When Buying Books Buy From Independents First, But If You Have To Shop Corporate, Buy Blue

Here's some interesting information that may affect where you choose to make your book purchases. 98% of Barnes & Noble's corporate political donations went to the Democrats, while 61% of Amazon's went to the Republicans? Borders gave 100% or its donations to Democrats. Those are some of the revelations to be found at Buy Blue.

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OK, since I posted this I received some good responses, so I brought them into the original post--Thanks!

Harry suggests a different perspective from Klintron's Brain on the buy blue program and whether it makes any sense at all--including different facts that should be considered.

Oso suggests that we check out the great northwest independent bookstore Powell's (and if you are ever in Portland, OR, you must stop in at their massive downtown store) and I would also list the incredible independent bookstore/gathering-place Tattered Cover in Denver, CO (both of these stores are also great online resources for used and new books).

For my fellow Kentuckians check out Carmichaels in Louisville and Lexington has what claims to be an independent bookseller, Joseph Beth's, but can you really consider a bookstore business that has stores in four cities (Lexington, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Cleveland) an independent bookseller? Powell's does have 6 stores but they are all in Portland, OR and Tattered Cover has three but they are all in Denver, CO?. What do you think? How do we define Independents (here is one reason why Tattered Cover will always be a favorite--beyond their amazing stores)? While I enjoy cruising through Joseph Beth's they remind me of St. Louis's once great independent Library Ltd. that was bought out by Border's (just weeks after the owners told all of us loyal workers that they were committed to remaining independent--of course, St Louis being the great small city it is, still has a thriving independent bookstore scene, including the excellent Left Bank Books). Last, but definitely not least, in Lexington, for a wide selection of mags/zines, head to the small, but vital, Lexinton independent Sqecial Media (and if you are that close to the campus we might as well arrange to meet for drinks).

I live in a place that doesn't have a lot of reading materials that I need (Lexington is generally yuppie, traditional, and conservative) so I do a lot of reading-material shopping online, but nothing beats a real, independent bookstore that one can browse and find hidden treasures.