Paperback Dreams

July 03, 2008

Not All Bad News

I came across an item from Diesel’s latest newsletter this morning, and it bears repeating:

Hi All,

With Independence Day celebrations beginning it seems as good a time as any to celebrate our independents. With the closing of several prominent, internationally-recognized bookstores in the last couple of months — Dutton’s in Brentwood, Cody’s Books and the Graduate Theological Bookstore in Berkeley —- it seems important to take stock of where independent bookselling stands, what it stands for, and what stands against it. Simply put, many stores like ours are doing well, supported by dedicated, intelligent communities of readers who understand the pleasures, virtues, and vital services neighborhood bookstores offer. The closures of these stores should not be misread as some fateful indication of the inevitable decline of independent businesses. However, they do reveal the risks threatening independent businesses these days: escalating overhead costs including rent; reader choices gravitating toward media-encouraged internet purchasing; publisher accomodation to the pressures from increasingly consolidated clients (Amazon, Costco, Walmart, chains) leveraging their power to secure preferential terms. All of these forces work against the greater health of the culture and combine to threaten neighborhood bookstores. Most of them can be alleviated through very simple acts: do not heed the media’s predictions and recommendations for “consumer” behavior; do not increase, through your purchases, the centralised power of large internet and chain companies which distort the markets of cultural goods; and support your local stores. (For more on independent bookstores, check out IndieBound.) Please excuse the rant, but it just has to be said. We hope you enjoy our recommendations and have a summer full of wonderful books.

Happy Reading!
John & all Dieselfolk

It doesn’t exactly take crack investigative skills to see that booksellers are facing challenges, but John and Allison, who I met at BEA and who where full of life and excitement, show that smart, passionate booksellers still can make it work. I thought the tone of this note was perfect: There’s a lot being lost in the indie bookstore scene right now, but there are stores that are also thriving and growing, and will continue to do so if they’re smart enough, and their customers are supportive enough. Thanks for the reminder, John!