In today’s Los Angeles Times, there’s a story about how independent bookstores that want to stay alive pretty much need to do more than just sell books. They need to sell food, hold performances, form membership programs, and hire employees who can talk books–imagine!

Interestingly, the piece also talks about how there’s been a turnaround, that indie bookstores are opening at a rate of “60, 70, 80 stores” each year.

Sounds great to me.

What do you think about bookstores needing to take on additional roles, other than just selling books?