Local book vendors offer something for everyone

          Lafayette bookstores, large and small, all have something to offer booklovers of all interests from comics and the latest novels to out-of-print or rare classics.

Some people prefer to rummage around a small, cozy independently owned bookstore for readings of the past.

Others prefer to pilfer through a plethora of bargain books, new releases, magazines, stationary, etc. at an all-in-one super center type chain bookstore.

“We focus on the customer,” said Alosia Sellers, manager at Book Rack on Ambassador Caffery Parkway. “Everyone here reads. So, we can always recommend someone who is similar to someone or give recommendations on what’s good as opposed to, ‘Yeah, that book’s over there.’”

Used bookstores, like Book Rack and Alexander Books, are known for the personable staff, but Books-A-Million’s store manager, Travis Faircloth, said friendliness is one of the store policies. Employees are devoted readers and they all have special interests, which helps them recommend books to customers and they hand a book to a customer rather than point the customer in the right direction.

Used bookstores are more likely to have multiple works by one author, whereas a chain bookstore may have only the latest novel, Sellers said.

Barnes & Noble, for which no one was available to comment, and Books-A-Million may seem like mansions compared to Gary Alexander’s house/used bookstore, which is locally known for the three resident cats, but Alexander Books probably has more titles, according to Alexander, because he may have only one or two copies of each book.

“You can do a lot of things yourself and not have to depend on someone else to do it,” Alexander said is what he likes about owning a small bookstore. “You can do things the way you want it done.”

Sellers said Book Rack was the first or one of the first bookstores in town; it opened in 1983. She said the owners basically saw an opportunity. With a second Book Rack, located on Gloria Switch Road, the store is the most established used bookstore in town.

The first chain bookstore did not settle into Lafayette until 1994. That was Books-A-Million. Sellers said the used bookstores’ businesses were not hurt by the new competition because they sell mainly new releases. Faircloth said he even refers customers to Alexander Books for out-of-print novels.

“If nothing else it (chain bookstores) will affect our new books, probably,” Sellers opined. “Actually, because books seem to be increasing in price, up to $10 now, instead of the usual $7.99, it might help us in used books.”

Faircloth said publishers may be printing books a couple of inches larger and selling them for more money, a sales technique targeting readers aged 45 to 50 by printing in a larger font size.

            Used bookstores can be more appealing to avid readers because the books are cheaper and they can easily exchange one book for another and not have to store piles of books that they have already read.

            “Some people will bring in whole bagsful of paperbacks and take out bagsful and you won’t see them for four months or something,” Alexander said with a chuckle.

Some people may prefer sipping an exotic coffee blend while reading the latest in literature.

            Some people may prefer the uniqueness of browsing bookshelves packed with creased bindings and yellowed pages.

            “Books have character; used books have even more character,” Sellers said. “They have a life they’ve been affected by, plus, they’re cheaper.”

            Alexander Books has one rare book with “character that is a $3,000, approximately 2 1-2 foot long book by an Italian architect, Piranesi, printed in 1735. Alexander pulled “Monumenti DeGli Scipioni” out of a black garbage bag; it is a book of architectural plates someone brought in and was purchased at Christie’s Auction House.

Overall, the bookstore business is friendly and most sales are to regulars, according to local bookstore management. Used bookstores advertise mainly in the Yellow Pages because most business comes from word of mouth Alexander and Sellers said. Faircloth said most of his advertising is coupon e-mails to Millionaire’s club members.  

A common incentive among bookstores is the 10 percent off discount card.

Faircloth said Millionaire’s club cards are $10 a year and includes a package of coupons.

“It’s worth it if they buy $100 a year on books,” he held. “Some people spend $100 in one day.”

Faircloth said he is excited about the new Books-A-Million that is opening on Kaliste Saloom Road. The store will have an up-dated setup, an outdoor, patio café and more seating areas.

“That’s the direction the city is expanding and we feel the newer part deserves to have a bookstore and we want to provide that service for the community,” stated Faircloth.

 The Vermilion, University of Louisiana at Lafayette's student newspaper, Nov. 16, 2005