BS: No More Books In Laredo

Subject: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 04:28 AM

Chapter closing on lone Laredo bookstore

Texas city soon to be the largest in the country without a bookseller

The Associated Press
updated 4:26 p.m. CT, Wed., Dec . 16, 2009

LAREDO, Texas - The final chapter has been written for the lone bookstore on the streets of Laredo.

With a population of nearly a quarter-million people, this city could soon be the largest in the nation without a single bookseller.

There's more at the link.

The "last store in Laredo" is a B. Dalton store, which in most areas where I've seen them means a glorified magazine stand designed to fit into tiny stalls in large malls. This chain has been closing out in most places, and is near extinction in the US already.

In most cities, there might be a real bookstore (Borders, Barnes, etc, or a local one) a little down the street where adequate space is more affordable. It appears that for some time Laredo has not had much more than "a pile of books with a roof over it," as one commentator describes the situation in the article.

Our resident librarians (and other readers) may be interested in comments regarding the lack of municipal support for a replacement for the book store (or support for the library) at the same time that the city is considering construction of an indoor snowboarding rink(?). In Texas!!!?

A sign of the times?

John

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 04:34 AM

I am so sorry to hear it - that's heartbreaking. I'm sure there's a streets-of-Laredo song parody in it, but I'm too dispirited to think of writing anything. Those kids are REALLY going to lose out.

:-(

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 05:09 AM

They can buy books from Amazon. Huge selection 20% cheaper and free shipping for orders over $25. Its the way of the future. Not having a local bookstore for 18 months will just put Laredo ahead of the curve.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 06:44 AM

That's operating under the assumption that they actually give a shit about reading Jack. Apologies in advance to the many Texans who do, but I've been there and I doubt they really care one way or another. Not my favorite place in the Lone Star State.........


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 06:50 AM

Obviously the ones who will miss the bookstore give a shit. But once they discover Amazon, they won't miss it so much.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 07:15 AM

Brighton is a fairly intellectual, cultivated small city in the UK. It's branch of Borders is closing soon - Amazon is proving huge competition.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 07:37 AM

Borders UK has gone bust - it isn't just the Brighton one that's going. I think all the Scottish branches have already closed.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 08:13 AM

Browsing around on the shelves in Amazon isn't exactly a good way to come across books you hadn't known were there, and decide you'd like to read them.

Fortunately I see that Laredo has a public library - and that can be a much more important resource than a bookshop.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: artbrooks
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 08:22 AM

Who knows - perhaps Barnes and Noble is closing the B. Dalton store in the mall there because they plan on opening another big-box sometime soon. They apparently already have one on the Texas A & M campus there.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 09:23 AM

Borders is closing 200 Waldenbooks in January. Ours could be among them.

Amazon is no substitute (yes, I buy from them both for professional and personal purchases), and in some cases (e.g., a book my wife just bought me on Agent Orange) it's bought by Amazon from another bookseller.

Moreover, you certainly don't think Amazon has huge warehouses full of books and stuff, do you? Amazon acts as a middleman, ordering the books (for example) from Baker and Taylor, Ingram, or another one of the Gargantuan book warehousers (just as libraries do). Amazon can offer a markdown of 40% or give you free shipping because they get a larger discount (perhaps 50%, perhaps more). Your local public library probably gets a NOMINAL 40% discount -- as you can -- and I say "nominal" because not all books are or can be discounted as deeply as, say, Harry Potter. Books on, say, quantum mathematics, have a much more limited audience and generally cost more to produce.

Support your local bookstores. An independent will bounce every dollar (pound, yen, franc, mark) around about six time before it leaves your town; a chain will bounce it around the local economy about 4.3 times. (No, I'm NOT making these figures up!) Buy from Amazon or off the Web and the money bleeds out immediately.

Your choice...and we buy at local bookstores whenever possible.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 09:57 AM

There's something about being able to go outside, into the neighbourhood, poke around for treasures, stop and get a coffee and read my new find, maybe look into a charity shop or two... One of the joys about secondhand-dom is its sheer unexpectedness. Oh, and there are other people to talk to.

And I like being able to look at the pages I want to, not what some screen tells me I can. The end-product - i.e. the book - is only part of the process. Something will be gone forever from society when we lose our real-world marketplaces. Look how much more they provide than simply the purchasing of goods.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: CarolC
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 10:04 AM

A lot of people bemoaned the opening of the big chain book stores everywhere because it drove the small independent books stores, which according to those people are better than the chain stores, out of business. Maybe this will open up an opportunity for a small independent book store to be opened now in Laredo.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 11:49 AM

"Maybe this will open up an opportunity for a small independent book store to be opened now in Laredo." CarolC

That was my first thought too. The field is ripe. Maybe a bookstore featuring both English and Spanish books.

On the other hand, are there no second-hand book stores in Laredo? I like new-book stores too but I love second hand ones.

Juneau, a town of 30,000, has several new-book stores - all independently owned - several second hand ones, three public libraries and a Friends of the Library marketing outlet. These all are what I know of- I have little doubt there are others.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:14 PM

Long ago stopped going to bookstores. For new books, I order from Amazon and their associates.
Used books from the many dealers associated with abebooks.

Local used book stores used to have some bargains, but now they check prices at abebooks and charge accordingly, or list with abebooks.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:23 PM

Sheesh. Q, have you checked the prices at abcbooks? No way do our local used book stores price accordingly. abcbooks prices their books under a dollar in many, many cases.

The used book store with which I am most familiar prices most of their paperbacks at around $4.00. That is if the book is in good condition and in demand.

Hardbacks - when they accept them at all - are usually $1.00.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: artbrooks
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:56 PM

Ebbie, a book that costs $1 from abebooks, plus $2.98 or more for postage and handling, is pretty close to the same as paying $4 locally. The best of our local book stores - Page One - sells only "almost new" quality used books, and puts them on the shelves with the new ones. They price them at 25%-50% off. Their new books cost considerably more than the same books at the three big-box chains.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: pdq
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:03 PM

Everyone seems to be suggesting that the book store closing in Laredo is because the price of books is too high.

Some other possibiliteis come to mind: the current crop of books does not warrant anyone buying them, and the change in demographics in Laredo means there is little demand for English language literature.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: artbrooks
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:19 PM

What change in demographics? Laredo has been 95% Hispanic since forever.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:19 PM

>>An independent will bounce every dollar (pound, yen, franc, mark) around about six time before it leaves your town; a chain will bounce it around the local economy about 4.3 times.<<

This is not true.

If the one dollar book cost the store 60 cents then that 60 cents will go to the distributor unless the distributor is local then his cost of goods sold will go out of town, likewise any other direct selling expense from a vendor associated with the sale of the book will go out of town. Now the money you spend in the coffee shop of your bookstore will get spread in your local area.

Because of volume and reduced costs Amazon is probably selling at close to the local, small bookstore's cost. If you want to help the local economy? Buy Amazon, spend the money you save on local services.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:29 PM

Excuse me: the profit circulates six times within the community.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:35 PM

Close, much of the margin gets recirculated but in today's economy its probably not nearly six times that is unless the vendors and workforce of the store and their vendors only purchase local goods and services.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:42 PM

six times! Now where did that figure come from? From here in frozen Alberta, the profit likely will go towards a winter stay in Hawai'i.

Ordering through Amazon or abebooks saves me transporatation costs; also only the postman will get frostbite.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:47 PM

Don't get me wrong I believe in shopping locally. I'm just saying that 20-30 cents spent on services is probably worth as much as a dollar spent in a large chain store. As far as locally owned and runs stores go, the difference is not so clear. But I believe that the circulation is not nearly six.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 04:17 PM

As artbrooks posted, Laredo Texas is 95% Hispanic. The Hispanic population more likely will buy their books across the border in the much larger Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Z93 offers Tejano music on the net, but it is geting more and more americano stuff; don't know their schedule.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Riginslinger
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 07:18 AM

The fact that Laredo is 95% Hispanic is a heart break in itself. But obviously, if you wanted to sell books there they'd have to be in Spanish. Which brings up another heart break; how many of them can read?

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: artbrooks
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 07:47 AM

Rig, why do you think that is "a heartbreak"? Laredo is on the border; the Rio Grande runs north-south right through the middle of town. It has ALWAYS been Hispanic, since long before the artificial division between the two halves of the city. And "how many of them can read?" I'd bet that they have the same literacy rate as anywhere else, with the exception that most of them, especially on the American side, are literate and completely fluent in both English and Spanish, and that includes both the Hispanic and Anglo parts of the population. It certainly seemed so when I've been down there.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Riginslinger
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 08:08 AM

I guess they just don't buy books, huh?

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: artbrooks
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 08:41 AM

Well, according to the story linked by the OP, that store is closing because B&N is closing all of the remaining B. Dalton stores in the country, and plans to open a big-box when a particular piece of property becomes available in 18 months. I'd say that indicates that they buy books, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds or surnames.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 05:33 PM

When I was listing the book outlets in Juneau I forgot all about the book departments of various stores. And Costco has a fairly large book display. I would bet that Laredo and other stores in other states have the same.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 06:18 PM

Yes, Rigamarole, let's just dump 15 per cent of our population into the Gulf. Much more if you dump half-breeds and quarter-breeds (adopting old terms, quadroons?) like me as well.

Where would you draw the line? Octaroons?

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Riginslinger
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 06:44 PM

I'm not sure 15% will do it.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 07:11 PM

Don't feed the troll.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: olddude
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 08:45 PM

He is my solution, I am buying a Kindle ebook reader for christmas, all books for the kindle and other ereaders 9 bucks, and I don't have to carry around a ton of weight when I go on a trip ... and I download them so no postage ... that is why most book stores are feeling the pinch with.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 09:58 PM

Not only a troll but a bigot. They show up as guests sometimes, but not as members.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Riginslinger
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 09:59 PM

That's a good point, dude. I hadn't thought of that.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Wesley S
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 10:03 PM

Books will still be sold in Laredo. They have three Walmarts and a couple of Targets. And my bet is that these reports wouldn't even consider counting outlets that would sell books printed in Spanish. Because - after all - the books are printed in Spanish.

Will they stock the complete works of Dickens or Shakespere? I doubt it. But Laredo will continue to exist. Even if "The fact that Laredo is 95% Hispanic is a heart break in itself."

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Dec 09 - 04:44 AM

I bet it has been short of cowboys for sometime too...........

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Riginslinger
Date: 19 Dec 09 - 09:40 AM

Yes, sadly, it is short of cowboys. They don't beat the drum slowly no more niether.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 19 Dec 09 - 12:28 PM

As I went out to the mall in Laredo
I saw a pink bunny a beating a drum.
I got me some corn chips and salsa, tomato
I looked for a book store and thar just warnt none.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 19 Dec 09 - 01:36 PM

I live in the UK, in a town of 80,000 people. We have a Waterston's and a W H Smith's(national chain bookstores ), two discount bookshops and three antiquarian bookshops - one of which sells new books, too. We also have a charity book shop. I guess we're way ahead of the game.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Wesley S
Date: 19 Dec 09 - 03:14 PM

A google search for Bookstores in Laredo Texas shows 6 other stores still open. One I expect is Spanish language, ones a comic book store, ones an adult book store and the other is a Barnes and Noble on the Texas A&M University campus.

Subject: RE: BS: No More Books In Laredo
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 19 Dec 09 - 09:29 PM

A friend of mine did manage to pop out a complete parody of "Streets of Laredo". Lyrics here on her LiveJournal.

-- Gary