McNally Jackson Knows Bookselling

So as I mentioned a few times, I spent the weekend in NYC, which I think may be the Mecca of Indie Bookstores. Unfortunately work kept me super busy, so I only had the chance to see one, but I made it good. McNally Jackson is an innovative and beautifully run indie bookshop in the East Village. I snapped a few pictures, but I really couldn't do the place justice. To the right you'll see the outside of the shop--a picture I borrowed from the website.

First, I have to say, this store has a FANTASTIC website. To be honest, that's what sold me on making this my one stop. It is navigable, aesthetically pleasing, and both business- and community-oriented. The store is very internet-savvy, with links to their Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr, which is their frequently updated blog. In their "Shop" section, they provide visitors with concise but comprehensive information about shipping, ebooks, and delivery. That's right-- they hand-deliver books for free to any address in Manhattan. This is a very customer-oriented shop. Here I've reproduced their section on ebooks for a little analysis:

E-books are available two different ways: using Google eBooks, which lets you read on many e-readers, iPhones, iPads, Android phones, and any computer. Other eBooks lets you search for e-books compatible with a number of readers: Sony (use Adobe Digital Editions), Palm (for your Blackberry, iPod & iPhone), and Microsoft Reader. We do not sell books for Kindles.

What additional information could one possibly want? They tell you specifically with which ereaders their ebooks are compatible. They also have a section dedicated to their print-on-demand Espresso Book Machine here. You can search titles or get information about self-publishing! They have a section on their website dedicated to helping self-publishers, which I think is making truly innovative use of their machine. I believe it's already proven to be a smart investment--it was running non-stop during my visit.

I was blown away by this place. I intended to stop in, have a chai latte, and maybe pick up a postcard or something. Instead, I left with two new books, a great tote bag, and a renewed hope that the amazing indie bookstores in this country will find ways to adapt and thrive in the digital age. (That's my sad little picture on the left. But they have a whole section on European literature, much of which is in translation! That's rare and pretty cool. It shows they're dedicated to book discovery.)

Quick Update: the Espresso Book Machine and NYC

Once again, the week has gotten away from me. I thought finally being home for a weekend might give me a chance to plan ahead a bit and prepare a few new posts. Instead, it meant running around doing errands I often go weeks without completing. Still, I did get a chance to stop by Politics and Prose, my favorite local indie bookstore. They have a new Espresso Book Machine (see image right)! I didn't get to see it in action, but these machines have great potential for indie bookstores. It gives them access to thousands of titles they may not have shelf space for, or that have been blacklisted. It also allows them to stock more books by indie presses and self-published authors. I'm hoping one of these days I'll get to catch the machine while its printing.

In other personal news, my job is sending me to New York City for the weekend, and I'm very

excited about doing a quick little bookstore tour. I have already been to Strand, and I'm certain I want to visit St. Marks. However, NYC is a major indie bookstore hub, and I know there are many more shops I need to visit. McNally Jackson is on the list, but I'm open to suggestions! I'm interested in seeing how some of the more niche stores operate (i.e., rare books, comic books, used shops, etc.), and would love to hear about any that are doing a particularly great job adjusting to the digital age.

Friday: Indie Bookstores in the News

It's Friday folks! Per tradition, here is a roundup of the biggest indie bookstore related news from this week:

An ambitious bookseller has salvaged the remains of a Borders in San Francisco, creating his own store, ODE, in its place. The name is an economical re-purposing of the letters already plastered to the building. Read more in the New York Times.

In more San Francisco news, pop-up bookstores are apparently all the rage this month. The concept is much like that of pop-up restaurants; booksellers rent out a real, brick-and-mortar space for a month or so, then close up shop and move somewhere else. It's an interesting business model that I'll likely explore in a separate post.

The New York Times had an interesting profile on Sarah McNally, owner of McNally Jackson Books in New York. In the article, McNally talks about running her store, acquiring the only Espresso Book Machine in NYC, and, of course, her love a books.

The Espresso Book Machine