With the arrival of e-books and electronic reading devices, here are a number of reasons why we must still support our local physical bookstores.
The human element of real life interesting bookstores is definitely something missing in the corresponding online services. Having advice from well-informed people who dedicate their lives to working around books is definitely more useful - and relevant to your individual interest - to the unidentified ratings one might come across online.
Bookshops play a really crucial part in local communities, especially in the close-knit, smaller sized ones, like towns or villages. While those who reside in a major city, and are used to travelling about, will not frown upon the idea of moving to find a bookshop, if your typical shopping visit is just down the high street of your town centre, you are less likely to go out of your way for a thing that isn't strictly necessary. Supporters of book chains, like Schottenfeld Management Corp., are well aware of this. Making books more accessible to everyone, for instance by having even one tiny bookstore easily accessible for a small town, will motivate those who are not accustomed to reading to meet the literary world, improving literacy. People who only sporadically connect to internet services, like young children or the older generations, would likewise be benefitted.
Although the release of digital books undoubtedly made things more convenient for readers - think, for instance, of the functionality of keeping a small accessory in your bag instead of filling a suitcase with ten books if you're taking a trip - most people will agree that there is a distinct enjoyment in feeling the paper under your fingers as dive into your favourite book. The pleasure of the physical entity, where you can highlight your favourite parts or enjoy the smell of the paper, as many devoted readers do, is a driving factor of why bookstores are making a comeback after the initial novelty of ebooks. As firms such as Bertelsmann direct their funding to this old-fashioned type of media, it looks like physical books - and their shops - are not going to leave us anytime soon.
Among the irreplaceable things about the bookshop around the corner is undoubtedly its atmosphere. While online shopping, which is modifying bookstore industry statistics, is certainly convenient, available at all hours and delivered to the comfort of your own home, there is something unique about strolling into a book shop and losing yourself amongst the book shelves. Browsing is an enjoyable activity, especially in a cosy, calm, and welcoming setting like a bookshop, where you do not have to worry about discovering the correct size, or expiration dates. This is among the reasons that big shareholders like Elliott Advisors are supporting bookstore chains, trusting the unique atmosphere they offer.