The Role of Bookshops in Today’s Society
By Chidiebere Sullivan Nwuguru
In a world where information is readily available to everyone through the Internet, the significance of a bookshop might seem negligible to a lot of people, yet the role of bookshops can never be overstated. Bookshops are beyond just a place where books are sold; they are also a place where information is made readily accessible to readers, and discussions around books are made— all of which are geared towards shaping society.
Regardless of how much one might think of bookshops as relics of the past, the fact remains that it is still the beating heart of every society. Bookshops serve as a perfect place for authors or book clubs to host events; literary festivals geared towards deepening the culture of storytelling as a way of promoting connection among people take place in the bookshops. Through these activities, an enabling environment is created to enhance the pleasure of reading and provide people the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with like-minds, thus, expanding the readers’ horizons while opening doors for new perspectives simultaneously.
Personally, most of the books I have enjoyed reading were all from bookshops and not the internet. This is not to downplay the significance of e-books, but I have a certain connection around books that is only aroused when I'm in physical touch with them; I understand that this may be very personal, but I know that there are lots of people like me. Another thing that stands out for me about bookshops is the fact that they can also serve as a place where one can go to enjoy a quiet moment and get away from distractions. It becomes so easy to escape the noisy world under such serenity and get fully immersed in the pages of a book. Bookshops without a doubt provide an opportunity to deeply connect with books, and convey oneself to worlds beyond their physical reach.
Moreover, the role of bookshops in shaping the society is very important. For instance, bookshops serve as a perfect repository for preserving heritage by amassing classic works that cut across generations, thus, making it easy for people to access their histories. Also, through bookshops, authors, publishers, independent presses, and other local businesses connected to the business of publishing are given room to thrive, thereby impacting both the cultural and economic sectors of society.
Having seen the vital roles the traditional bookshops play in society, how then do we ensure that their significance is not replaced and overshadowed by the steady growth of the internet? To retain the significance of bookshops in our society, bookshop owners should work towards incorporating innovations to match the demands of the world today. Curating collections, and streamlining the recommendation of books to better suit each reader or customer are some of the ways bookshops can adapt to better suit the world today. Above all, no matter how we see it, bookshops are an integral part of our society and should be preserved.
