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https://theconversation.com/half-of-australias-bookshops-closed-within-a-decade-should-the-government-help-283605>
"In the past year alone, at least 13 independent bookshops have closed in
Australia. Some have operated for decades. Perth’s Boffins Books recently
announced it would close after 37 years, citing rising costs and “shifting CBD
dynamics”. In February, Thesaurus Booksellers in the Melbourne suburb of
Brighton closed after nearly 50 years, citing rising rent and operating costs.
And late last year, The Bookshop in Sydney’s Darlinghurst closed due to
“financial pressures”, after 43 years.
In the decade from 2013 to 2023, the number of Australian bookshops roughly
halved: from 2,879 to 1,457 – and continues to decline. Overall financial
pressure is one reason. Competition from discount department stores, such as
Kmart and Big W, as well as online giants such as Amazon, is another. Local
bookshops account for fewer than half of print books sold in Australia each
year, the Australian Booksellers Association reported in its submission to
Australia’s National Cultural Policy last month.
For die-hard book lovers, the independent bookshop is a special place: to
browse, get expert recommendations on all things bookish, and engage in events
that connect readers more deeply to books and community. As novelist Charlotte
Wood has said: “Bookshops are the safety vaults for the seeds of our country’s
cultural and intellectual life.”
The health of Australia’s independent booksellers is directly linked to the
health of Australian publishing – and the availability of Australian books to
readers. With fewer people reading recreationally, preserving dedicated
bookshops where readers can discover new books is important."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
