Chat Transcript
00:46:13 Anna Muenchrath (she/her): These typologies also map interestingly onto online bookstores, which are both private (in the home, on the personal computer), but also semi-public spaces (the internet).
00:46:33 Samantha Rayner: Reacted to “These typologies als…” with 👍
00:46:41 Lanora Jennings: Are these Street booksellers primarily selling second-hand books? Do they ever sell newly released books? How are they sourcing their inventory?
00:46:55 Anna Muenchrath (she/her): Reacted to “Are these Street boo…” with 👍
00:47:42 Lanora Jennings: Would you say that the reason these Street booksellers are primarily from marginalized communities is because street bookselling is more accessible than acquiring and opening a bricks and mortar space?
00:57:31 Will Smith: It’s interesting thinking about the attitudes in bookselling manuals of the past (the BA are currently updating their one for UK booksellers). A manual by BN Langdon-Davies in 1951 mentioned that “many bookshop windows are too interesting” to the detriment of customers actually coming in the bookshop! So perhaps that’s another barrier to bookshop spaces in comparison to (profitably) browsing sidewalk booksellers.
00:58:48 Samantha Rayner: Reacted to “It’s interesting thi…” with 👍
00:59:54 Samantha Rayner: Langdon-Davies is fascinating as it’s so time-locked, too — the comments about women staff are wince-inducing, reading them today!
01:00:29 Will Smith: Reacted to “Langdon-Davies is fa…” with 👍
01:01:31 Lanora Jennings: Can you clarify re: Kathryn Magnolia Johnson. Did she SELL books, or was her cart a library that loaned or gave away books?
01:04:40 Eleanor Shevlin: In response to WIll’s comment about the 1951 speculation about the windows being too interesting, I suspect that the bookstore windows (and exterior of the building) were perhaps too intimidating to some, so rather than inviting the space seemed out of reach for some. This ties in with the elitist PhD environs of the bookstore via sidewalk that is literally on the passerby’s level and that Kristen was speaking about in her talk.
01:05:35 Will Smith: Reacted to “In response to WIll’…” with 👍
01:06:11 Samantha Rayner: Reacted to “In response to WIll’…” with 👍
01:07:37 Lanora Jennings: la*************@pr***.edu
01:08:42 Andrew Thacker: I had a question about the geographical mapping of the sidewalk sellers
01:09:32 Eleanor Shevlin: Yes, the window is a version of the
01:12:11 Eleanor Shevlin: Sorry— I posted too quickly— I was going to say that the window is a version of of DeCerteau’s discussion of street-level view of walking in the city versus a view of the street from an elevated position.
01:12:46 Kristen Doyle Highland: Reacted to “In response to WIll’…” with 👍
01:12:48 Will Smith: Reacted to “Sorry— I posted too …” with 👍
01:14:35 Samantha Rayner: Am currently writing a paper on how Penguin sell their books (and have sold them) directly to readers — and have been fascinated by how much interest there has been in the recent installation of a Penguin book vending machine at Exeter Station. Press reports all over the place, and lots of social media interest — just striking me this is a kind of static sidewalk bookshop, too?! People seem to really love it — and that has connections to the accessibility of it, too, in ways we’ve been talking about here re the sidewalk sellers.
01:14:56 Anna Muenchrath (she/her): Reacted to “Am currently writing…” with 👍
01:15:49 Eleanor Shevlin: That is fascinating that the vending machines have returned—
01:16:43 Corinna Norrick-Rühl: Reacted to “Am currently writing…” with 🥰
01:16:48 Samantha Rayner: Replying to “That is fascinating …”
https://news.exeter.gov.uk/penguin-installs-book-vending-machine-in-exeter/
01:16:53 Kristen Doyle Highland: Reacted to “Am currently writing…” with 👍
01:17:53 Eben J Muse: Reacted to “Sorry— I posted too …” with 👍
01:21:16 Corinna Norrick-Rühl: I need to go do the school run, but thanks so much for this. Congrats Kristen! Looking forward to reading and teaching the Element. Have a great weekend everyone!
01:21:31 Eleanor Shevlin: Not bookshop or bookselling, but evidently libraries have vending machines: https://www.hillsboro-oregon.gov/Home/Components/News/News/10435/
01:22:44 Samantha Rayner: Love to hear about the Elements being used for teaching!!
01:22:51 Eben J Muse: Reacted to “Love to hear about t…” with 👍
01:22:52 Samantha Rayner: Reacted to “Not bookshop or book…” with 👍
01:24:15 Kristen Doyle Highland: Thank you all. This was loads of fun!
01:24:35 Lanora Jennings: Thank you! Very interesting
01:24:37 Will Smith: Thanks so much for your talk Kristen! I wondered if you’d seen Jason Rosette’s 2000 film Bookwars about street booksellers?
01:24:53 Eleanor Shevlin: Kristen, wonderful talk and discussion! Can’t wait to red your book.
01:25:40 Andrew Thacker: Thanks for a super talk, Kristen!
01:25:42 Anna Muenchrath (she/her): Great talk! Thanks, Kristen!
01:25:51 Kristen Doyle Highland: @Will Smith – yes! Thank you. It’s a great film. There’s also a YouTube series (of 8) on Duneier’s Sidewalk and its booksellers.
01:26:07 Will Smith: Replying to “@Will Smith – yes! T…”
Brilliant. Thanks, I’ll take a look!
