The number of bookshops in Britain has halved in the past six years and nearly 600 towns have none at all.
Many independent bookshop owners say that they are on the verge of collapse Photo: PA
By James Hall, Consumer Affairs Editor, The Telegraph- 02 Sep 2011
There were 2,178 high street bookshops left in Britain in July, according to research carried out by Experian, the data company, compared with 4,000 in 2005. A total of 580 towns do not have a single bookshop.
Campaigners warned yesterday that the loss of bookshops, coupled with threats to close thousands of libraries as part of council cuts, will lead to "book deserts" across large areas of the country.
Tim Godfray, the chief executive of the Booksellers Association, which represents independent bookshops, said: "These are very difficult times for bookselling and high street retailing in general. While the overall picture in terms of the number of independent booksellers in the UK is still one of contraction, we continue to do as much as we can to support booksellers, whose presence on the high street makes such an essential contribution to culture in the UK."
Small shopkeepers have complained that rising rents and business rates are making it hard to stay in business.
Bookshop owners say that they are on the verge of collapse, and even established chains such Waterstone's are having to close branches. Last week Waterstone's, Britain's biggest bookseller, last week ended its long-running three-for-two promotion. The Booksellers Association is consulting with its members about what measures can be taken to stem the decline.
Bookshop owners say that they are on the verge of collapse, and even established chains such Waterstone's are having to close branches. Last week Waterstone's, Britain's biggest bookseller, last week ended its long-running three-for-two promotion. The Booksellers Association is consulting with its members about what measures can be taken to stem the decline.
Judith Parke, head of development at the National Literacy Trust, said she was concerned by the decline of bookshops and libraries.
"In the UK today one person in six struggles with their literacy. As this can negatively affect all areas of an individual's life, from employment to health, any decline in institutions that encourage reading is a potential concern," she said. Mark Taylor, a spokesman for the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, warned that the lack of bookshops and libraries could lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour.
"It is worrying that we could see 'book desertification' in the UK, where increasing numbers of communities do not have access to a public library or bookshop," he said.
Roger Hickman, the owner of the Mole & Haggis Bookshop in Torrington, Devon, said he is "only just" in business and predicted that in five years there will be "very few" independent bookshops left.
A number of high-profile small bookshops are on the verge of closing or have recently shut.
The Travel Bookshop in London's Notting Hill is threatened with closure, while the Derwent Bookshop in Cumbria – a local favourite – has recently shut.
The volume of books being bought is in decline. In 2010 a total of 229.3 million books were sold in Britain, a 1.7 per cent decrease on 2009, according to research company Nielsen Bookscan.
"In the UK today one person in six struggles with their literacy. As this can negatively affect all areas of an individual's life, from employment to health, any decline in institutions that encourage reading is a potential concern," she said. Mark Taylor, a spokesman for the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, warned that the lack of bookshops and libraries could lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour.
"It is worrying that we could see 'book desertification' in the UK, where increasing numbers of communities do not have access to a public library or bookshop," he said.
Roger Hickman, the owner of the Mole & Haggis Bookshop in Torrington, Devon, said he is "only just" in business and predicted that in five years there will be "very few" independent bookshops left.
A number of high-profile small bookshops are on the verge of closing or have recently shut.
The Travel Bookshop in London's Notting Hill is threatened with closure, while the Derwent Bookshop in Cumbria – a local favourite – has recently shut.
The volume of books being bought is in decline. In 2010 a total of 229.3 million books were sold in Britain, a 1.7 per cent decrease on 2009, according to research company Nielsen Bookscan.
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