I am one of those nostalgic folks, true. I grew up in a tiny southern town. Our local bookstore was the only place where you would hear or see a liberal thought for hundreds of miles. I used to go there every Sunday with my dad and I could just tell that there was something different and interesting about the people that worked there and the titles that they sold. There was a sense of an intellectual hub. Maybe children growing up in this little town today have access to the internet and so know about things that I never did. But to me, that place had vital importance (it was on the McSweeney’s 100! http://www.mcsweeneys.net/avail/ ) – and it went out of business recently, even though they worked very hard to stay relevant and provide something unique to the community. Unfortunately, I think these types of places will be missed when they are gone, but people simply don’t appreciate the fact that they are putting them out of business with their actions.

I’m not sure that I agree with your characterization that I “bash” independent book stores. I actually like independent book stores. I buy from them locally. I attend readings they host. I buy coffee from them. My point in the last post is that this business model isn’t working. I spend several hundred dollars every year on books. I can usually save at least 30% when I choose amazon on a regular basis. That’s hundreds of dollars every year. And yet I still do choose to visit the small book stores and used book stores to make purchases. But the service they offer doesn’t warrant several hundred dollars out of my pocket every year. It warrants some, definitely. And I make sure to give them some business.

As far as the producer/consumer distinction, I’m not sure I see the connection between the Apple post and Amazon/Independent bookstores. I can’t remember the last time I visited an independent bookstore to buy a self-published or handmade book. It may happen on rare occasion, but I don’t see it as part of an independent bookstore’s business model.

I see independent bookstores as having real value in light of Amazon’s business model. And I think you probably do, too, given you comments. I’d love to hear what you think the primary value independent bookstores bring to a community. And what we can do, as consumers, to support them.

Looking forward to your response. Thanks again for commenting.

Also, I think that it’s a shame that after your last post about people only being treated as consumers, that you bash independent bookstores in favor of the convenience of buying online. I would hate to see a city with no bookstores or music stores. They are more than merely a place to buy goods.