in the mall. I have to admit I pull up my blog on the 15 -20 iPads on display LOL!
Stephen Tremp
Elizabeth – I love bookstores, too. Especially the Mom and Pop kind. But I agree that book shopping is moving online. As an author, I’d better get used to that. As a reader, I’ve found some great review sites for the genres I read most, and I do enjoy reading those reviews. There are also great sites like Goodreads, where you can find several reviews of the same book. It’s a bit like a discussion group, in a way.
Elizabeth, thanks much for the “what should I read next” link!
I’ve never really thought about the possibility of bookstores going through these types of changes! These are interesting times in the book world, for sure.
I love my iPad and I love being able to download books onto it in either my iBooks app, the Kindle or the Nook or app. It’s a much less expensive way to give in to an “impulse” buy for a new author.
Will it ever replace buying real books. Never! There are many authors who I will continue to buy the second their books hit the shelf. But. I just can’t afford to pay hardback prices for a lot of the writers I once did.
I too look online for book recommendations; I real blogs, I read DorothyL, I see what my Facebook friends are reading. And there are a couple of emags I read for their recommendations, such as BookPage.com
Terrific article, Elizabeth – thank you!
I still enjoy going into a bookstore and just browsing through all the wonderful books. I also find books through great blogs I visit of both authors and readers.
I hate to see bookstores change, but I’d hate it even more for them to close so in that case, change is good.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
I still do it the old-fashioned way. We have two fabulous independent bookstores in Albuquerque, plus Borders and Barnes and Noble. If I don’t find what I want at the independents, I hit the chains. If I don’t find what I want, I’ll go to Amazon online.
Karen
I used to love bookstores, they were my favorite places on Earth. When I was a kid, my mom would take me to the Mall while she had her hair permed – which takes what seems like a god-awful amount of time when you’re young. Luckily our mall had both a B. Dalton and a Walden Books. I would wile away my time searching through the Science Fiction and Fantasy section. This set a trend for me until my twenties when both a Barnes and Noble and a Borders were built in easy driving distance. I was always more partial to Borders since it seemed to have a more laid-back, free sort of feel – B&N always felt uptight. My wife and I actually ended up at Borders on our first date, thus giving me my first clue that she was the one. But in recent years I’ve become more and more frustrated with these brick and mortar stores. Borders has been going through financial troubles and pretty much did away with the huge, varied selection which made them great. B&N doesn’t offer very good sales on their books – a major concern in these times – and CHARGES you to be in their discount club.
Plus, I’m spoiled by Amazon. You can find nearly any book you could want, even out of print stuff. Most books have previews available as well as the great customer reviews which really help me decide if I really want to plunk down my hard-earned cash.
The only down-side to online shopping is waiting through the shipping time. Here’s where the e-reader comes into play: I get all that data and instant delivery. I don’t own a Kindle yet, but it is the only thing on my Christmas list this year. Here’s another adavantage: While I love the feel of a book in my hands and the look of my ten sagging bookcases, I’m starting to run out of space. the tought that I can have 2,500 a 7inch x 4 inch space which I can take with me anywhere is really appealling.
I am interested in the manager comment about book stores selling the readers/support and having the cafes. while the book selling companies may be thinking on these lines, I don’t necessarily see it working so well. I think they are again a bit late to the table – like when Amazon beat them to the Internet sales punch. The major electronics and office product stores are already carrying e-readers – many will begin carrying the Kindle this Fall. since these stores have a history of tech suppot, I on’t see booksellers offering serious competition. And why would I go to a book store cafe to read or study when I have everything digitally avalaible? The upside to doing this in the current environment is that I can quickly go to the shelves and grab more books. In the digital world, I wouldn’t have this free access to books. So, I would be just as likely to choose a coffee shop or MacDonalds offering free wi-fi. There is no incentive or benefit for me to go to the “book store.”
We live in a very interesting time for writers and book lovers. I can’t wait to see what happenes.
Hate to say it, but I do most of my book shopping online. If I hit a store, I browse my favorite sections – but I usually go home and research further online before buying.
I shop online and in the bookstore. I’d like to just go to the bookstore, but all I have in my town is a Borders Express in the local mall. Not as many books there. The big Borders and Barnes & Noble are about 30 minutes, which isn’t always convenient.
I really only shop online for ANYTHING if I can’t find it at a brick and mortar place. If I am ever in a position I travel a ton, I may give in and get an eReader, because for THAT I can definitely see the advantage–one of my real life friends lives in Japan and ADORES her Kindle because her selection of reading material used to be so limited.
But I only pay half attention to a screen–even blogs filled with great info–if I actually want to USE the info later, I have to print it. My retention is lousy and my immersion half-hearted. I just can’t imagine finding reading as satisfying.
As for book stores… where would the Nicola Book Fairy go? (one of Ann Arbor’s fairy doors is in the last independent book store)–seriously though–I think they can figure out a ‘value added’ angle. You know those stations in music stores where you can listen to dozens of samples just standing there? Something like that, that you then can download the book directly (bookstore gets a cut)… PoD stations for the nuts like me who want a REAL book that is only available in eFormat currently (and for out of print books)–
deals with publishers where, if you buy your book at the STORE, you also get a … (whatever would help–map? poster? decoder ring?)–you could offer up recipe cards or something?
As our local ´bookstores´ have nothing but ten bestsellers on the shelves when it comes to crime fiction, I buy 95 % of my books online. The rest are cheap second-hand books I stumble upon when I venture into a town (every second month or so).
I love real books, though, but I have begun thinking about buying a Kindle lately. The pull factor is that now one of my own stories will be published in an ebook. I know I can buy pdf-copies of it, but a pdf-file is so much NOT a book.
Lately, I’ve been finding books to read from the blogs I visit. However, I do like to browse through bookstores. I noticed, however, that my local Barnes and Noble has already reduced their book space. They have a big e-reader display, plus they added a bigger toy section. Toys? I guess they have to do what they have to do, but I think it’s sad.
I, too, am learning to adjust to e-readers. I have a Nook that I love. In the cafe, you can read an e-book for free for an hour, every day. I’m not that cheap, but it gives you a chance to really sample the book – beyond Chapter 1.
Maybe the prevalence of e-books and e-readers will foster a greater love of reading among the younger generation? Who knows?
Rayna–I totally understand! Nothing beats feeling a book and looking at a shelf of books to explore.
Stephen–Unfortunately, with the economy in the awful shape its in, our library has REALLY cut back on acquisitions. So if a book is NEW, I’ve got to buy it.
Smart marketing, Stephen! Ha!
Margot–Goodreads! Yes, I knew I was forgetting one. I need to spend more time over there.
Kaye–Hope you enjoy the link! It’s a useful site–I’ve gotten some good recommendations there. No, I hadn’t really thought about bookstores adapting to the changes at all, so the comments from store managers were interesting to me. I’d just figured it was an all-or-nothing type thing as far as keeping their doors open.
You’ve made another good point about the e-books…cost. My son is currently costing us a cow and a calf with his reading habits! And he’s a picky reader, too. Unfortunately, our library has had to cut back on acquisitions (wayyyyy back) and so we’re buying more books than ever. If we get them on an e-reader, I think we’ll save a ton.
You know, I think hardbacks are going to be the first to go. And I,for one, won’t mourn their passing! They’re way too expensive. Give me a good trade paperback anytime.
Bookpage—I’ll have to check that one out! I haven’t visited that site.
Ike–Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment! Our bookstores in Anderson, SC, were in the mall, too. We had a B-Dalton and I lived in the mystery section. Also, we had a department store with a book section…I’d forgotten about that. B&N, I think, thinks a LOT about its image…and it looks a little more like a “serious” bookstore than Borders. Although…I think Borders is a little more disorganized. B&N frustrates me with their discount club (which I do pay to join) and with their lack of coupons. Borders does a 30% or 40% off coupon for one item of my choice just about every week….but can I GET the books I’m looking for there? Only if they order them for me.
You’ve touched on another point for me–the shelf space for books. We’ve run OUT of space in our house and I’ve already culled the shelves a couple of times lately. An e-reader makes good sense, although I love being surrounded by books. After a while? It just starts looking cluttered.
I was startled when she mentioned the cafes…but you know, they’re always busy when I go to the bookstores. I’m not so sure they’ll continue to be if there aren’t magazines and books to read there. I know I’d just go to the library or a coffeehouse if I’m trying to get away from the distractions at home.
B&N seems to be the store that is MOST embracing the changes….and I’ve noticed the large amount of space devoted to e-readers now. I just don’t know if it’s going to work.
Alex–I like to research online, too. Books are expensive! I want to make sure I’m going to love what I buy.
Mason–Nothing really beats a good browse in a bookstore, does it? I’m trying to make the change…it’s working, but it’s been hard.
I’m with you, Mason–if we’re able to just handle the changes and keep the stores, that would be nice.
Laura–No, you’re right–that’s not convenient. And I won’t be surprised if they start cutting back on stores, too.
Karen—You’re lucky to have such great stores nearby! My closest indie store isn’t really very close.
Hart–On a plane I can definitely see the e-reader. Kindle is on my shopping list this year for Christmas. (Big sigh from Elizabeth.)
I’m starting to have to limit some of my screen time because I feel like I’m spending so MUCH time looking at screens that I get a headache!
You’re right….they’re going to have to think of a new angle. Your mention of a music store just brought all these memories flooding back–remember record stores!? And now I’m thinking Blockbuster is going in the same kind of direction…all the movie rental places. I wonder if it’s going to be the same with bookstores.
Jane–Yes! I think that’s why I had those conversations with the bookstore staff so much–I saw all the toys and the huge Nook display and wondered what was up!
Kathy–That’s nice that you’re able to get more of a feel for the e-books at the cafe.
I think you’re right that reading on the computer or on an e-reader will appeal more to the next generation. As long as we’re hooking readers, it works for me!
I also like the “people who bought this book also liked this book…” feature on Amazon.
I read a lot of books from the library. I buy books at bookstores but I have to admit I do a LOT more reading on the computer than I used to!
Indie
I really like that some bookstores are coming up with creative ways to adapt to the changing business, rather than just close up shop. Since I now live in the country, many miles from a bookstore, I do the major part of searching for books online. Appreciate the links to some new sites to check out.
I don’t buy e-books because I don’t like to read books on an electronic screen. But I borrow audio-books in the library. Nice to have when I’m driving or walking (with my iPod)
Cold As Heaven
A lot of local independent bookstores around here are getting a larger and larger part of their income from the cafe, gifts and used books. Physical books are getting to be more and more like gift items themselves. And I don’t think they will ever disappear because of that.
Something you said, though made me wonder about the browsing experience. What if bookstores had readers – Kindles, iPads or whatever – loaded with the full text of books? Not just samples.
The customer could browse the way they used to, skipping around, getting a feel for the book beyond the opening pages. (And yes, they could potentially read the whole thing in the bookstore, just as they can now.) And then through the store’s wifi they could buy the book on their own ereader.
There’s a whole lot of interesting wrinkles to the new model. People will find what they need.
I think bookstores will become like an Apple store – little digital libraries. I think that machine that can print a digital book while you wait will have an impact as well. I still see the independents surviving – the ones with coffee shops and gifts – if they diversify.
Indie–That Amazon feature is really nice, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s not on target, but frequently I get good suggestions that way.
Cold as Heaven–That’s the *biggest* downside–reading on a screen. I get so much screen time as it is.
Diane–I think you’re right…they’re going to have to adapt to survive in the new world.
Dorte–That’s frequently the case with genre fiction–it’s just easier finding it online!
That will be great…seeing your story on Kindle! Yes, the Kindle’s on my buy list, too.
Amazon does suggestions for me based on books I’ve already purchased. I also, take recommendations from fellow bloggers.
And when all else fails I peruse the bookstore:)
What worries me the most is that I buy all my books used. What will happen to the used books market?