It's a shame that Laredo is in the situation that it's in. Call me old school, but having access to many books without resorting to Amazon/Walmart says a lot about the society or even a family: namely that they are educated. Cities like Berlin, Paris, Portland, NYC, and San Francisco are some examples that come to mind which have a considerable number of book stores (independent too). People here are very aware of world events, other cultures and religions, domestic policies and the economy, etc. Some of the most educated families I know have ties to academia (parents are professors usually) and these qualities are evident in their children because they raise them around a culture of reading books. All anecdotal evidence I know, but I can't help seeing deficiencies in new money families that have moved into my neighborhood (all Republicans incidentally) who lack the urbane qualities of the aforementioned and see books as outdated.
Brick and mortar bookstores need to do their inventory like an apple genius list, create social groups for people who tend to read the same books and so on. Group pricing, social events, and having the right book on the shelf when the regulars walk in. They will never beat the internet on pricing or selection.
Unfortunately all of those cities are full of pansies who read "books" written by liberal nancies. While they are wearing their bicycle helmets, riding gay ass bikes, and recycling their urine... real mean in Texas are hunting food, raising families and praising god.
