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England in the Footsteps of Virginia WoolfAs a writer and publisher, Virginia Woolf would have been sensitive to the impact of late 20th century publishing and bookselling practices that have radically changed the publishing industry, driving out many small presses and reducing the number of independent booksellers by thousands. For details see Andre Schiffrin's The Business of Books (Verso 2000), or my article on feminist bookselling from the Women's Review of Books. Buying books from huge chain stores perpetuates this trend and helps to drive small publishers and independent booksellers out of business. I urge you to support independent booksellers whenever you can by buying from their stores or from independents online. Below are some links to independent booksellers who have online sales.
Advanced Book Exchange (abebooks.com) - describes itself as "the world’s largest online marketplace for used, rare, and out-of-print books". This service provides online sales for 10,000 booksellers worldwide, though its "partnerships" with online corporate giants mean you have to watch carefully if you want to buy from an independent bookseller.
Bookfinder.com - this is a good site for searching both new and used books online, although it carries listings from the big chain stores as well as from the independents.
Charis Books and More - Atlanta, GA - the oldest feminist bookstore in the Southeast, Charis now offers their large stock of books for sale online at http://www.charisbooksandmore.com Or order by phone at (404)524-0304; email: info@charisbooksandmore.com
Powell's - based in Portland, Oregon, this independent provides online access to over a million new and used volumes on the shelves of its seven Portland stores. www.powells.com (Shipping is free for orders over $50.)