The importance of independent bookshops

Small, independent stores play a vital role in the intellectual life of a community. It's very much a one-to-one, personal interaction. What booksellers have always tried to do is get to know people and be able to make specific personal recommendations. Somebody once said that what we do here is a lot more like therapy than it is like retail. Somebody will walk in and say, "Boy, I've had a tough week. I've been dealing with this and I've been dealing with that. I'm interested in finding out more about this other thing." And the bookseller will say, "Well, why don't you try this?" as if we're writing prescriptions.

Part of an intervew with independent bookseller Jim Huang, owner of The Mystery Company in Indianapolis.

To read the full interview link here.