Are Bookstores Doomed? - Brett Arends, MarketWatch

The short answer is yes, at least when it comes to the large chain bookstores: "Look at the depressing proxy battle for what remains of Barnes & Noble Inc., the world's largest chain of bookstores. You could hardly dominate an industry more than B&N has dominated the landscape of traditional bookstores. Yet its fortunes have fallen so far that management has hoisted the white flag and put it up for sale. Barnes & Noble stock, which was flying high above $45 five years ago, has plummeted below $15. Wall Street's view of its prospects is so dim that not even the news of a bid battle has set it alight. The only bright spot: The company's e-book sales, which rocketed 51% last quarter. ..."