Fewer Voices, Fewer Choices

This is how it works...

Scenario 1: A big chain orders a huge quantity of books to get a big discount. Being a large corporation, they set the terms of sale and the right of return. The publisher prints the books to fulfill the order. When the books don't sell quickly, the chain returns the books, demanding a 100% refund. The publisher goes bankrupt. This is what happened to Papier-Mache Press, publisher of "When i Am an Old Woman, I Shall Wear purple. " Most other presses have been injured by these business practices; they are most damaging to small presses.

Scenario 2: A big chain targets a neighborhood and a clientele of an independent bookstore. They replicate the independent's stock, programs and services. They cut prices until the independent is out of business, and then shrink their stock to the titles acceptable to corporate buyers. Are you seeing this happening in your town? It has happened across the country and continues daily.

Scenario 3: You log on. A book you have wanted to read is available at a 30% discount just two clicks away. You say, just this once I'll not call my independent bookstore for the book. " Across the nation, thousands more do this. The "Big Dot Coms" lose millions, but their control over elements of the publishing industry— from writer to press to bookseller to reader—increases exponentially. What will happen if they have no more competition? If you care, buy your books from an independent bookseller . If we don't have what you want, other independents will. (for example: www.charis.booksense.com or brigitbooks.com).

An independent bookstore often has a specialty expertise or a point of view. Booksellers in these stores promote a cultural and intellectual richness rather than mainstream homogeneity .

Consider which you prefer, and HELP KEEP INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES AND SMALL PUBLISHERS HEALTHY!