Origin

Remember Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan’s classic movie “You’ve Got Mail"? It’s a romance movie, no doubt about that. But other than romance, the plot explores the rather interesting relationship between “reading”, “books”, and “people.”

In this movie, Tom Hanks is the owner of a large bookstore. One day, he encounters a mother, Meg Ryan, that runs a small independent bookshop located on the corner of a block . The two soon start dating. Throughout their relationship, they constantly argued over the business models of "large" and "themed" bookstores. However, after understanding each other more, they agreed upon the perfect balance of “coexistence.”

You've Got Mail movie poster source: moviepostershop.com

This is our society’s current understanding and interpretation of “the culture of reading.” In this era of connectivity, social media, and masses of information just a click away. The internet and the ability to navigate it have become a necessity in our daily lives. Because of such a substatial shift in our lifestyle, our habits of reading has also changed noticeably. In recent years, the most genreally accepted reading platform is now electronic devices instead of paper books. This big leap away from the traditional way of taking in information is caused not only by the rapid advancement of technology but also by the increasingly widespread concept of environmental conservationalism and its importance.

Lately, online bookstores and large chain book shops have been on the rise. Both provide a more convenient channel to a greater diversity of literature and opened up more options for consumers looking to buy books. People have embraced and utilized this conveneince and altrered their habits of purchasing and reading books, creating a very unique culture of reading. The continuing development of online and chain bookstores is actually pulling people back towards reading actual paper books.

The culture of books and reading is one that reaches into people and connects on a personal level. Moreover, the distinctive store that is Meg Ryan’s bookshop serves as a beacon of identification and offers a sense of belonging for anybody, young and old, who loves the joy of reading or just listening to fascinating stories.

You've Got Mail movie poster source: theodysseyonline.com

These kinds of book shops do not follow corporate business models that puts profit as a number one priority; Instead, these rare indie bookshops rely on people who have a passion for literature and reading to pass on the irreplacable culture and spirit of diving through words on a page, pages in a book, and story after story. Of course, with that in mind, what is stocked on the shelves of large chain bookstores differs greatly from that of independent bookstores. Rather than focusing on books and magazines that are high in commercial value, the small unique shops are filled to the brim with books on specific fields of study and books that are generally considered as the “alternative” genre. Due to the type of books that are sold, indie bookshops often find themselves making just enough, if not insufficient, profit to stay in business. Owners and employees of the shops, even when barely keeping their heads above water, are extremely motivated and enthusiastic about the important job that they carry out every single day. This attitude and devotion is the only thing that preserves the “engdangered” culture of reading. Fortunately, there happens to be a group of people that works hard eveyrday to ensure the survival of the culture of reading, and this group is known as “Taiwan Association for Independent Bookshop Culture!”






About Independent Bookshops

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Some time ago, businesses transitioned from traditional markets to the more modern chain stores, convenience stores such as 7-11 replaced traditional grocery stores. Shopping malls crowded by people replaced conventional vendor-lined streets of markets. Even bookstores are currently faced with the same situation. Numerous bookshops are beaten by the competition of either chain bookstores or online bookshops that provide convenience, and they go out of business one by one.

In the year 1989, Eslite Bookstore, a competitive franchise, entered Taiwan’s book retailing market. Eslite greatly appealed to the middle class with its intricate design and classy style, along with an amazing diversity of available products. As technology advanced, online bookstores started to emerge. This platform for browsing and selling books was a never-before seen platform, and it succeeded. Purchasing books has never been so convenient. All one needs to do is scroll and click to choose and buy books, and this is all done in the comfort of home! Even better, online bookstores often offer exclusive deals and discounts that further encourages people to shop through the internet, thus opening up another option for purchasing books.

source: blog.udn.com

Since the internet is so popular and essential right now, many people have created online bookstores that advertise convenience. On the other hand, however, traditional bookstores have been on the decline. This is one of the reasons independent bookstores are founded, Mr. Chen hopes to preserve the culture of traditional bookstores forever. There is a big difference between chain bookstores and independent bookstores, independent boosktores are a combination of bookstores from the local community. Most of the books are published by the author him or herself.





Aims

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Enthusiasts of traditional bookstores are gradually turning to chain bookstores. So, Mr. Chen established “Taiwan Association for Independent Bookshop Culture” to spread the ideas and spirit of independent bookstores in hopes of seeing indie bookshops thriving once again. Mr. Chen encourages individuals who find joy in reading to open up his or her very own shop and join the association, which would raise the much needed awareness for this declining culture.




Bookstore Management

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The “independent” in independent bookstores means the store will be run by an individual with his or her own funds and with the individual taking the risk. Very often, indie bookshops make little or no profit in order to show their unique cultural value and spirit and must be managed with huge efforts. The managers take the risk of losing money in hopes that they can make a profit. They never rely on the government for financial help, and they continue to rely on themselves to manage the bookstores. The owners’ passion towards this business is what sustains the hard-working value of the shop. Since the beginning, the Taiwan Independence Bookstore Cultural Association has been a non-profit organization. It holds the belief of the independent bookstores’ culture and ideas, reflecting Taiwan’s independent bookstore culture. Also, in competing with online and chain bookstores, independent bookstores have started to explore and test out a number of options, such as online shops and bookstores with space reserved for coffee shops an other varieties of shops that might draw in increased amount of visitors. Every indie bookshop contributes as much as possible to save the precious culture of traditional bookshops of Taiwan.





Choosing Books to Sell

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Normally in independent bookstores you won’t find the ranking for best-selling books, and the genres of literature on the shelves are also quite unorthodox. All of this is for the reader the delve deeper into different forms of literature in different books. Furthermore, an emphasis is put on the interactions between people. Every single indie bookshop is unique, and that goes without saying for the books that each shop sells as well. There are a few things in common though. Most indie bookshops sell second-hand books or books that are out of season. Some shops have even implemented a membership system similar to libraries, which allow for the borrowing of books for a certain amount of days. The Taiwan Association of Independent Bookshop Culture currently cooporates with many publishers and agencies to lower the costs of books. This way bookstores can communicate with the publishers directly, allowing for higher profits. Yet, because publishers don’t publish large amounts of books in one wave of printing, the rate of stocking books onto the shelves of shops is, at times, quite slow. Above is the main methods and a few obstacles that are encountered when bringing in books to sell.





Activities with the Ministry of Culture

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Nowadays, many cities have opened independent bookstores, so the government set up ways for people to apply for subsidies from the Ministry of Culture. The independent bookstores now cooperate with the Ministry of Culture in setting up public events to promote the awareness of a declining culture. The founder of the independent bookstore would hold free reading groups for readers to gather and share their ideas. He would hold meetings with the Ministry of Culture for managers and readers to strengthen the image of independent bookstores. Managers take part in the meetings supportively, which might lead to a sustainable development of independent bookstores.





Promoting the Culture of Independent Bookstore

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Internet has improved and the tranditional things are disappearing, everything beside us heeds to face this problem, even the books that we read. Chain bookstores is for the current generation. All kinds of books and the location of the bookstore, these fit to what people asked for today. Certainly, all the tranditional bookstores have get impact by the chain bookstores. At the time many of the tranditional bookstores face the serious problem of closing it. Fortunately, Mr. Lung Hao Chen established the Taiwan Independence Bookstore Cultural Association. The bookstore get costumers’ attention by the idea of extention and the differ characteristicof every different bookstores.

Every bookstores have different theme for their bookstore. Such as, Feminist books, Children’s picture books and import books, etc. Or, they will use other structure to emerge the bookstore. For example, some of the bookstores will also sell snacks for the costumers reading while eating and enjoy the book. Perhaps, many costumer visit the independent bookstore because of this special theme. There are some people that still like the quite and relax motion, many people moved from the busy cities to the relax and quite place.

The other strategy of popularize the bookstore is by holding lots of symposium, for making people notice the independent bookstore and to find people who also love books to create an independent bookstore itself.





Store Locations

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  • TangShan Bookstore--   This bookshop, founded in 1980 by Mr. Chen himself, is located between Taipower building mrt station and Gonguan mrt station. More than 30 years have passed, with its surroundings constantly changing with the fast moving pace of society, but Tangshan Bookstore has remained the same throughtout the years. It may not look much on the outside, just a staircase leading down, but the bookstore is a safe haven for anybody looking to get away from reality and into the intriguing experiences that books offer. This shop symbolizes the hard-work and the hopes of Mr. Chen, which to bring the culture of indie bookshops back.

    • Owner: Chen Long Hao
    • Hours of Operation: Mondays through Fridays 9:00~21:00; Sundays 12:00~20:00
    • Telephone: +886(2)2363-3072
    • Address: B1F., No.9, Ln. 333, Sec. 3, Roosevelt Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei City 106, Taiwan
    • Blog:http://blog.yam.com/tsbooks


  • Huwei Bookshop--    Hu-Wei Bookshop, located in Yunlin county, is a booksop with the architectural stlye of the 1940’s, which is also the shop’s most unique characterisitc. The exterior is designed with a Japanese style in mind, but the interior is a whole other world with a classic European atmosphere. The store encloses areas to allow customers to hold a bookclub meet or just for a leisurely afernoon tea. Coffee and snacks are sold in the shop as well. Huwei bookshop hopes to pull itself away from the general style of bookshops, establishing its own style, to appear special and unique, which is definitely achieves.

    • Owner: Wang Lee-ping
    • Hours of Operation: Tuesdays through Sundays 11:00~21:00
    • Telephone: +886(5)631-3826
    • Address: No.3, Ln. 51, Minquan Rd., Huwei Township, Yunlin County 632, Taiwan
    • Website:http://www.huweisalon.com/member.html


  • TaKao Books--    This booskhop is a smaller one located near the Dingxi MRT station, and it is tucked into the small space of a traditional market. Theres is a relaxing sensation in the air, with a cat striding to and fro within the bookstore, and the owner is known as “Shamao,” which refers to the cat. The shop not only sells books, but actually utilizes half of its space as a cozy coffee shop. Although the bookstore isn’t big, but it has an abundance of varying book collections.

    • Owners: Xiao-zhi, Hsieh Yee-in, Jong Shang-en, Hsieh Tien-di, Tung Wei-chen
    • Hours of Operation: Monday 13:00~22:00; Wednesdays through Sundays 13:30~22:00
    • Telephone: +886(7)225-3080
    • Adress:No.214, Zhongzheng 2nd Rd., Xinxing Dist., Kaohsiung City 800, Taiwan
    • Blog: http://takaobooks214.pixnet.net/blog

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  • tel : +886(2)2216-6000
  • 2016 Cyberfair team