Barnes & Nobel shrinking

[Therin of Andor]

I may just have to special order Startrek books from Barnes &Noble or one of the bookstores sounds like a good idea.It's probably the only way to get any of the new Startrek books coming out this year

Get the ISBNs off Amazon; that's the most efficient way for bookshops to place orders.

 

[Reanok]

Therin thanks for the tip That's really handy to know that when you order books.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Online, I'd be limited to books from any series that I currently know.

Why?

There are often recommendations from ST fans, right here, about great new and favourite authors and SF series. There are lots of ways to leave yourself open to trusted recommendations apart from casual browsing the shelves, although that's always fun.

Casual browing the shelves is how I've always found my books. As far as recommendations, I tend to like books that others don't and vice-versa.

 

[Ktrek]

I buy enough from B&N every year to justify the $25 annual membership. I used to stop in the store every month to buy the latest Trek book and browse other areas but lately I decided that since my membership gives me free shipping I save more by pre-ordering on their website and not wasting gas to drive to the other side of town and back. I do miss the monthly browse through the store but will still get by there at least once a quarter to buy the Star Trek Magazine because the postal service cannot deliver it in mint condition. I've been collecting Trek mags for far too long to skimp on the magazines! I go back to The Official Fan Club No. 42 if memory serves me right, as well as the various Starlog Trek zines, and every issue and incarnation since (this amounts now to several hundred Trek mags all in plastic protectors).

Kevin

 

[Therin of Andor]

Casual browing the shelves is how I've always found my books. As far as recommendations, I tend to like books that others don't and vice-versa.

Then ask us about books we hated.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Casual browing the shelves is how I've always found my books. As far as recommendations, I tend to like books that others don't and vice-versa.

Then ask us about books we hated.

Nah...

 

[E-DUB]

I am so resistant to the idea of e-books or ordering online, but see no alternative eventually. A few years back I was in easy drive of 4 Borders and 5 B+N's. Now it's just 4 B+N's.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I am so resistant to the idea of e-books or ordering online, but see no alternative eventually.

Online ordering is cool! When Amazon started letting other bookshops and book sellers list their second hand stock online, it opened up the possibility of filling every gap in my collection that 40-odd years of browsing in real shops had failed to do. Which I did. In some cases I found books for 2 cents each (plus airmail postage) that I'd been prepared to pay hundreds of dollars to own.

As for eBooks, I took both MMPBs and an eBook (on my iPhone) on my recent overseas trip. The eBook was an out-of-print, but quite recent book that I tried to order in from several local shops. It was great to be able to switch back and forth in formats while on planes and in boarding lounges, depending on lighting conditions, sleeping neighbouring passengers and fading battery charge.

 

[plynch]

Link to NPR article about bookless libraries if anyone is interested. http://www.npr.org/2013/01/15/169412670/a-new-chapter-a-launch-of-the-bookless-library

 

[Unicron]

I have two good local B&N stores in the area, one of which is right across from work and I'm in there frequently. I hope neither of those closes in the next year or two, as I often like to browse just to see what's there. I use Amazon as well for stuff I can't find directly on the shelves, but I don't bother with eReaders at this point (I'm old fashioned ).

 

[Snaploud]

I think traditional bookstores will be replaced by boutique stores with electronic/holographic browsing and print-on-demand books.

 

[plynch]

Here's the Espresso book machine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q946sfGLxm4

 

[Paris]

I think traditional bookstores will be replaced by boutique stores with electronic/holographic browsing and print-on-demand books.

This. Very much This.

 

[JD]

I could see that happening. I don't know if I'd even see them as stores though, I'd think they'd more likely be Redbox style kiosks in malls and stores like Wal-Mart or Target.