A new bookstore is coming to town.

Borders closed in September due to bankruptcy, and not long after, another national bookstore, Books-A-Million, announced it would be moving in. The store is set to open Nov. 11. Anticipation is growing, and so is curiosity: Will another bookstore prosper or will it flounder in the competitive world of e-books and online book shopping?

Electronic books and devices such as the Nook and the Kindle are becoming more prevalent in society — in 2010, Amazon announced that the sales of e-books outsold hardcover sales 2-to-1. 

“I prefer to not read books electronically, but it seems like it’s cheaper for me and more convenient to buy them online then to go visit a bookstore,” said Kate McMillan, sophomore in nutritional science.

Owner of Ames’ Little Bookroom, Susan Bedell, said her store still serves a definite purpose to the community.

“Bookstores have the benefit of being able to browse. With online books, there is a much greater need to know exactly what you want,” Bedell said. “The value of browsing a bookstore cannot be underestimated.”

The Little Bookroom has been open for five years, and Bedell still has a large customer base even through the increase in electronic book sales.

“I think e-books serve a useful purpose, but they will never replace books. Bookstores will always be around,” Bedell said. “I don’t think there is a ‘competition’ with e-books and bookstores. Each has its own audience and each serves a particular purpose.”

She continued, “You wouldn’t read your kid a picture book off an e-book. There is a tactile pleasure in books that you can’t get with a machine. There is no competition. Bookstores are here to stay.”