With millions of people buying e-readers and down loading books at a moments notice, why bother to take a trip to the local bookstore or book chain?
I’m an e-reader but I also happen to be one of those people who will take time out of her busy schedule to go to a bookstore and browse. I like that feeling of wonderment when browsing through the stacks. For that matter I love my library and the excitement and heady sensation that overcome me in the presence of so many books.
Buying books on line is simple, quick, and I can do it any time of the day or night. There are also hundreds of on-line outlets for me to choose from.
If that wasn’t enough, there’s yet another alternative, and that’s book rentals. Bookswim is a new online book rental site seemingly modeled after Netflix. There are various monthly subscription rates including the unlimited book rental plan starting at $9.95. The books are sent directly to your home and you can hold on to them as long as you like with the option to buy if you decide one of the books is a keeper. The shipping is free and there are no late fees
As you can see, there are many ways to obtain a book outside of the ‘traditional’ get in your car, drive to the bookstore, browse the shelves and make a purchase. I don’t have a crystal ball – but with technological advances happening every second it begs the question – Will book stores go the way of newspapers? In this age of uber technology is it necessary to have a brick and mortar book store?
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Buffie
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 7:50 am:
I am definitely not an e-reader. I read enough stuff on the computer all day long and I love the feeling of being stretched out on the bed with a blanket and a nice book in my hand. I didn’t know anything about Bookswim, but it does sound like something I would like to check out. But I’m not sure if you can beat the feeling of walking into a bookstore and browsing for an hour or two.
Kati
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 7:54 am:
There’s little I enjoy more than wandering through a romance section in a book store. On top of that, my book budget is pretty big, so I do a ton of buying each month. I read e-books some, but it’s not my first choice. Although, if I would invest in an ebook reader, I’d probably do more. I don’t like reading on my laptop. I was all set to buy the new Kindle, but I keep hearing mixed reviews. I believe if I were to buy a reader, I’d go with a Sony.
Maria Lokken
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 8:17 am:
Kati – the advantage of the Kindle is that it is wireless. But I think the Sony is much ’sexier’ as an e-reader.
Animegirl
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 9:23 am:
Well, I would say I probably read more in electronic format than in dead-tree format but not because of a personal preference but mostly because it’s cheaper, immediate and shipping free, living outside the US where the publishing industry is dead (and libraries suck big time), shipping is a big concern, But still, every so often I will shell out lots of money just for the pleasure of holding a new book in my hands there is just not a better feeling. Sometimes I just buy off amazon or when I visit relatives in the US I wander B&N for hours.
For me it’s like a fix, really, just looking at all those books in one place. And still, here at home I still wander bookstores and book sections at different stores, even knowing I’m not going to find anything new, just fir the pleasure of doing it,
Donna
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 10:05 am:
I dont’ have an e-reader…yet and I enjoy going to bookstores to “look around” and touch my favorite things but Bookswim sound like a good idea especially if that included hard covers also…. I love books and can’t always afford every book I want….
Donna
Maria Lokken
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 10:06 am:
From what I understand Bookswin does have hardcovers. You can check out their site at http://www.bookswim.com/
Jody F.
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 11:17 am:
As a disabled person, I get all of my books sent to me. I buy from Amazon and bn.com. I rent from booksfree.com (like bookswim, was created before them, but only have pb and audio books) and our library also mails out books to homebound people free of charge.
azteclady
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 11:20 am:
Gah! What a horrible picture that paints!
Look, I love the convenience of having books come to me, and while I don’t have yet an electronic reader, I’m putting pennies aside for it already. However, what can be better than sitting in a room, leafing through a book, surrounded by bookcases full to bursting with more books?
I rarely, if ever, buy anything at Borders–too expensive for my pocket–but I love spending time wandering about, looking for old favorites and checking out new titles and authors. There’s just no feeling like that when all you have are words in a screen!
orannia
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 2:36 pm:
Bookstores have such a magical feel….I would hate to not be able to spend time in them reading a page here and a page there. I do the same way about libraries
heidenkind
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 5:45 pm:
What a truly depressing thought. Bookstores are probably the only stores I can browse in for hours on end. And I love the smell of a bunch of books all in one place.
I’m like you, Buffie–I read stuff on a laptop all day long for work. When I read for fun, the last thing I want to be doing is staring at a digital display. I wouldn’t mind being able to put all my huge art history tomes on a digital reader, though.
Stacy ~
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 6:30 pm:
I admit that this year I’ve purchased more books online than ever before, but nothing beats walking through the aisles of a bookstore and seeing all those pretty books. And I love sitting with friends in the cafe area, drinking coffee and talking about books. I don’t get to do that enough.
I recently learned that the big Borders on Michigan Ave in Chicago will be closing within the next year. It’s a gorgeous, 3-level bookstore that is my idea of heaven, and it’s going to close. That just breaks my heart.
Gannon
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 10:10 pm:
I haven’t jumped on the e-reader bandwagon yet, but even if I had I would still want to go to a bookstore. Browsing the shelves of a bookstore is one of my favorite things, and I would be devastated if they went the way of the dodo.
Lisa Freeman
on Mar 24th, 2009
@ 10:56 am:
I love going to the B&M bookstores, however, I have noticed in the past year they are carrying less titles than before. Not just the bookstores but also the discount stores. Some titles I’ve had to buy online or get in ebook form if it is available.
Karin
on Mar 24th, 2009
@ 1:03 pm:
I don’t have an ereader yet, either, and am still debating whether or not I’ll be getting one. I’m sure I’ll eventually cave. That said, though, nothing can really beat the feeling of a paper book. There’s just something magical about holding one and spending hours with it.
Like many others here, I can spend hours on end in a bookstore or library without realizing how much time I’ve spent there. It has driven my mother crazy a few times, especially since in any other store I’m dying to be done and leave. I’ve found a number of new authors just by browsing through the various sections and I would definitely miss that if the brick and mortar stores were to disappear. In the bookstore or library, all I have to do is walk down an isle and randomly pick something up, read the blurb, perhaps page through a page (or twenty! lol) and decide if I want it. It’s just not as easy to discover new genres/authors online without hearing about them on a blog or email loop or something.
Karin
on Mar 24th, 2009
@ 1:04 pm:
I forgot to mention something else before I hit the submit button. The one thing that the local bookstores offer than can’t be duplicated online is story time for little kids. I’ve taken my niece a few times when I’ve been off from work, but my mom takes her every week. My niece absolutely loves books and I’m sure part of that comes from being at the bookstore for story time.
Pam P
on Mar 24th, 2009
@ 3:49 pm:
I do most of my shopping online nowadays and do buy more ebooks, but still do buy prints, especially for gifts for others who aren’t into technology. However, whenever I’m at the local mall or away on vacation, I veer right over to the bookstore to browse around. Not everyone will try an ebook, or can afford a reader, so though ebooks have become more popular this past year, I don’t see bookstores with the print and paper going away completely anytime soon.
Lucy L
on Mar 26th, 2009
@ 12:07 pm:
Gosh, I hope not. Although, I hate to admit it, but a lot of times the shops don’t have what I’m looking for. I rent online with Bookswim, which I truly love, alongside my Netflix for all my entertainment stuff. It’s been a lifesaver for me, honestly, especially in this economy.