Local bookstores weathering the current economic storm

Bloomington: a town of the arts. A place where a local bookshop sits around every corner, and even in a time of financial downfall, owners still support each other’s passion.

The Book Corner, Caveat Emptor and Howard’s Bookstore all sit within an arm’s length of one another on the square. However, none of these stores find themselves in competition.

“There’s a sense of community,” said Ruth Paris, assistant manager of The Book Corner.

It helps that no two bookstores have the same literary focus. The Book Corner has a wide variety of Dover books and Penguin Classics, but employees are especially proud of their collection of literary journals titled McSweeney’s.

Caveat Emptor’s focuses more on books of the academic world. With textbook prices as high as they are, Caveat Emptor’s stock contains used books at prices affordable
for students.

Howard’s Bookstore has a different mission. Their concentration is special ordering.

“We want to get you what you want to read,” said owner Joie Canada. “We’ll move heaven and earth if we have to.”

With each store’s dedication to its platform, it’s no surprise customers keep coming back. As The Book Corner customer David Johnson paid for his newspaper, he said, “It feels like an old-time bookstore. There’s this sense of discovery. It’s the kind of store that encourages browsing.”

A few stores down sits Caveat Emptor. Co-owner Janis Starcs enjoys the idea of old-fashioned book browsing. Unfortunately, library digitization is a thing of the future, and cradling a book is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

“This is the perfect software,” said Starcs, holding a book. “You don’t always know what you’re getting on the Internet. There’s a lack of sophistication about sources.”

Canada said she keeps her customers by not only finding exactly what they need, but by staying in touch afterwards.

She said she feels fortunate to know her customers cherish books in the same way she does.

“A book is not a product,” Canada said. “It’s specific information that people want to know. There’s a reason people want to read them.”

Each bookstore will refer customers to their desired destinations, even if it means sending them down the street.

“We help each other and keep our eyes open,” Starcs said.