By Edward Nawotka
Today’s lead story looks at Manhattan’s Three Lives & Co. Bookstore. One of the store’s philosophies is keep the store running very much same way it has since it opened its doors in 1968.
The question of how to cope in this era of e-books and economic recession is one facing bookstores all over the world. Should they integrate ebooks into what they offer to customers, as many of the chains have? There are technical requirements for doing that, not to mention integrating the real-life browsing experience a bookstore offers with the instant gratification of downloading an ebook. Are those two experiences compatible?
Or are customers looking for a different — perhaps more tangible — community experience from their local booksellers? Many bookstores have turned to events like readings and book clubs to keep customers returning to their stores. Should booksellers go digital? Or should they keep it, well, real?