[WEB4LIB] Re: Library affiliation with Barnes & Noble or Ama

[Darryl Friesen]

>That's too bad. Why are you trying to help Amazon.com put small bookstores
>out of business? Did you ever think about the fact that if everybody in the
>library world copied your actions, we'd have alot less diversity out there
>when it comes to bookstores?
>
>Boycott Amazon.com

Interesting response. A bit over the top, perhaps, but interesting.

Say Chuck, does your library support the local "mom and pop" bookstore by
doing all it's purchasing locally, or does it, like most libraries, buy from
large scale wholesale outlets that are probably outside you city, and perhaps
even your state or country?

If not, then it's too bad you favouring these large vendors and trying to help
put small bookstores out of business.

The small bookstore is no different than any other (small) business; if it
can't be competitive it won't last long. No one I wouldn't think) opens a
little shop on the corner with the intention of putting the big players out of
business. Sure, they carry (small volumes) of current material, but they all
seem to have their niche - hard to find or out of print titles, locally
written or locally published works - stuff Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble etc
won't have.  Couple that with the number of people who don't have computers or
don't like buying online, and realistically, how much money is it really taken
away from the local economy, a few thousand dollars maybe?

Just my 2 cents. Do with it what you will.

- Darryl
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   Darryl Friesen, B.Sc., Programmer/Analyst    Darryl.Friesen at usask.ca
   Consulting & Development                     http://gollum.usask.ca/
   Department of Computing Services                 163 Murray Building
   University of Saskatchewan                              Main Library
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