An old building preps for a new bookstore in Michigan; a long-time Oregon bookeller turns to Indiegogo; a California college store weighs the advantages of outsourcing; and more.
Historic Public Library in Detroit to Become a Bookstore: Andrew Sisley bought the former George S. Hosmer Branch of the Detroit Public Library and wants to turn the 105-year-old building into a bookstore and cafe. The City Council has to approve a zoning change. After the library closed in 1975, it became a methadone clinic. The building has been empty for the past six years and suffered a fire in April.
Feminist Bookstore Made Famous on “Portlandia” Launches Fundraiser: Portland’s In Other Words, better known as Women and Women First on IFC’s Portlandia, is seeking $50,000 in a campaign titled “Generosity.” The money will be used to recruit new volunteers and to keep the doors open in 2017 and beyond.
Santa Rosa Campus Store May Outsource: Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, Calif., is the latest school to consider outsourcing its bookstore following losses. The bookstore had a deficit of $700,000 over the past two years. As more students go online to buy and rent textbooks, sales have dropped 40%, according to senior v-p of finance and administration services and assistant superintendents Doug Roberts.
Texas’s The Book Spot Has Closed: Sunday, September 25, was the last day for the Round Rock bookstore. A GoFundMe campaign launched in March was unsuccessful in raising needed funds to keep the doors open..
