Literary Culture

» pegalegg46 - book store etiquette

I am a manager of a large chain bookstore, but more importantly I am a Bookseller and a parent. In the 14 years I am in the business I have been appalled at least once a day at what parents allow their children to do in bookstores. I damage out hundreds of dollars of merchandise a week due to children who are not taught to respect other peoples property. Parents of children who are too young to handle books without damaging them, frequent the bookstore, on pretense of teaching their child the love of books and reading, when in reality, they are coffee klatching, while letting their children run wild, randomly take books off shelves, most of the time leaving them on the floor, to be trampled and torn. It is very disheartening to see very few parents, demanding proper behavior and consideration in the bookstore. As a bookseller, books are precious to me and I raised my children to value them and treat them with respect. My children are grown now, but still have their first books, not in pristine condition, they were read and loved for many years, but still whole and ready to be read again. Bookstores welcome children and parents to browse the books and share favorite childhood memories. We want nothing more than to instill a love of reading in our children. We ask that parents be mindful of the damage their young children can do to the books and ask that they teach their children to be respectful and considerate.

-- posted by pegalegg46