That's the time people in our community are looking for things to do. But getting book buyers into the store requires so much more outreach - music, author visits, reading groups, children's story hour. Volumes of events Bookstores, especially the national chains, have co-opted the library identity as a place to hangout. Harry W. Schwartz in Brookfield hosts in-store book clubs for neighbors. And then there is the furniture - deep and comfortable sofas and chairs.
Coffee is available either on the premises or close by.
The hours help as well. Parents waiting for kids to leave a late movie at General Cinemas at the other end of the mall often kill time with a book or magazine at the store. The store hosts three music events a month regularly, including harpist Mary Halter every other Sunday and finger-style guitarist Ben Kammin every third Thursday. For Brown Deer residents Dave and Tammy Wozniak, the music is the muse. The couple visit Borders every Saturday night along with their son Paul, 10.