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Originally Posted by darryl
Quite right Duckie. I think between local libraries and social media there is little need for traditional bookshops to fulfil this role. Some of course do manage to promote their businesses this way, but if this particular function entirely leaves the bookstore I suspect few will actually care, and the vast majority will not even notice.
Bookshops resorting to this function as a reason why their businesses are so special and should be preserved are in my view truly clutching at straws.
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Hum, not around here libraries don't. Perhaps in some communities.
I think you are kind of missing the point and are falling into the "I do things this way, therefore everyone must want to do it this way" trap. A lot of people prefer face to face meetings. The social media crowd already has Goodreads, Facebook and other such venues, but the people who are more likely to buy in person are the sort of people who do like getting out and meeting people rather than doing everything online. Some people are simply social and enjoy being around other people.
I know a few people who are in book clubs. They meet together every few weeks to have coffee and talk about a specific book. It very much is a social event. I don't think that any actually meet at a bookstore per se, but it's the sort of thing that bookstores that have survived do. That's what many bookstores use to do. Book clubs, author events, that sort of thing. I can remember a time when the local B&N use to have a calendar listing their events and a little area for such events.