Saturday, February 23, 2008

Nonprofit books ...

... Shaman Drum looks to become nonprofit. (Hat tip, Rus Bowden.)

1 comment:

  1. Hi Frank,

    Here is the web site to the nonprofit bookstore that the article refers to, the model for Shaman Drum: Market Street Books at Arts & Letters Community Center.

    I was just comparing that site to The Book Rack's site, the for-profit book store I went to, in order to hear Mark Doty speak last year. I don't know how they are doing financially, but it is one of three stores owned by the same people who own The Andover Book Store and Spirit of ’76 Bookstore.

    Those three book stores are probably not bigger in floor space than Market Street Books, but come across as if a bigger enterprise. The sites come across as more aggressive, even more organized. The Shaman Drum web site is currently on a par with them as an enterprising book store. The Market Street Books site seems friendlier, but I don't know how much that has to do with the personalities involved, and how much with the fact of being nonprofit.

    Of course, at the yet-more elaborate and aggressive Barnes & Noble site, the assumption is that you're there to find a book and spend money. You can, however, click on the store locator to look for book store events in your area. The Borders site is simply seek and buy.

    Yours,
    Rus

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