On the Border of All or Nothing
I don't often get email from CEOs.
But yesterday, Borders CEO Mike Edwards contacted me and it wasn’t good news.
Edwards was letting me know that Borders was filing for Chapter 11, better known to almost everyone as bankruptcy.
I felt like crying.
I know in many ways, it’s the bookseller’s own fault. Slow to respond to or flat out ignoring changes in the way books and information have been purchased by consumers, the chain found itself so far behind competitors like Barnes and Noble and Amazon that it’s been nearly impossible to catch up. Unfortunately, the lightening speed with which the changes have happened meant that if you weren’t on the bandwagon with things like e-books and e-readers from the start, well, let’s say to industry observers, the Chapter 11 filing isn’t a surprise.
But it is sad. As a writer, I love bookstores. Few things comfort me more than an afternoon wandering aisles, thumbing through new titles and familiar classics. The bargain book section? Like Christmas morning. Cookbooks? Mouthwatering and inspiring. Add an in-store café and it’s the perfect way to while away a couple of hours.
Yet, I confess, I’m guilty of contributing to Borders demise. Despite the fact that I’ve written a book and love the feel of a book in my hand, I haven’t bought many lately. As yet, I haven’t given into the Kindle or Nook craze, but I have returned to my local library, borrowing books and happily returning them when I’m through. I’m also tethered to my computer for information; being on line is as natural as breathing.
So I wonder if, as an avid reader and writer, when I’m turning my back on bookstores, is there any hope? And what does this casual discarding of something once so intrinsic to my life mean on a grander scale?
Continued on the next page
Follow Technorati