By: Phillip Pearce, Reporter
OMAHA, Neb. – Local independent bookstores have weathered through many changes to keep up with online giants such as Amazon and have the advantage of having positive impacts on its local community.
Co-Owner of The Bookworm Beth Black explains the challenges if keeping up in an online world.
Black said, “More of a challenge for us has always been the Amazon mentality, because they have people who expect next day delivery if you don’t have something on hand.”
Black also emphasized the importance of proving a space to show case local authors to a local audience. “We like to support local authors, so we have instore reading and book signings… They don’t forget that it was all this local support and their talent that got them to where they are.”
It is easy and convenient to shop for books online, but one shopper said that there is nothing quite like the feeling of browsing her local bookstore in person.
A customer at The Bookworm Monic Stibbs said, “I think it’s always better to see the product and open a book and read it apart of it to see if you like it or not and I just like to support local.”
According to a survey done by the Economic Census back in 2017 bookstores still held most dollar sales on books at 7.1 billion dollars where online sales came in second at 5.6 billion dollars.
