[13272] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Library links to chains and Amazon.
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jennifer Heise)
Wed Apr 19 20:02:22 2000
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 09:05:49 -0400
From: Jennifer Heise <jahb@LEHIGH.EDU>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
Message-Id: <38FDAF2D.981A511E@lehigh.edu>
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> >From my perspective, with all due respect to local brick and mortar
> bookstores, I wish all the luck to Amazon.com because my success is tied in
> with their success. Don't get me wrong--I am not against local bookstores
> but, beyond a narrow perimeter, they are not that much friendlier than
> chanin bookstores.
It is a sad fact that, until the coming of the big chains (Barnes and
Noble, Borders) to my city, local bookstores (so often lauded as having
a more diverse stock, better service, etc.) simply didn't have any
quality or variety of non-fiction in my areas of interest-- history of
Poland, medieval history, serious herb growing. I still buy a lot of my
books online-- even the big chains don't reliably carry books like John
Parkinson's _Garden of Pleasant Flowers_ (reprint of the 1629 edition)
or _The Medieval Kitchen_.
Many people say, "Your local bookstore can order things for you." I used
to spend way too much time struggling with Books in Print, which really
doesn't include enough information to let the reader know whether the
book you are looking at is even marginally worth ordering. Those who are
complaining about the demise of the local bookstore are the perfect
people to start the service that would compete with Amazon and the rest,
and make referrals to your local bookstore. It would display the book's
cover, give referrals to recommended books on the same topic, give
publisher reviews/summaries, tables of contents, reader reviews, etc. It
would be great.
So, who's volunteering to bell the cat? ;)
--
/ Jennifer Heise, Helpdesk/Librarian, Lehigh Univ. Information
Resources
\ \ Fairchild-Martindale Library, 8A Packer Ave, Bethlehem PA 18015
/ Phone (610) 758-3072 Email: jahb@lehigh.edu
"Comment is free, but facts are on expenses." -- Tom Stoppard
