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Scott Karp at has an interesting piece today about the future of the bookstores. And according to him, the picture ain’t too rosy:

I used to love bookstores ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½” they were magical places where the whole world of information and stories was at your fingertips. But I realized today that the bookstore has begun its slow decent into obsolescence, just like every analogue media institution. The bookstore has been replaced by the Web as the place of wonder, and thereÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½™s no turning back.

In the article, he’s primarily focused on business books and their irrelevance in this new digital age. In fact, he has the following caveat:

I should add a strong caveat here ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½” there are a few places where the book format will continue to thrive ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½” fiction and childrenÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½™s books principal among them (for years I maintained the delusion that I could be a fiction writer ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½” wrong kind of writing for me). For my four-year-old daughter, the childrenÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½™s book section is still a magical place ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½” she knew how to navigate the Noggin website at 2, but physical books are still objects of wonder ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½” and thatÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½™s still a very good thing. I donÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½™t know if the same will be true for her children, but for now the childrenÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½™s book section is still vibrant ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½” same for the fiction section.

I’m not sure most bookstores would agree that they could sustain themselves on fiction and kids books alone, but it’s pretty to think so.

Personally, I think bookstores will still be culturally relevant, even after every book published is available instantaneously from Google. Aside from the obvious benefits of browsing, getting personal recommendations from well-read booksellers, etc. Besides, there’s something to be said about preserving spaces in our world where we can all get away from our computers . . .