Small bookstores see Google as ally in e-book market
For many years now, independent bookstores have been struggling to compete with discount chains like Barnes & Noble, and powerhouse online retailers like Amazon.com. Now that electronic books have gained widespread popularity, these small businesses have yet another obstacle to overcome. Fortunately for them, search engine giant Google is on their side. That’s right, Google is planning to introduce their much-anticipated venture into the e-book industry—Google Editions. Google Editions will make book text will be accessible and readable from within a web browser from any Internet-connected desktop or mobile device.
How does that have anything to do with helping indie bookstores compete? Well, Google is very close to completing a deal with the American Booksellers Association, the trade group for independent bookstores, to make Google Editions the number one source of e-books on the websites of hundreds of indie booksellers around the nation.
Read all about the developing story at The New York Times.
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