The words “local” and “independent” conjure images of quaint storefronts set in sharp relief against a sea of corporate façades. Preserving these unique spaces in the face of the pristine uniformity of chain stores and the cyber marketplace seems reason enough to choose independent booksellers over Barnes & Noble or Amazon.
But patronizing local bookshops is much more than a nostalgic gesture—it offers real economic and cultural advantages, and, as one group hopes, represents the way of the future.
