In an earlier post, I wrote about Borders joining the self-publishing market.  In today’s Albuquerque Journaland USA Today, there are articles about Borders being in a cash crisis and offering itself for sale.  The reporters contacted Barnes and Noble, Border’s chief competitor, who said it was not interested in purchasing Borders at this time.  Being a fan of Borders (but not a share holder) I worry about my reading pleasure and enjoyment if Borders folds.  However, Borders cites online purchasing and discount purchasing as part of their current financial woes.  I do understand.  I seldom purchase from Borders through Amazon because I can often find my purchases cheaper at Powells, my all time favorite book chain, especially the main store Powells City of Books at 11th and Burnside in Portland, Oregon. 

It seems to me that the publishing and book industries are going through a massive period of change.  In education, Pearson Education Group  and Houghton Mifflin are buying up all of the publishers, the latest being Holt,Rinehart &Winston and McDougal-Littel.  Soon there will be no choice in textbooks whatsoever or in the manner in which material is presented to students.  Textbooks in many fields are going to become a thing of the past.  Local independent bookstores of course have gone by the wayside because of these bigger chains, Borders and Barnes and Noble, in particular.  Now, these are getting competition from discount stores that sell books such as Walmart and Target and online venues.  Then, there is self-publishing which is rising in popularity.  It is an interesting time to watch as this drama unfolds.  Where will the book sellers and publishers be in 5 years?  Does anyone have a clue?