If you’ve been paying any attention to the US book industry, you probably know that Borders Books has been in trouble for a while and is now filing for bankruptcy. Apparently, 200 Borders stores are closing (here’s a list for the interested).
I was very relieved to find that my local Borders has escaped the ax. Aside from a couple of used stores and a college bookstore I never visit (parking is such a pain), Borders is all we have in the way of bookstores in our area. There are things I don’t like about it, of course. They put the the YA bookcases around a rectangular area, and I never figured out where A was, or how the rows of books were ordered (wrap around each bookcase? go around the inside and then the outside?). I don’t like the media tie-in books in the children’s department–I’d love to be able to let the kids choose their own books, but not when Star Wars DK Readers and Disney’s Princesses are in the running (yes, I have strong opinions about turning books into advertisements). I find it inexplicable that they often stock only part of a series, especially in SFF.
On the other hand, I love their discount area–it’s a goldmine for cheap workbooks and encyclopedia-type books for children, not to mention treasuries of poems, nursery rhymes, picture books, and classics. I found some lovely coffee-table art and history books there, too. We print 40% off coupons almost every month. The store is spacious and light, the cafe nice, the restrooms clean (yes, that sort of stuff matters to me).
But what they mainly have going for them is books. Lots and lots of books, on lots and lots of shelves, on lots and lots of topics. Bookstores are my happy place. On my last birthday I asked for–and got–a whole morning to myself in Borders. No kids, no distractions, just me and books (and a cafe lunch) for several hours. Amazon is hugely convenient, but sometimes I just need to be around physical books–the more, the better.
Have the Borders closings impacted (or will impact) you in any way?
Borders opened in the UK in 1997 and closed down in 2009. I don’t ever recall going into a Borders shop. I regret any bookshop closing and while I enjoy the convenience of Amazon, there is nothing quite like browsing in a quiet shop, surrounded by shelves and shelves of books. I like the feel of books, of turning pages, of having books round me – probably because I was brought up with them.
The problem we have in Britain is the latest threat to our libraries. I haven’t heard that any will close but one feels it’s only a matter of time. The tiny library we have in the village was knocked down and a new one built last year – but only because the building is now an Early Learning Centre and the library part is much reduced.
Oh, yes, Prue, I heard about that. Libraries are a fantastic community resource. I hope your libraries survive the threat!
the town I grew up in had a Borders, I loved it. a few years later, a Barnes & Noble opened up not far from my house, and my Mom liked going there better because it was much closer to where we lived and the parking was easier. I went where she went, I was a kid.
But I always like the Borders better. shorter shelves that I had a better chance of seeing over, the staff seemed nicer, the store seemed organized better, and they had graphic novels. This was in the late 80s/early 90s before that stuff was mainstream, and they had it!!!
the town I live in now has a locally famous indie store and Barnes & Noble. i buy at B&N when I absolutely have to, and through my indie guys the rest of the time.
I’m used to Borders, and haven’t been in B&N enough to compare the two. Though, the one time I was visiting my sister, we went to a B&N and I was very annoyed that they didn’t have any except for one of the books I wanted for the plane ride home. (And these were fairly new books, too).
We had small bookstores in the mall, but Borders was my first experience with a large bookstore – and I immediately fell in love. Unfortunately, a couple years ago, they started to cut down massively on the in-store stock. Luckily, it’s not one that’s closing. I, too, need the feel of physical books surrounding me.
As a family (husband, daughters and I), we love to stop at Borders at the end of a shopping trip. (It’s located in the closest city next to us, about half an hour away.) We all split up for awhile and do our own things. Then my husband and I drift together and round up the girls to go home. It’s a very nice cap to a hectic trip (personally, I hate shopping)!
Oh, I hate shopping, too—except for book shopping. I find bookstores such restful places after the hectic rush of other stores. No other stores invite one to sit down and stay awhile.
It’s been ages since I’ve been inside a Borders. There’s one in a neighboring town, but with gasoline so expensive, we shop as close to home as possible. Since that Borders is located in a mall, it will likely shut down, too.
But here’s a link to a bookstore closer to home.
http://www.bookcarriage.com/
This is North Texas as I remember it from my youth. How about all that red-brown brick? :)TX
😀 Looks great!
Rabia,
The Borders near my kids’ school [was] the spot for spending bits of time we need to fill, running into moms from school, coffee with friends, perusing books, an after school treat, a place where my kids discovered new authors, a quiet place for drawing in my journal. Sadly, the store is closing. It had become part of the community. There’s a huge B&N in the next town which has a fantastic selection, and kind staff. It seems that the smaller the B&N the more threadbare the selection.
It’s sad to lose a regular meeting spot. Maybe something else will move in to fill the void.
We’ve got lots of bookstores around us. The Borders is just down the street from the Barnes & Noble and a Half Price Books.
I go to the Barnes & Noble. I don’t like the way the Borders is laid out and I never can find anything I want there. They have book cases that go up to the ceiling and I can’t see up that high. The B&N is laid out better and everything is within reach.
However, I went to the Borders today to take a look at what they had on sale. I only bought 3 books even though everything was on sale. I go into the B&N and I can’t seem to escape from there without 7-8 books even when I’m just planning on getting 1 thing.
BUT, I mostly buy books from Amazon.
Oh, yes. I’m an unabashed Amazon-shopper. Just can’t beat the convenience of having the books land on my doorstep.