In the book called The Little Shop of Happy Ever After, by the Scottish writer Jenny Colgan, Nina loses her job when her beloved library closes. Later, she starts a new chapter of her life by opening a small mobile bookshop in the Scottish highlands. As the story goes on we see her discovering the value of books and meeting people who love to read, showing that even in a digital world, physical spacesand social connections still matter. Libraries and bookstores aren’t just about books, they are about meeting new people, sharing conversations and feelings.
And that’s why libraries and bookstores still matter. Even if technology has made books more accessible, it cannot fully replace the experience of being in a physical space surrounded by stories and other people. For many readers, these places are also spaces to discover new books, have conversations and feel part of a community.
From paper to digital
Although digital books have existed since the 70’s, it was in the 2000’s, with the popularization of the internet, smartphones and Kindle, that they started being part of the daily life for a greater number of readers. Since then, the consumption of digital books has been growing, with books being one click away, it is possible to access them by mobile phone, tablets or computers.
Even people that prefer physical books, instead of going to a physical store, prefer to search for a title, compare prices and have it delivered to their homes. Digital platforms have changed the way we consume books and it made us believe that bookstores and libraries have lost their value, since they do not involve the practicality that digital offers.
With that, the question that remains is: “Do libraries and bookstores really lose their importance in our world?” It’s hard to believe that these book spaces, that have existed for thousands years, lost all their value in the digital era.
Instead of losing their importance, libraries and bookstores are simply changing with the time. Digital technology may have changed how we read, but these spaces still bring books, people and conversations together in a way that screens cannot.
Why paper rather than digital?
Choosing paper books may seem outdated to many people, but recent academic studies have shown that they can still be important, especially for children. A study by neuroscientists at Teachers College, Columbia University, in the United States, found that reading on paper can help with a deeper understanding of a text compared to reading on a screen.
Also, it helps to get a: better concentration, without notifications popin; memory, because the physical location of information on a page can help readers remember where certain content appeared; and reading on paper means spending less time looking at a screen.
The decline of physical book spaces
Since 2015, Brazil has lost 23% of its public and community libraries, nearly 1,500 units. According to historical data from the SNBP, the decline is linked to ongoing cuts to cultural funding and the effects of social isolation during the pandemic.
This reduction is part of a bigger problem for physical book spaces. Libraries and bookstores need money to pay for rent, workers, maintenance and new books. With the growth of digital platforms and online shopping, these costs can make it harder for physical spaces to stay open.
A town isn’t a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it’s got a bookstore, it knows it’s not foolin’ a soul”
Neil Gaiman, American Gods
For libraries, the decline can also affect access to reading, especially for people who do not have the resources to buy books regularly. Unlike bookstores, libraries provide free access to their collections, making their presence particularly important in communities with fewer cultural resources.
The decrease in these spaces goes beyond the loss of places to borrow books. Libraries and bookstores can also serve as meeting points where readers can discover new authors, exchange recommendations and share their love for reading. As these spaces become less common, opportunities for these experiences also become more limited.
More than just books
But, even with all these points against these physical book spaces, they still carry their value, exactly because they are physical, by bringing people together and encouraging an exchange of ideas. Chat with others readers, librarians and workers results in human connection, sharing experiences and feeling part of a community. Also, booksellers help readers discover new authors and works that they wouldn’t find at the algorithms of large virtual stores, acting guides. They support independent authors, local publishers and generate jobs in the surrounding community.
Events promoted by these places, like reading clubs, events and conversations make reading a social experience, with readers sharing their opinions about a book and having deep conversations.
Specifically talking about libraries, they help books and knowledge be accessible to people from different social backgrounds, making sure that everyone, no matter their financial situation, can access knowledge, the internet, computers and study materials.
They also play an important role in preserving knowledge. Preserving documents, research, films and even works of art, materials that can be part of the collections that make up a library, also used as a study space. They offer a quiet physical environment, ideal for slowing down the digital routine and focusing on deep concentration.
Today, people can find and buy books online very easily. Even so, libraries and bookstores are still important. They are places where people can read, study, find new books and talk to other readers. Technology has changed reading, but it has not made these places unnecessary. Libraries and bookstores can change with the digital world while keeping their important role in our reading lives.
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The article above was edited by Sarah Pizarro.
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