It was a post by uber-geek Wil Wheaton that caught my attention:

I totally agree with him.  I love my Kindle, but I also love perusing bookstore shelves.  I especially love small, independent bookstores where the shelves are stocked with books people believe in — not just the latest blockbuster.  But truthfully, I love all bookstores; from the biggest Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com to independents like Kramer Books to second-hand wonders like Second Story Books.

I’m fairly like to buy an armful of second-hand books at a buck or two from Second Story, but what happens when I go into Kramer or another first run bookstore?  I peruse and take notes.  The first thing I have to think about is, do I need a hard copy of this?  It’s a new calculation for Kindle owners.  I’ve had my Kindle for well over a year now, and I’ve opted for the soft-copy most times.  Everyone once and a while I buy the Kindle edition, and then a second-hand hard copy to share.

Yep.  I’m a geek.

But, back to the bookstores.  Everytime I take a note on some great book I find at Kramers, and then go buy at Amazon.com — I feel terrible.   I have no problem supporting Amazon.com, they have great prices and great service, but I always want to find a way to compensate Kramers or the other bookstores that directed me to the book.  What I always want is an Amazon Kiosk at the bookstore, and I always wonder why there isn’t one.

Why don’t independent bookstores set up a laptop with a big sign that says:

Buy your Kindle edition through us and support this store!

Truthfully, they could just sell any book Kindle or otherwise and take the Amazon Affiliate commission.  It may only be pennies, but at least they would earn their finder’s fee.   I would love to see small bookstores just take the initiative and set up a laptop next to the register.  I would love to see Amazon set up a true kiosk system that would be affordable to the bookstores.

I think I’m on to something here.  I think this model could help small bookstores survive.  It could reduce their inventory needs, and their costs, and still allow them to bring incredible books into people lives.