Independent Bookstores

Re “Battle With Big Bookstores Puts Independents in a Bind,” April 28: The argument that large chain bookstores are harmful to intellectual freedom is hogwash. Independent bookstores’ claim that they carry the hard-to-find books that Barnes & Noble and Borders ignore is unfounded.

I live in a medium-sized university town that has several independent bookstores catering to all sorts of tastes. Most of them simply stock the same products as the large chains--but without the 10% or 20% markdown. Only one of those stores has provided the sort of service, selection and pricing that will make me continue to patronize it after we get a Borders outlet in a few more months.

Time after time, I have entered my local independent bookstores looking for titles I’ve heard about from friends, professors and co-workers, but I have not found them. When independent booksellers can back up their rhetoric with fact, perhaps I might believe that they are protecting me from the big, bad chains. Until then, I’ll buy books from whomever stocks them at the lowest price.

NATHAN PAXTON

Davis

*

I have great sympathy for the independent booksellers in Santa Monica and elsewhere. The day of the small businessperson has been on the way out for quite some time. Big business and high rents will not allow the old-fashioned “mom and pop” enterprise to exist.

I have gone through the same process. Being in the electronic business for many years, a large part of my business was the sale and installation of TV antennas. Guess what happened? Along came the cable business. ‘Nuff said!

HOWARD SINGER

Los Angeles