It's been a while since the Chapters bookstore chain first came on the scene in Vancouver, and the independent booksellers ran screaming. Some fell by the wayside, some downsized, and the successful ones found their niche markets and loyal followings and held on tight. For years it seemed like the local literary scene was in stasis; most people I know at least tried to shop at the independent stores when they could, and resorted to the Chapters mega-store when convenience or sale prices dictated. It seemed like it was going to be alright. So why are the little guys dying off now? Women in Print has announced that they will be closing their doors on September 11th after a 12 year stint as Vancouver's invaluable feminist bookstore, and this after The Granville Book Company shut down on July 7th! A bad summer for booksellers, it seems.

These stores did important work in the Vancouver literary scene, putting on author readings and book signings, as well as being a strong voice for lesser known and local writers. Both stores were employee owned and that makes an incredible difference as to what kinds of books are chosen for the store. It may not seem like it from a quick glance, but think of the difference between one or two book buyers buying for a national chain as opposed to many smaller operations buying up what appeals to them. The independent bookstores give local and lesser known writers a chance. They bring variety and experimentation and wonderful things to the book world, whereas a big store is likely to pick a book that will appeal to mass audiences, that they can then hype up even more. Take the "Da Vinci Code" phenomenon, for example.

In hindsight, I guess none of these closures are really that surprising. Women in Print has been struggling for a while, and although I wasn't aware of Granville Book's trouble, it's not hard to see that they are a small bookshop operating blocks away from a giant. Independents just can't compete with that kind of sales power, even without the rent increases that finally forced them to close their doors. A CBC article talks to Cathy Duthie (of Duthie Books) about the location and competition factors involved. There is not much that small independently-owned stores can do in the face of mega-stores and department stores who have larger marketing and PR budgets, as well as the ability to get better deals from publishers and then sell books at a significantly lower cost.

I have way too many books at my house right now, so lately I have been trying to use the library or at least buy used when I can, but I have fond memories of browsing late at night in Granville Street Books (they were open until midnight), while I was supposed to be studying, or making the trek out to Women in Print to stock up on titles that were not as readily available in the mainstream markets. What will happen to these spaces now? I don't mean physically...Granville Books especially is prime real estate right now, but where can the kind of space be created where you can wander aimlessly in the aisles and check out staff recommendations, chat with bibliophiles, and possibly pick up a title that you would not otherwise have found? Granville Books sponsored a 24 hour reading of Ulysses last year. I can't see that sort of thing happening at Chapters.

Women in Print writes in closing on their site,
"We trust that you will continue to support the independent booksellers who bring you independent voices and we wish you all the very best for the future" but you have to wonder who is left? And what's going to happen now? So many studies are showing that more books are published than are read these days, and that we are reading less and less books every year. I guess in the face of these odds, the answer to the "what's going to happen now" question has already happened - many excellent literature sites have sprung up online and the literary community is getting their fix in a different form, through spoken word nights and book clubs, etc. Lulu.com makes it possible for writers to publish their own books, and the Internet again steps in to help with distribution and marketing problems. We are perhaps on the cusp of something entirely new, and while it may hurt to see our friends closing their doors, it may just be the growing pains of a new online community.

Women in Print will have a final closing sale on September 9th to 11th, at 3566 West 4th Avenue, and they will continue to do some online sales and events after their store is gone. Granville Books is completely dissolved already and their inventory liquidated.

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