Catholic bookstores struggle to compete with online sellers

Submitted on August 19, 2011
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By Liz O'Connor | Catholic News Service
Sisters Joan Paula Arruda and Andrew Marie Tyler looked at a book on an e-reader at the Pauline Books and Media store in Old Town Alexandria, Va., Aug. 10. The Daughters of St. Paul, which operates 13 bookstores in North America, including one in Crestwood, offers more than 50 of their own titles as e-books.
Sisters Joan Paula Arruda and Andrew Marie Tyler looked at a book on an e-reader at the Pauline Books and Media store in Old Town Alexandria, Va., Aug. 10. The Daughters of St. Paul, which operates 13 bookstores in North America, including one in Crestwood, offers more than 50 of their own titles as e-books.
CNS/Nancy Wiechec
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (CNS) — Like most small- and medium-size bookstores, shops specializing in Catholic religious books have been hit by the ubiquity of such online giants as Amazon. "We rely on hard work and God's grace," said Helen Dorin of Boric Religious Supply in St. John, Ind., which is going into its third generation as a family-operated book and religious articles store. "It has hurt us," she said about Internet book sales. "Customers will come in and browse our books, and then go and order online."

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