The litany of news about independent bookstore failures has been so prevalent and unrelenting that the truth about indies has been obscured. According to a recent article in SALON, The independent bookstore lives! Why Amazon’s conquest will never be complete, we’re witnessing a turnaround. The disintegration of Borders in 2009 appears to have spurred a revival in independent bookstores. And the article also cites the improved economy as the last recession wound down as being a factor. There are, however, additional wheels at work.
But there’s more to the story. There is increasing evidence that the same digital transformation that has so dramatically reshaped the publishing industry, and driven millions of consumers online, also paradoxically rewards locally rooted authenticity. Our digital tools are steering us toward brick-and-mortar stores that promise a more satisfactory consumer experience than either chain stores or online emporiums can provide.
In a world increasingly influenced by our social media interactions, it’s turning out there may well be enough room for the little guy to survive — and perhaps even thrive.
Television didn’t kill radio. Perhaps ebooks and independent booksellers each have a deserved place in the publishing ecosystem.
