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Little of what is discussed here or in the article applies to my local B&N. Yes, the Nook has been de-emphasized. Yes, the shelves have spacers for cover forw

Little of what is discussed here or in the article applies to my local B&N. Yes, the Nook has been de-emphasized. Yes, the shelves have spacers for cover forward presentation. The technical sections have shrunk to the point of uselessness. That includes math and science as well as computers, electronics, etc. The number of romance novels has exploded. Books are now shelved by publishing category, e.g. mass market, trade paper, hardcover, etc. Hence, an author can be scattered all over the building. Inventory tends to be more sparse than the local independent bookseller. Consequently, for finding a new author or exploring, I go to the independent. I still visit B&N regularly as I have for years. The manager, whom I’ve known for a while, assures me that things will change because sales are down, but right now they are following the corporate direction. B&N is certainly not what Borders once was. But, we’re unlikely to see that again.

randcraw 4y ago
I've seen the same trend at the B&Ns I frequent (Montgomeryville PA outside Philly and Northville MI outside Detroit) — in the past year or so the tech shelves have thinned out by 50%, same for the science and math, toys and games have grown by 100%, no more music, big reduction in movies, magazine offerings are fading and all the seating near them has disappeared. I frequent B&N because I badly want a seller of new books ro survive, but I so seldom buy anything there anymore, I find I'm visiting less and less.
- Kon-Peki 4y ago
  I went to a B&N for the first time in probably at least 5 years a few weeks ago. The music section was outstanding; it was clearly curated by multiple music lovers and I saw stuff that I would never have guessed would be available on vinyl in a chain store. Probably around 40% of the bookshelves were dedicated to stuff teenagers or younger would like, and they had a ton of sci-fi and fantasy (both adult and children), including a bunch of copies of a fantasy book my daughter wanted that the B&N website said was available online only. I was impressed.

randcraw 4y ago

I've seen the same trend at the B&Ns I frequent (Montgomeryville PA outside Philly and Northville MI outside Detroit) — in the past year or so the tech shelves have thinned out by 50%, same for the science and math, toys and games have grown by 100%, no more music, big reduction in movies, magazine offerings are fading and all the seating near them has disappeared. I frequent B&N because I badly want a seller of new books ro survive, but I so seldom buy anything there anymore, I find I'm visiting less and less.

Kon-Peki 4y ago
I went to a B&N for the first time in probably at least 5 years a few weeks ago. The music section was outstanding; it was clearly curated by multiple music lovers and I saw stuff that I would never have guessed would be available on vinyl in a chain store. Probably around 40% of the bookshelves were dedicated to stuff teenagers or younger would like, and they had a ton of sci-fi and fantasy (both adult and children), including a bunch of copies of a fantasy book my daughter wanted that the B&N website said was available online only. I was impressed.