Although there has been a movement away from the brick and mortar
bookstore, and towards shopping online for books such as the one
here,
local used bookshops still exist, and those that remain may be with us
for many years to come. The following are three reasons people continue
to visit local used bookstores.
You Can Discover New Authors
Sure, you can talk to friends and relatives that share your interests in
reading material, but the truth is that fewer people are reading today
than in years past, and those that do read are often reading best
sellers or genre specific fiction. Because of today's reading
environment, there are many authors waiting to be discovered by you at
used bookstores. Not every book written in the past had a huge
readership, but the content may be compelling to you. Used bookstores
often have their books shelved by topic, so you can browse for authors
you are not familiar with and make discoveries of books that you would
not have found by other means. If you know exactly what you are looking
for, then buying on the Internet may be your best bet, but there is no
substitute for a used book store when browsing.
You Can Converse With Knowledgeable Store Owners
Used bookstore owners often have knowledge about certain subjects and
authors. This is especially true of used bookstores that have a
specialty such as art, poetry or religion. Once you have stumbled upon
an author or topic that you are unfamiliar with, the store owner may be
able to point you to similar books that are equally interesting. This is
somewhat different than the function of librarians. Although they may
have interests in certain topics or authors, their function is often
directed towards helping people find information.
Shopping For Used Books Can Be Therapeutic
When you are browsing the shelves of a used book shop, you will find
yourself so focused that the rest of the world is shut out. In this way,
you will find yourself more relaxed after shopping. However, the
greatest psychological benefit is the moment you realize you have found
something of extreme interest. Something that you may not have been
aware existed. Discovering something on your own that you can hold in
your hand gives immediate gratification. If the book turns out to good,
that is an additional benefit.
Shopping for reading material online and at a local used retail store
are different experiences. These differences are what keeps people
coming back to a local store again and again. You may have these same
experiences when you shop at a used bookstore.
What a WONDERFUL post, Billy!! I LOVE going to actual, brick and mortar bookstores, although I do buy books online. But there's just NOTHING like walking into a bookstore, whether the books sold are new or used, and just being surrounded by REAL PRINTED BOOKS!!
ReplyDeleteI get this very cozy feeling when I enter a used bookstore. The books there have some sort of special 'charisma', and the atmosphere is charged with good vibes, I think. People who frequent such bookstores are sometimes real characters, and it can be fun talking to them. They can also be just as knowledgeable about specific genres as the owners, and sometimes even more so.
I haven't had the pleasure of visiting a used bookstore in quite some time, and I can tell you, I really miss the experience! I'll have to do something about that VERY soon!!
Thanks for the GREAT post!! :)
This is a great post. I love used bookstores. I’ve found so many books I never would have discovered, and I can sell back books I hated for store credits. That seems like an awesome deal to me. :)
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I lived in a small town during my childhood, but every once in awhile I would go with my mom to Marshall, MO where there was a small used bookstore. That's where I got most of the John Saul paperbacks that I have on my bookshelves. I haven't been to Marshall in years, so I have no idea if there is still a used bookstore there.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do buy used books at my town's thrift store.
I love used book stores but don't go in nearly often enough. I link it with holidays and wandering around towns and villages.
ReplyDelete