Over the years I’ve heard a lot of huffing and puffing from independent booksellers about their pitiful lot in life, about mice trying to survive in the presence of mammoths, about lack of customer support, of government support, of financial support.

I’ve listened carefully to the arguments, considered, researched, and I’m still of the opinion very few independent booksellers get it.

What do I mean by get it? I mean it remains most independent booksellers haven’t a clue where their place is in the market. They still keep thinking they should use the same business model as Amazon, Indigo and others. But in fact what they really need to realize there’s no way they can compete with these mammoths. So don’t try.

There is, however, a place independent booksellers can exist and do so with a healthy bottom line and a vibrant atmosphere that will continue to draw patrons.

Allow me to illustrate a few examples, both good and bad, in my opinion.

BookLore, 121 First Street, Credit Creek Mall, Orangeville, Ontario.
Nancy Frater of Booklore has been operating this remarkable, independent bookstore for decades. There’s an interesting physical layout to the store, with a loft/mezzanine where signings, readings and lectures often take place. The atmosphere is bright because of windows. They almost always have a fabulous window display. And they always have interesting events occurring, from author signings and children’s reading hours, to literary dinners and costumed midnight events.

Want a book they don’t stock? No problem. Staff are well-trained, pleasant, informed and engaged.

They have a dynamic, interesting and interactive website at http://www.booklore.ca/

And while they are a general interest bookstore, they compete against Indigo’s Coles across the street in the Orangeville Mall very well, mostly because of customer service, a focus on children’s books, and lots of events.

The one shortfall they have is failing to recognize the ever-increasing presence of independent authors and independent publishers. They still cling to the old model of publishing, insisting there can be no other way. And while that hasn’t as yet been their undoing, it may cause difficulties in the future as more and more mid-list authors are pulled from legacy houses and jump onto the independent train.

My score out of 10? A solid 8.

Type Books, 883 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario (second location at 427 Spadina Road)
Type Books is now calling itself a mini-chain because they have two locations. At least I believe that’s the case. Their recent opening of the second location (Quill & Quire) would certainly lead one to come to that conclusion.

And I’m afraid Type Book’s website isn’t much help either. If ever there was useless website it’s that one. Click on the masthead and you get an email option. Click on either address window and you’re taken to a Google map. Beyond that there isn’t a whole lot of information on the website about who and what Type Books are, why I should shop there, or why I should care enough to subscribe to their newsletter or follow them on Twitter. I’ve done the latter, mostly out of interest to see what they might Tweet, what sort of 140 character bursts of information they might deem important.

Type Books may very well have fabulous stores for all I know. There may be a great atmosphere there. Lots of light. Coffee to hand. Comfy chairs. Engaged staff. Excellent selection of hard-to-find titles. How would I know? And from Neustadt, Ontario, I’m certainly not about to make the three hour trek down to Toronto the Good to find out. Alas, I can’t even experience them virtually through the miracle of the Internet.

So, my score for Type Books? A big fat 2. Why 2? Well, they at least went to the trouble of attempting a website. And they apparently commit the act of Tweeting.

Bakka-Phoenix Science Fiction Books, 697 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario.
I tred on hallowed and dangerous ground here. SF&F afficiandos have long revered Bakka as the bastion of all things SF&F. I remember when they were a hole-in-the-wall, dim, dark, musty store with books piled high, and passionate staff often moonlighted as writers of the genre. I remember meeting Orson Scott Card there and receiving a raised eyebrow and comment when I told him my name. (Long, long story about Clarion Science Fiction Workshop.)

And while I have never had the opportunity in the ensuing years to cross the threshold of Bakka’s new premises, I’ve often thought I’d like to browse their store virtually. Alas, that’s an exercise in frustration. You’d think people well-versed in all things science fiction they’d be techie sorts, steeped in the traditons of the Internet. Apparently not. At least not judging by the example of their website. In a word, it sucks. Well, that’s two words. Once you click on the kitch little spaceship and watch it sprout flame and go green (for GO, I suppose), you’re taken to a broken page. Now, understand this isn’t something temporary. Nope. Bakka’s website has been like this for years. I hazzard a guess about a decade, because I keep going back to the site, hoping it will be easier to navigate. It’s not. Ever.

The books they list aren’t easy to navigate. You’re given a list and expected to scroll through it. The blog is particularly uninspiring, as are the rest of the pages. So, given I’m a virtual visitor, what is there to inspire me on that website to make the painful, arduous trek down to Toronto to actually soak up the atmosphere of Bakka, when I can just as easily be in the comfort of my own home, merrily clicking away on Indigo’s website, ordering books, sipping green tea, listening to Ray Lamontaigne, and knowing purchases will be shipped free of charge (over a certain dollar value)? I can just as easily order the speciality genre of SF&F through Indigo (or Amazon) as through a visit to Bakka, because, oh yeah, Bakka don’t have an online shopping cart. Which begs the question — why even have a web presence?

And management’s attitude to independent authors and presses? Won’t even return phone calls, emails, nada.

So, Bakka also rate a big fat 2, which is more of a surprise to me than anyone reading this.

Titles Bookstore, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario.
While Titles is in fact a university bookstore, under the guidance of visionary manager Mark Leslie Lefebvre, Titles has become so much more. Titles has reached out to the local community and now serves not only the students of McMaster, but the general public. Titles boasts an Espresso Printing Press. Titles holds author signings, book launches, lectures and readings. It is a vibrant, interactive bookstore celebrating literacy and literature.

Again, surprisingly, their online presence is weak, and given they serve very Internet savvy clients, you’d think they would have maximized their online capabilities. While books can be ordered online, their catalogue is limited, which indicates they aren’t picking up feeds from major wholesale distributors like Ingram. And although they have an Espresso Book Machine, the titles available on it do not reflect the entire Espresso catalogue, rather only those titles staff have set up.

For example, my own fiction titles, From Mountains of Ice, Shadow Song, and And the Angels Sang are all available on Titles’ EBM. However, none of Paul Lima’s titles (How to Write a Non-fiction Book in 60 Days, (re)Discover the Joy of Creative Writing, or Harness the Business Writing Process) are available. I might add that Paul’s titles are used as text books in several university courses, so you would think it would be a natural for Titles to list these books.

The attitude, however, Titles has toward independent authors and publishers is refreshing and remarkable. They are more than willling to work with indies, often coming up with creative, interactive and dynamic events designed to engage the public.

So, despite shortcomings as far as web-presence, I’d have to give Titles an equal rating to BookLore, and that is a solid 8.

Know of a dynamic independent bookseller in your area, that not only holds events to snag your interest, but offers opportunties to independent authors and publishers? Tell us about them! We’d love to know!