Your Community Bookseller, E-Books, and E-Readers

There have been many headlines about the growth of electronic books and the death of the bookstore. As your community bookseller, we would like to share some thoughts and update you on our efforts.

Since last December, our e-commerce site has supported the sale of e-books. During this period, tremendous upheaval in the delivery and licensing of these books occurred. In addition, skirmishes between online competitors, hardware manufacturers, and even within companies themselves have created more confusion than clarity. These distractions have caused e-books to be unavailable, or only available through certain channels and not through our web site.

We believe that there is a place for e-books and e-readers. While the codex has been an effective technology for more than 1500 years, e-readers offer advantages and disadvantages. The market will grow.

We have embraced new technology and are working with our e-commerce partner, the American Booksellers Association, to offer you the ability to purchase a similar array of e-books as those offered by our exclusively online competitors. We are taking time to implement this feature into our web site, because it has taken time for the business models of publishers to settle out and licensing deals to be arranged.

In the near future, you will be able to purchase e-books through www.RainyDayBooks.com at a competitive price right alongside physical books. You will have the ability to shop locally and support your community bookseller without sacrificing the desire to purchase an electronic book.

However, this is only possible if you purchase a e-reading device that supports an open source of printed material. Certain devices are tied to one company. This closed-loop model is designed to force you to make purchases from one company only.

We believe that choice is an important part of reading. We believe you should be able to choose between a printed and electronic version. We believe you should have the freedom to read what you want without the data on your reading habits being collected and used against you. Most important, we will always believe that books have value, and an infinite shelf life.

As long as there are books, there will be booksellers. As long as we have your support, we will continue to be part of your community.

We believe that our customers want to read good books. We have 35 years of experience in bookselling. One acorn falling from a tree is not the end of the world as we know it. We feel fine.