Real Bookstores

[dgriffin]

Do you know of any in the Utica area? I don’t mean Barnes and Noble or Borders. Those two are massive retailers. Sure, they have everything, but sifting your way through all of it takes more time than I’m willing to spend

I prefer small bookshops that are managed by READERS. These folks actually read their books and choose those that might be of interest to their customers, ignoring all the chaff that comes over the transom and across the coffee table. A visit to only 2 or 3 of these stores will provide me with all the books I’d ever be interested in.

My favorites are in South Paris, Maine (although I haven’t been in that one for a long time,) Arlington, VT, Chester, VT, Litchfield, SC, Woodstock, VT, Woodstock, NY (nearby, but only so-so). I haven’t discovered any in the Albany area yet, and I should get busy in case I move there.

What’s in the Utica area?

[frankcor]

Uh .... Amazon.com?

[dgriffin]

Ha ha! Sure, after I find what I want, I could order it cheaper at Amazon. (And sometimes I do.) I order a lot from Amazon and older stuff from AbeBooks, but usually not as a result of having seen it in a real bookstore.

[denise]

There used to be a book store in Clinton years ago. I'm not sure if it is still there or not. It was just before you turned left at the light to continue on Rt 12b. I know it moved from there; I could be wrong but I thought I saw it last year on the way to Bouckville Antique show a bit further down on 12B in the vicinity of McDonalds.

[dgriffin]

Thanks, Denise. I haven't looked to much around Utica, but I will.

[denise]

Actually, Dave, I was thinking of the second-hand bookstore that used to be in Clinton. It might still be there. Also, I do recall a few years ago being referred to a bookstore on Park Row. I was looking to buy "La Colonia-Italian Life & Politics in Utica New York, 1860-1960" by Phillip Bean. I know I was already living in Watertown at that time, so it's been within the last 6 years. They mailed the book to me.

[gearofzanzibar]

The last indy bookstore I visited was Park Row Books a few years ago. They were very polite and helpful, but it would have cost full cover price and taken a week for them to order the book I wanted. Amazon was half-price and I had the book in three days.

I haven't bought a single volume from a bookstore since.

[dgriffin]

Truth be told, the reason why the stores I mentioned are out of state is because I buy from them when I'm away and don't want to wait to get home. Still, it's sad that so many great bookstores cannot compete with Amazon and will not be able to stay in business. I have noticed that many of the small stores that seem to be keeping their heads above water are located in "destination" towns (somewhat, not Vegas!) where visitors are just in a buying mood and want to take something home.

I've never investigated it, but I wonder if there exists a book store business model for a very basic operation. I remember stopping at a "book barn" in Vermont one day, which was simply a farmhouse and a barn filled with used books scattered among beams and sitting on bales of hay. Next door, the house's front porch featured new coffee table books at full price and a huge occupied wasp's nest!
Obviously not a serious marketer, the very nice woman owner loved books and seemed perfectly comfortable in her role of rural book maven.
As for used books, they're terrific. I've told my kids when they buy books for me on one occasion or another, click on USED on the Amazon site. I always do.
(But by the way, just last month, TWO books from cooperating sellers never shipped to me. I think some of the vendors' are advertising books they don't have.

[denise]

Honestly, I very rarely buy books anymore unless it is something really special. Instead I've been taking advantage of the library system.

[Clipper]

There used to be a second hand book store on the right hand side of 12B on the way to Deansboro. I never stopped in there, but it was at a private home. It may have been in the barn or a garage, I don't know. Seems like it had "berry" somewhere in the name. It may have been called "Berry Hill Books."

[dgriffin]

Aug 3, 2008 16:43:37 GMT -5 denise said:

Honestly, I very rarely buy books anymore unless it is something really special. Instead I've been taking advantage of the library system.

Denise,
When I was a kid growing up in Utica, the library was open from 9 to 9 weekdays, 9 to probably 5 on Saturdays. In Syracuse, where I lived as a young man after college, the city's public library had branches all over town.
In recent years, I've lived in small towns where at first I enjoyed the libraries. But as time went on, the hours and days were cut back and I got into the habit of buying books.
I have always loved libraries, however.
I wrote "Ex Libris" to salute them:

www.windsweptpress.com/exlib.pdf

[gearofzanzibar]

Aug 3, 2008 16:43:37 GMT -5 denise said:

Honestly, I very rarely buy books anymore unless it is something really special. Instead I've been taking advantage of the library system.

Don't forget, the value of books isn't just in the reading. After I installed wall-to-wall shelves in my home office my heating bills dropped about 15% just from the added insulation. In addition, if you like your house quiet there are few things more effective at absorbing sound than a wall of books.

Heh.

[dgriffin]

Ha Ha, you're right. I 've taken all my old paperbacks and used them as insulation, stacking them up between the studs on the windward wall, in my little studio out back. With a small heater and a fan, I'm comfortable out there down to 20 degrees F.

[rickolney]

That's a neat little building you have there, Dave.

[dgriffin]

Thanks, I built it as a getaway when my kids were teenagers.
It's pretty much all rough cut lumber.

Here's the retouch I use in my logo.