Birmingham, Bookstores, library

Birmingham Central Library Bookstore Updated

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**This is an old post. The Library Bookstore has a new location. You can see and read about it here.**

The Friends Bookstore at the Central Library downtown has been re-vamped and re-opened. For the past couple of weeks, patrons have been able to come in a peruse the newly culled (and VERY well organized) stock of surplus library and donated books.

The Friends Bookstore is even entering into the service side of things, as you can now email them (bplfriendsbookstore [at] gmail.com) and ask to be added to the “new stock” distribution list. So every time the shop adds to their shelves, you’ll get an email. Pretty nifty.

They have even left shelf space for the new additions. So you can run in on a lunch break and see if there is anything new, without having to cruise through all the shelves.

The new set-up also sports new reading chairs and more shelf space for kids and teen books.

One of my favorite new tweaks is that now the overstock magazines are folded in with the books. So when you’re looking at the books on history or crafts, the magazines that fit in that category are on the shelf with the books. The shelves also have new bright green category labels and shelf-talkers, making it easier to navigate the sections.

The books still run from 50 cents (paperback) to $2 (hardback). So the prices are sure to keep you coming back.

The store is on the 2nd floor of the downtown brancj and will be open Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 2:30-5:30 p.m. It is maintained by the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library.

News, Publishing Industry News

Print Sales Falling Faster & Faster

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Publishers Weekly shared some Nielson BookScan data showing that sales of print books fell by 10.2% in the first half of 2011, with sales of mass market paperbacks falling the fastest at 26.6%. This time last year, it was the same song except that print sales were down only 0.4% in the first half of 2010, with sales of mass market falling the fastest at “only” 4.6%.

An acceleration from .4% to 10.2% and 4.6% to 26.6%, in only a year’s time, is a crazy thing to wrap my mind around. I hope everyone in ANY kind of publishing is cranking out new ideas to respond to what and how readers want to read.

Also, I should mention that BookScan covers about 75% of the shops out there and they do not yet track ebook sales. So any comparison or shift in consumer behavior is guessing based on their data.

Birmingham, Bookshelf, Bookstore Tourism, Bookstore Travels, Bookstores

Church Street Coffee & Books

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Church Street Coffee & Books
81 Church Street
Birmingham, AL 35213
Church Street Coffee & Books (site) @81ChurchStreet (twitter) Church Street (facebook)

Church Street opened its doors on July 2, 2011. I stopped by on opening day to see what they had to offer, in the way of books. The selection there was great! It’s not huge, but very well curated. You can tell that this is a shop isn’t just run by folks who like coffee… they are also readers. It doesn’t take a customer long to figure out that some real thought and research went into the books part of the business. The first thing you see when you walk in is a floor-to-ceiling double bookcase of fiction titles. It was great fun looking through what they had and it felt kind of like visiting a neighbor’s home and perusing their personal library. There is usually just one copy of a book on the shelf and no floor stacks of the latest big-name thriller. So stop by and see what Birmingham’s newest indie bookstore has to offer.

They also have about 8 tables and a couple of big comfy chairs to sit in. I didn’t check to see if they have wi-fi and it was too hot, of a day, for me to buy coffee. But I did pick up a copy of Deborah Blum’s “The Poisoner’s Handbook“. It’s been my experience that coffee shops see books as an “add on” type deal. That’s obviously not the case here and I’m excited to see what they have to offer on down the road.

Below are some photos of what the shelves looked like on opening day.

This is what greets you when you enter the shop.
They have a mostly-fiction section under the banner “Summer Reads”
The kids section is tucked in the corner. Complete with bean bag chair.
I like the shelf talkers that start each section. The look like bookmarks.
The first case of non-fiction is to your right as you walk in.
The other case of non-fiction is across from the coffee counter.
Lots of books on little tables & around the registers. They even have books on the walls.
Birmingham, Bookstores, News

New Coffee/Bookstore Opening in Crestline

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I just wanted to mention the new Church Street Coffee & Books that’s opening in Crestline Village as first announced over on Magic City Post today. The shop is opening in an recently closed Starbucks and the folks opening in sound like they know what they’re doing:

A limited selection of books will be available, including best sellers, classics, beach reads, children’s literature and staff picks. (The pair plan to add e-books by December). Free wi-fi will also be on hand.

The article says they plan to open mid to late June. It sound a little more coffee shop than bookstore but I hope they get the support they need to take their “limited” selection of books and grow it. Though, they may need more space in there, huh?

And no doubt they’re looking to survive their first few months doing what they’ve been doing. So if they keep the coffee customers coming back then the book sales are sure to follow.

Books, Publishing and Birmingham