Joanne Harris: We should all celebrate Bookshop Day

Small presses, libraries and independents are all under threat. No one wants to hear their child ask: ‘What’s a bookshop?’On Saturday it is Bookshop Day. My heart always sinks a little when I hear that a day has been set aside to celebrate something I love: it too often feels like being put on a list of exotic endangered species – and indeed libraries, small presses and bookshops are all disappearing fast.When my first book was published, there were no ebooks, no Amazon and most high streets boasted a bookshop. Chains and independents thrived equally – partly because book prices were fixed, which made for a level playing field. But with the demise of the net book agreement, the book world began to change. Independent bookshops could no longer afford to compete. The chains pointed to the free market – until Amazon appeared on the scene, when they themselves began to fall to online competition. Related: Weird and wonderful bookshops worldwide – in pictures Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #book prices #independent bookshops #amazon appeared #joanne harris #small presses #longer afford #free market #online competition

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British Bookshops to cease trading within a month

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Tue, 15/02/2011 - 17:04 All remaining 28 British Bookshops and Stationers stores will shut up shop within a month, unless a last-minute deal can be made with any interested parties. The programme of closure will begin over the next week, with around... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #interested parties #british bookshops #made redundant


WHS acquires 22 British Bookshops stores

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Tue, 08/02/2011 - 09:10 W H Smith has acquired 22 stores previously run by British Bookshops and Stationers in a £1m deal. The bookshops will continue to trade under BB&S until a "phased takeover" begins later this month in stores in Teddington... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Celebrating Chinese New Year with Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan

It seems like most of the subway car empties at the Grand Street stop in the heart of New York City’s Chinatown. Just as the last person makes it off, the conductor announces, “Stand clear of the closing doors, and Gong Hey Fat Choy! Happy New Year!” It’s the first day of Chinese New Year and... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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