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Should Bookstores Charge For Readings?
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jun 22, 2011
Modified Jun 22, 2011
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By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jun 22, 2011
Modified Jun 22, 2011
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Bookstores—big bookstores, indie bookstores, and everything in between—are starting to charge admission for author readings, according to the Times, shoppers are increasingly viewing bookstores as "merely another library," where they'll browse, ask for staff recommendations, type those recommendations into their iPhones, and then go home without buying. “If [customers] aren’t purchasing the books from the establishments that are running these events, the bookstores are going to go away," said one bookstore owner. So some stores are charging nominal fees—usually in the $10 range—to attend events, which have traditionally been free and considered part of the "community spirit" of the literary world.
The move has resulted in a divided bookworm camp. Vol. 1 Brooklyn published an article titled "Please don’t complain about giving money to indie bookstores" in response, while Wormbook took the opposite stance, penning a list of "Some reasons bookstores should not charge for readings (besides I'm cheap')." We reached out to Greenpoint indie bookstore WORD, which rarely charges for events, to get their opinion on the issue and will post an update with their thoughts shortly. In the meantime, what do you think?
Tagged
admissions fee
books
bookstores
events
literature
readings
Jamie Feldmar
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