Wendie Malick

Book Corner
by Debbi Honorof
Survival Studies
Independent Bookstores Get Creative
Given the dramatic rise of e-book sales over the past couple of years,
the recent news about the downfall of bookselling giant Borders Books
may not have surprised anyone. It certainly hasn’t surprised the thousands
of independent booksellers in the U.S.. They’ve been practicing
survival strategies for years. The American Booksellers Association, which
began in 1900 (and welcomed Mark Twain as the keynote speaker at
its 1902 convention), is the main organization supporting independent
booksellers, or “indies,” as they are called. Since its founding, the ABA
has provided support, advice and a sense of community to independent
bookstores throughout the country, but with recent developments in e-
book technology, the ABA has had to innovate on a scale seldom seen
in its history. In 2008, the organization created IndieBound, a “unique,
community-oriented movement that celebrates independent bookstores
and promotes shopping locally,” according to IndieBound.com. The site
(indiebound.com) allows readers to connect with their favorite indie
bookstores—and with other like-minded readers.
Owners of independent bookstores throughout the country have been
doing a lot of soul-searching, reconciling new business models with the
desire to remain true to their missions. They are
“Unlike the chain
stores, the money
spent here goes
right back into
the community.”
Book Revue’s local and independent book table
also trying to be as creative as possible in contriving
new and exciting methods to draw customers
back to brick and mortar bookstores by
offering opportunities to learn, socialize, and stay
connected to their communities. Perhaps it’s an
amazing new “print-on-demand” machine that
can print a book in about five minutes. Maybe
it’s adding a wine bar, offering knitting or writing
classes, holding raffle drawings or photo contests,
or hosting children’s book fairs.
The owners of two of Long Island’s most beloved independent bookstores—The
Dolphin Bookshop in Port Washington and Book Revue in
Huntington—are well aware of the challenges, and both have adapted
in order to thrive in these difficult times.
Patti Vunk owns The Dolphin Bookshop, a staple of the community
with a very loyal following. The store opened on Main Street in 1946
and Patti’s family bought it in 1971. Patti and her sister grew up working
in the bookstore. “It was trial by fire,” says Patti, but the family worked
together and learned together and made a go of the business. “I was
shy,” reveals Patti, so she stayed behind the scenes and developed a keen
sense of merchandising and display. Her talent is evident as soon as you
enter the store, which has always been fun and inviting and so much
more than a bookstore. Patti believes that her store is well-suited to respond
to challenging times. “While many independent bookstores are
now scrambling to sell merchandise other than books, the Dolphin has
always sold these items: puzzles, games, plush toys, greeting cards, gift
baskets, and much more.”
Patti has always wanted to open a café, and now, with a new location,
that dream is becoming a reality. But Patti’s vision for the café space is
more than just a place to drink a latte. “I envision the store becoming an
arts center, one that hosts book discussions, poetry readings, and other
arts-related events.”
“Independent stores are important to local downtowns,” says Patti.
“Unlike the chain stores, the money spent here goes right back into the
community.”
Robert Klein, co-owner (with his brother Richard) of Book Revue in
Huntington, is upbeat about the current state of indie bookstores. “Our
customers know us and support us.” During a recent dispute with
their landlord, thousands of customers offered their support. The
store opened in 1977 and has expanded five times, including adding
a café in the early 1990s. Perhaps best known for its high-profile
events, the store is also a haven for readers searching for deeply
discounted remainders and rare and collectible books. Book Revue
is even getting in on the e-book trend, offering “BLIO” (a division of
mega-distributor Baker & Taylor) e-books on its website.
Authors enjoy their book events at independent bookstores. Long
Islander Saralee Rosenberg, author of Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead and
several other novels, is a big fan of indies. “Independent booksellers,
such as Book Revue, have been instrumental in bringing readers
together with writers in a way that the chain stores can’t. It’s the indies
that have always been willing to introduce the important books
that may not be bestseller-bound. They have always had the passion
to promote exciting, original books that don’t always get reviewed
by the New York Times but are worthy of attention. Mostly, they’ve
20 • LONG ISLAND WOMAN • September 2011 To advertise: 516-505-0555 x1 or ads@liwomanonline.com