Portland, OR Bookstore Will Take Your Kindle as Trade

The Microcosm zine and book store in Portland Oregon is offering to take unwanted Kindles in exchange for books.

Their offer is simple; if you received or bought a Kindle and have a real preference for books over the eReader, bring it in and they will trade you the value of the Kindle for like value in paper books and magazines. Consider bringing a friend to help haul your exchanges out because, as they state, "...most of the store's books are priced in the $2-$6 range so with a $139-$189 trade-in (note: going retail for the Kindle at Amazon's site) you might be carrying your books out in a fleet of wheelbarrows!"

As I explained to two of my friends on Facebook the other day, I read both "real" books, newspapers and magazines as well as eReader versions. I don't believe anyone could accuse me of not loving "real" books. If you come to my cabin you will find that my library overflows out of my office and onto bookshelves throughout the home. Hallways, stair landings, and bedrooms show ample evidence of my love for books made of paper.

On the other hand, the convenience of an eReader is hard to beat in a couple of categories. I can take multiple books with me when I travel, which works out well for someone who is typically reading at least 2 books (sometimes 3 or 4) and various magazines and newspapers at the same time. If there is a book I want to read and I am not near a bookstore, I can download an eBook version immediately and start reading; instant gratification (or information availability).

Last night I wanted to read the next book in a series I have been enjoying, but the paper version was not available. I found a .pdf version, converted it to my eReader format and now am enjoying the continuation of the series without interruption. I might have waited months for a paper version but can now enjoy the rest of the author's storyline immediately.

But if you, for whatever reasons, don't want your Kindle, then Microcosm zine and book store is waiting to give you a real deal and get you back into "real" books.

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The World's Greatest Bookshops

cc licensed flickr photo by foto.bulle: http://flickr.com/photos/bulle_de/368274103/

Lonely Planet posted their list of the World's Greatest Bookshops a couple of days ago. Obviously, their choices would be subjective and may not always be what you or I would designate as a great bookshop, but their qualifier, "...here are our picks for the best spots to browse, buy, hang out, find sanctuary among the shelves, rave about your favourite writers and meet book-loving characters." helps ease our sense of disagreement.

I have never visited any of the bookshops they choose and have been physically close to only one of their 10 choices. Two of my largest regrets in visiting Paris, France were not visiting The Catacombs and not stopping in to at least browse through Shakespeare & Company. But at least I always have a valid reason to return, right?

Have you been to any of the 10 bookshops listed by Lonely Planet? Are there any bookshops not on the list you have visited that you believe should be included?

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First Annual National Bookstore Day

Back in June, Publisher's Weekly announced their plans for the First Annual National Bookstore Day to be held on Saturday, November 7, 2009.

Today, PW released further information about plans and participants, as well as suggested ideas to help make the observance of the first annual National Bookstore Day, "a day devoted to celebrating bookselling and the vibrant culture of bookstores." PW is also planning to publish an upcoming list of participating bookstores and is in negotiation with book publishers to see if they will offer special promotional discounts on some of their titles. Any bookstores with ideas for promotional observations are urged to share their plans and any authors who are planning to participate are also asked to keep PW advised so that they can promote the local or regional events through their various online and print publications.

Frankly, I was kind of surprised to realize that such an observance wasn't already in place. As much as I love books, bookstores and reading, you would think I would have been aware that we were lacking such an important and natural observance. But I didn't, much to my chagrin. Anyway, I'm looking forward to National Bookstore Day and hoping for lots of participation in the industry.

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Barnes & Noble; Pulling In The Welcome Mat?

Cindy was meeting a friend of hers for tea and a short visit at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Colonial tonight, so I tagged along to look over the books and magazines I don't need to buy.

After a few minutes of browsing I picked up a graphic novel and took the escalator upstairs, planning to plop down in one of their comfortable overstuffed chairs or at the least sit in one of their straight back wood chairs. But as the escalator slowly lifted me to the second floor, I looked around to see that something was amiss.

There were no overstuffed chairs in sight.

Even the straight back wooden chairs were few and far between and each was occupied. I finally spotted one of those little round step stools over in corner by the Spanish language books and sat down on that. During the 45 minutes or so that I sat there with my butt going numb and my back asking me what it had done to deserve such treatment, I watched other customers who were also looking for something to sit on finally give up and sit on the floor with their backs pressed up against the end of a bookcase. One young man just sprawled out on the floor flat on his stomach, propped his chin in his hands to read his chosen tome and made himself as comfortable as if he were in his own living room. I kept waiting for someone to round the corner and trip over his prone form.

So, what's going on? What prompted the removal of the nice, comfortable, overstuffed chairs? Was it too much reading and not enough buying? Homeless people taking up residence? Fistfights over who got to a chair first?

Whatever the reason, it sure felt like the welcome mat had been pulled in at Barnes & Noble.

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