August 2009

As I always say, we love guest contributors.  And we especially love guest contributors during the summer months when Kim travels and I have to deal with the varying schedules and stay-at-home amusing of all four kids.  So we’re very grateful to Jill Gordon who contributed the following wonderful list of reasons to go to independent bookstores.  Jill writes about the online master degree.  She welcomes your feedback at Jill.Gordon25@ yahoo.com.  The rest of this post is hers–but we couldn’t agree with her more.

Top 10 Reasons to Shop Independent Bookstores

If you live in a standard American city that’s large enough to support more than one grocery store and more than one high school, your city is probably home to (or close to) a Barnes & Noble or Borders chain. And if you live in a city that’s too small for a store that size, you can always order books from those sites or discount media sites like Amazon.com as long as you have an Internet connection. But even though you can sometimes find better coupons and the newest releases at those bookstores, when you shop at large chains, you lose the intimate experience of searching for a book, talking with others who are passionate about reading, and even smelling all of the old and rare books that are packed into the store. The next time you head to a large chain store to buy your books, consider these top ten reasons to shop at independent bookstores.

1. The salespeople get to know your interests. If you’re a repeat customer, the salespeople at a smaller store will quickly learn your interests and may even place books on hold for you before you even know about them.

2. You can barter. Small bookstores may allow customers to negotiate prices on books, especially ones that are hard to sell.

3. You might be able to sell back books. Depending on the type of independent bookstore, you may be able to sell back books or get store credit for books you turn in.

4. You’ll find more local interest books. Large bookstores sometimes have a local interest section, but you’ll find hyper-local authors and books at a smaller store.

5. You’re supporting local business. The easiest way to go green is to support your local economy.

6. You can benefit from the public space. If you’re a performer or writer, you’ll be more likely to work out a deal that allows you to become a featured artist or guest at a reading, signing or open mic night.

7. The experience is just better. Shopping at a smaller, local bookstore is quieter and more intriguing than rushing around a bustling, cookie-cutter chain store.

8. You can network with other readers. In a smaller setting, it’s easier to get to know others who are passionate about reading, too.

9. Customer service is better. You can always order a book from a chain store, but you’ll probably get faster results and a more personalized customer service experience from an independent bookstore.

10. Independent bookstores contribute more to a community: Local businesses have more say in the kind of culture they want to promote and often serve as gathering places for the community.