Will we lose anything when bookstores disappear?

Bookshops facilitate a specific kind of commerce — commerce that is increasingly being replaced by online outlets — but a large part of the store’s purpose exists beyond the bindings and paper. I’m thinking here of its role as a “third place” — the place that is neither home nor work — which pushes the bookstore’s role far beyond commerce. In fact, from the perspective of social connections (social capital, etc.), the functions of a bookstore aren’t really tied to books or stores at all.

The shape of these third places varies by culture, but it might be a sidewalk cafe (thinking of Western Europe here), or a sauna/bathhouse, or a deli. The type of interaction varies between these, obviously, but they share between them the ability to co-exist with other people. (And, in general, our neighbors.)

So bookshops have always been about discovering new books, but they’ve also always been about bumping into acquaintances, perusing with a friend while you talk about other things (remember that scene in When Harry Met Sally: “I think someone is staring at you in Personal Growth”), or even just being known to the shopkeeper as that person who pops in every Tuesday for half an hour on their way home. These connections are what keep societies united — or at least what lubricates the inevitable frustrations of living alongside others.

The bookstore has aesthetic distinction, and it is a lighter-touch experience than, say, a sauna (which takes time and disrobing) or a wine bar (where we are expected to sit and drink for a while) — but fundamentally it holds the same role as any of these other third places. The role is generic, or maybe better said it is universal. Either way, it is vital.

To the question, then: what are we missing if bookstores go extinct? We lose the pragmatic ability to shop for books, the accidental discovery that is so lacking in online shopping. We lose the ability to say that our society values letters enough to dedicate square footage to their circulation. But more broadly, we lose yet another of these vital third places that keep our society connected.