I recently had the opportunity to visit The new Barnes and Noble on Euclid Avenue in University Circle. It is a regular bookstore, a cafe/study area, and a college bookstore for the students of Case Western Reserve University. Walking through and exploring the bookstore, I could not help feeling the same wonder and excitement that I have always felt in a bookstore. So much to read...so much to learn...so little time to do it. That is not only because they are not open twenty-four hours and/or I had to go somewhere else that day too. It is because unfortunately, whether large chains or Ma and Pop stores, we seem to be seeing less and less of bookstores. As a result, I believe that bookstores are starting to become our new museums.
Now I am not saying that other places that have books ( i.e. libraries) are bad. I will write about libraries again another time, but I definitely love libraries too. Due to the technological era that we are now living in, bookstores seem to be becoming a thing of the past. I think it may be because they often stick to what they know and are very good at...books. There will always be a need for books... those paper things that you hold in your hand while reading them for those of you who like the Kindle or Nook better. However, I think in order for the bookstores to stay around for the things that they are good at, they need to try some new things too. I believe that Barnes and Noble is still around for that reason. They are trying new things while still staying true to books. However, I think more bookstores need to do the same thing. They need to invent a product, partner with a restaurant/cafe, get more involved in the community, work with a school, have programs where they encourage kids and adults to read, and anything else that would be beneficial in preserving and continuing bookstores everywhere. I used to love meeting/running into friends at the bookstore. I think that we need to encourage that situation again. In fact, I think I am going to see if I can find a way to do just that ( besides writing this article). If you all think of anything too, let all of us know here at Examiner and make sure that you follow through with it. Nothing against the dinosaurs, but let us find a way to make sure that bookstores do not become extinct.
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