Bengaluru's independent bookshops find new readers through events and social media
An October 9 report traces how physical bookshops are adapting to the habits of a technology-driven city.
Bengaluru's independent bookshops are finding ways to turn online attention into visits, conversations and book purchases. An October 9 Indian Express feature examines the adaptations at stores including Select, Bookworm, Blossom and Champaca.
At Select Bookshop, third-generation proprietor K Sanjay described a changing audience: demand for popular fiction and philosophy now sits alongside the older tradition of readers hunting out-of-print research material.
Recommendations, photographs and short videos shared online are bringing customers through the door. Literary events and discussions offer another reason to visit, while some long-standing patrons now arrive with their children.
The story illustrates how digital discovery and physical browsing can reinforce each other. A recommendation may begin on a phone, but the visit offers personal guidance and unexpected finds among the shelves. The report describes individual shops' experiences, rather than proving a citywide increase in book sales.