Bookstore

A bookstore (North American English) or bookshop (Commonwealth English) is a retailer that primarily sells books. Bookstores can range in size from local independent bookstores offering several hundred titles to large brick-and-mortar chains offering upwards of 200,000 titles. Online bookstores may offer many times more titles. Bookstores often sell items related to books such as newspapers and travel maps. Colleges and universities often have their own student bookstore on campus that focuses on providing course textbooks, although some on-campus bookstores are owned by large chains such as Barnes & Noble.

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Another common type of bookstore is the used bookstore which buys and sells used copies of books, often for prices much cheaper than new copies. However, sometimes with rare books, especially certain first editions, these prices are much higher. Book collectors tend to frequent used book stores. Large online bookstores offer used books for sale, too. Individuals wishing to sell their used books using online bookstores agree to terms outlined by the bookstore(s): for example, paying the online bookstore(s) a predetermined commission once the books have sold.

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During the 1990s many bookstores (both chains and independents) started to include coffee shops in their store. Today it's rare to see a medium or large sized bookstore without a coffee shop instore or very close by. Further, large chain bookstores took on a "public library" demeanor as overstuffed chairs and couches became incorporated into the overall floor plan of the store. Conveniently placed through out the store, these cozy book nooks encourage customers to sit and read as much as they want without being pressured to buy anything.

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North American English: North American English is a collective term to describe the varieties of the English language that are spoken in the United States and Canada. Because of the considerable similarities in pronunciation, vocabulary and accent between American English and Canadian English, the two spoken languages are...

Commonwealth English: "Commonwealth English" is intended as a collective term for the perceived standard English language used in the Commonwealth of Nations1, applying in theory to Australian English, British English, Caribbean English, Canadian English, Hiberno-English (Irish English)2, Hong Kong English3, Indian Engli...

Retailer: Retailing services consist of the sale of goods/merchandise for personal or household consumption either from a fixed location such as a department store or kiosk, or away from a fixed location and related subordinated services. In commerce, a retailer buys goods or products in large quantities from...

Bookstore related Images and Photos (experimental)

Shakespeare Bookstore

Andre Maurois During the Reunion of Sylvia Beach's Famous Bookstore Shakespeare and Co