CAN WE SAVE BOOK STORES AND LIBRARIES?
When I was very young, the first independent action I ever took was walking to a nearby library and borrowing a book for a dollar. (1) It got me off the couch and out of the house (2) I met a charming helpful librarian (3) The atmosphere inside the library was safe and quiet, with no distractions from my teenage brother’s loud music (4) A dollar was well within my budget (5) It gave me something to look forward to; finishing that book and returning it to that charming librarian so I could get another.
Do you remember your first book? The name, the author, the smell of the pages, the tactile sensation of holding that book in your hand. Were the pages smooth, glossy, or pulpy? Did it smell like your school library, or did it have the scent of fresh ink and brand-new paper like that of a bookstore? And most importantly, what did you learn from that book? What did those ideas teach you about yourself?
With my first job, my budget increased a fraction, and I started frequenting the local bookstores where I made new friends and found myself lining up for the latest book from my favorite author.
But with the emergence of e-books, tablet devices and e-readers, and rising fixed costs to maintain, will bookstores and libraries cease to exist?
And if so, what can we do about it?
Well, for starters, visit your local library. Its no longer an old dusty place with outdated books. They have e-readers too and will lend e-books on almost any subject. They provide services for disabled individuals, have extensive databases for research projects, can function as an employment center, provide classes, and a sense of community. Secondly, email your town council and ask them to keep the local public library in their budget.
What about your local bookstore? They offer more than books now. They have intellectual puzzles, arts and crafts, book subscriptions, etc. Plus, you can probably join a really great book club with people who share your tastes in reading. I even saw one that offered language classes and matchmaking services. How about that? And yes, offering more than books is probably a survival tactic on the part of the book stores, but just like every other business, they have to meet their fixed costs as well.
Also, you can probably meet your favorite author at a local bookstore in person at a book signing. Can your e-book do that?
I firmly believe, bookstores and libraries will only go out of business if customers stop supporting them.
PS: A big shout to my subscribers and friends. Thank you for your support! :)
Do you remember your first book? The name, the author, the smell of the pages, the tactile sensation of holding that book in your hand. Were the pages smooth, glossy, or pulpy? Did it smell like your school library, or did it have the scent of fresh ink and brand-new paper like that of a bookstore? And most importantly, what did you learn from that book? What did those ideas teach you about yourself?
With my first job, my budget increased a fraction, and I started frequenting the local bookstores where I made new friends and found myself lining up for the latest book from my favorite author.
But with the emergence of e-books, tablet devices and e-readers, and rising fixed costs to maintain, will bookstores and libraries cease to exist?
And if so, what can we do about it?
Well, for starters, visit your local library. Its no longer an old dusty place with outdated books. They have e-readers too and will lend e-books on almost any subject. They provide services for disabled individuals, have extensive databases for research projects, can function as an employment center, provide classes, and a sense of community. Secondly, email your town council and ask them to keep the local public library in their budget.
What about your local bookstore? They offer more than books now. They have intellectual puzzles, arts and crafts, book subscriptions, etc. Plus, you can probably join a really great book club with people who share your tastes in reading. I even saw one that offered language classes and matchmaking services. How about that? And yes, offering more than books is probably a survival tactic on the part of the book stores, but just like every other business, they have to meet their fixed costs as well.
Also, you can probably meet your favorite author at a local bookstore in person at a book signing. Can your e-book do that?
I firmly believe, bookstores and libraries will only go out of business if customers stop supporting them.
PS: A big shout to my subscribers and friends. Thank you for your support! :)
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I figure if the above happens, I will be living at the library and/or checking out all the book stores within bicycling distance. :)
Sincerely
Helen R. Robare