I recently read about the demise of Borders. I'm old enough to remember when Borders was the latest thing in bookstores. I also remember how their growth in some cities came at the expense of independent bookstores. Still, it made me sad to think we're losing another bricks and mortar location for browsing and buying books.
I know you can't fight progress, but I can't help wondering if we are heading into a time when most of our shopping occurs online. I recently heard a story on the radio about Australian stores charging shoppers who try on clothes and shoes but don't buy anything. They believe people try things on and than order online (cheaper) once they know what they want. Amazon continues to fight paying sales tax anywhere it possibly can, helping keep its prices low.
My hope, as a librarian (and a sometime shopper), is that both libraries and retail stores figure out a way to stay afloat in the real and virtual worlds.
