The End of Borders and the Future of the Printed Word

Osnos, Peter (26, July 2011) The End of Borders and the Future of the Printed Word http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/07/the-end-of-borders-and-the-future-of-the-printed-word/242545/

As the countries second largest book store, Borders, closed its doors major changes unraveled in the marketplace for books. Not only did Barnes and Nobles benefit from Borders old customers but e-book sales went up by 160 percent. The effect of Borders close allow for less places to sell and promote books as well as will make publishers reduce their print runs and shipments. Since the word of ebooks is a fairly new world, bookstores and their future is unable to be predicted. The fall of the popular bookstore Borders has a lot more to do with the stores locations, distribution, and marketing techniques than with the rise of ebooks. 

“Nonetheless, the demise of Borders signifies a major change in the marketplace for books. The unraveling of the country's second largest book chain means a tremendous boost for digital retailers such as Amazon and the potential for a self-confident Barnes & Noble and the stronger independent stores to benefit by adding customers.”

“It's a sad day for reading when there are fewer communities with bookstores, a place where someone might stumble upon a book to read who otherwise might have gone home to their television or their Internet connection for entertainment and companionship.”

“But I do share the sense of those who will miss Borders, not the flailing failure it was at its end but the great contribution it made to the availability of books of all kinds to so many people when it was at its best. 

Borders RIP."

As the Borders across the country came to a close and Barnes and Nobles gained me as a customer I felt the loss of a great book store. Not that Barnes and Nobles is not equally as great, it is just Borders was “my borders.” I knew exactly where everything was and it was 10 minutes from my house, so even after Borders has been closed for several years, I still feel like I’m cheating on a great bookstore for another bookstore that is bigger, more confusing, and 25 minutes away. This, however, has not hindered the amount of times I go to the book store and in no way will ever make me into Nook or Kindle owner. I feel that unless there are no more bookstores in America, people who like to read from physical books will put effort into driving to a bookstore, however far it may be, and purchasing their book.