The Once and Future Bookstore
Lets get a basic fact out of the way right up front. Bookstores arent going to die. But they are going to change.
Books arent going to die. The concept of a linearly designed book wont die. Ive written about this before about the movement of technology through different stages from mass media consumption though to art form. This hasnt changed. Its just happening now and the impact of this movement is being felt by more people.
The traditional production/printing/distribution of books is changing rapidly and possibly dying. But do not confuse that with the concept of the book as dying. The book lives the way we consume it and produce it is changing.
Heres my take (as of today) on where Id see the bookstore evolving.
1) There would be a section for high-quality old books. (think good used books) And each bookstore will likely develop a specialty whether it be science fiction, romance or even gardening. But a high-quality used section curated and kept as neat as a modern day new-book store (not a junked-in mess we commonly see in used-book stores)
2) A section for traditionally published new books. This material is suited for mass printing either because of its mass-appeal or because of its need for the high-quality archival nature of the material. There are two price points for this section very low and very high. Theres no money in the middle.
3) A section for the convenient purchase of high-demand or mid-level demand good selling books. BUT produced in the store with POD services. The bookstore prints what its customer-base will buy. (and remainders the slow-moving books in-store)
4) A full POD capacity in-store. Want a book? Give us 5 minutes while you have your coffee in our coffee shop and well walk it over to you. Well print it right up as we suck the files off the Net. The corollary to this of course is that any company be it a Home Depot or pet store can print out books for its customer base from their POD printer to maintain a small inventory on the shelves for impulse-sales. Or have a self-service kiosk with instant-printing.
5) A community development model around the core subjects being sold. Want to be a science fiction specialty store then be prepared to host sci-fi meetings, author talks, etc etc to support that local community in whatever way possible. This one is not necessary but the best stores will be doing it.
We dont have used bookstores and new bookstores we have bookstores. And they will continue to evolve away from mass consumption to the artistic side of things. Bookstores will have to bob and weave through every stage of this journey just as other business operations have to adapt or die.
The problem of course isnt in the destination, its in the journey. Getting to the point above involves bringing a world of hurt to a great many people.
The book wont die. The bookstore wont die. But theyll both change.
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