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Though Borders is an excellent bookstore, presenting a greater selection of books and magazines that appeal to academics and scholars, it doesn't compete with the standards that Barnes and Noble stores have set for themselves.

The Barnes and Noble stores offer not only new books, used books, music and text books, but it also allows book related organizations to use their facilities for nothing. For example, many writing groups and book clubs around the country meet weekly at Barnes.

Students gather at Barnes to read and do their homework at tables that have been set aside for them. It is the best compromise between a university or high school library and a coffee shop. No one expects them to buy coffee and they can speak to each other without being shushed.

Also students and the elderly can relax in easy chairs and read best sellers or other books of their choice. I asked the manager how she could afford to allow people to come and sit and read books without buying them. She said that young people would build a lifetime loyalty toward the store, buying books when they could afford to and would bring their children to their stores in the future. Most of the elderly, she said, have set salaries and cannot afford all the books that are coming out. They are, however, their best walking advertisement, telling their children and friends what is new in the store and where to find it.

When Barnes and Noble came to Madison,Wisconsin, where I presently reside, Borders opened at 10 AM and closed at 9 PM. Barnes changed all that. They stayed open from 9 AM to 11 PM and Borders was grudgingly forced to follow suit.

Barnes built their store in a Mall, which has unlimited parking. Here in Madison, Borders moved their store from a place with unlimited parking to a mall which is small and difficult to find parking.

For some reason, Borders has always thought of itself as the neighborhood store, but it is a corporation as is Barnes. The difference is that Barnes makes a greater effort to behave like a neighborhood store.

Competition is fierce in the book industry. Until Borders finds a way to compete with Barnes, its economic challenges will continue.

Learn more about this author, Mary C Gesteland.
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