What should bookstores do in order to survive in the e-book era?

Answer 1

Book stores can and will surive the E-book era.......well the big ones like Borders and Barns & Nobble That is smaller book stores though i really cant say they might want to try cafes or stuff like book signes by authors E-books are conveint because its on your computer and dosent take up space but nothing really amounts to a good book

Answer 2

Find all the local authors you can, advertize your store's carrying their books. If there are local authors who have done photo books (ie. landscapes) hold events in those places. You can expand this to other subjects, too.

Add a coffee shop, bakery, or deli in the store. Add retailing, not just bookmarks and CDs, but unrelated items that can be added to the gift of a book. Devote part of the store to original art, lithographs of the great masters, and have your art books in that area.

Bring in local college instructors and have them give lectures about subjects in their books, or subjects on which you have books.
Put in a fashion section, and display mock-ups of great fashion over history.
Devote a room to one-day (actually 2-4 hour) lectures that might peak the interest of the public. The lecturer's book or sylabus would be purchased from the store. Or just rent the room out and people will come through the store to attend the lectures and find books they like.

Put in a comic book section, with displays and lectures on the art they have inspired. Even screen some Japanese amime.
Have short computer classes, and the books for them. Change the displays, and lectures often to keep people coming back.
Hold a poetry night, with an "open mike" hour.

Use bright, attractive visuals to catch people's attention, and intelligent, thoughtful information to keep them coming back.

Answer 3

They are doing a great many things - booksignings, special events. Even charging a premium to publishers to place books in prime spots in the store. Personally I hate the e book idea. There is nothing like the feel of a hardcover first edition with a dust jacket in your hands.

Answer 4

be a meeting place, serve food, coffee, or drinks, have a performance space, hold community meetings, bookgroups, etc. since people can buy books online easier and cheaper - you will need to give them other reasons to come in to the store, and want to support your business. adding another dimesion to what happens in the store, and being an active member of the community will make them remember to make the choice to support you.

Answer 5

Not allow the copyright to be used in E-software.