Reading devices, Web add growing twist to book business’ storyline

The Centennial Hills literary outlook is a complicated read.

One of the final Borders bookstores to close this summer was a Centennial Hills neighbor and across the street from a chain competitor. A family-owned book shop in the neighborhood says its business strategies change day by day. Budget woes pushed the Centennial Hills Library to adjust to reduced hours and manpower.

It's not all grim, though.

Although the branch has less to work with, library use has swung upward, officials say. Computer labs brim with users, electronic book downloads are the facility's fastest-growing program, and youth readership increased 126 percent last year, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District officials say.

"We are well used, and that does surprise a lot of people," district executive director Jeanne Goodrich said. "When you look at what people are reading and how they're reading, there is still a robust readership."

About 180,000 materials move through the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive, and about 50 percent is devoted to the popular young readers section, branch manager Tammy Gieseking said.

The library district is the 13th-largest in size nationally but has the second-largest overall circulation for libraries in cities with more than 1 million people, Goodrich said.

But the district saw an 8 percent reduction in overall circulation when hours and staffing were cut last year, Goodrich said.

There was a dip in the Centennial Hills Library's numbers, too, she said.

"We've had a number of foreclosures, especially in the Centennial (Hills) area, and it affected the library," Goodrich said. "It's because we don't have the same number of families to serve. But it always seems busy."

Gieseking said don't believe just the numbers.

"The thing about the library is the circulation numbers don't tell you everything these days," she said. "We're still packed with people all day long."

The homework help center, one of two similar programs in the valley, fills up daily. Computer labs remain busy, she said, and she notices many patrons bringing their personal laptops in for free wireless Internet use.

The youth summer reading program drew in about 25,000 readers this year -- a 40 percent increase, Goodrich said -- and was the largest enrollment in district history.

Downloadable electronic books account for 1.4 percent of readership , Goodrich said.

Reader's Circle, the Centennial Hills Library's monthly book club, continues to gain steam, too, Gieseking said.

The group selects a genre to read each month and meets to discuss its individual choices in lieu of picking one collective read, Gieseking said. For instance, October's genre was horror.

The group meets at 10:30 a.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the library.

"It's basically driven by the members," Gieseking said. "We definitely try to tailor our programming to the needs of our community."

While works from authors such as James Patterson and Janet Evanovich rarely stay on the shelves, Gieseking said she has noticed trends in what topics are grabbing Centennial Hills readers.

"Budgeting books, home repair or decorating or landscaping (guides) are very popular," she said. "The homes are newer here, and (residents) are looking to spruce them up on their own."

But for those who'd rather own books than check them out, it's a different story in Centennial Hills.

Chain Goliaths have closed alongside their David counterparts thanks to technology and the economic downturn. In July, Borders closed its remaining 399 stores after filing for bankruptcy earlier in the year. Four Las Vegas and Henderson locations were shut down after the decision .

Wayne and Cindee Whiteman have owned Heavensent Christian Books & Gifts, 4990 W. Craig Road, Suite 5, for six years and it's been a topsy-turvy ride, Wayne Whiteman said.

"Book sales have been hit hard because of the big boxes (chain stores) or the readers, the Kindles, the electronic reader, but there is still a clientele out there that wants to open up a book and mark pages," he said.

About 40 percent of the merchandise the store sells are Bibles and other books.

Although he has company in the local Christian book sector, Whiteman said he considers his shop "the only ma-and- pa, brick-and-mortar store in Vegas."

Whiteman said Heavensent Christian Books & Gifts has tried to set itself apart also with knowledgeable customer service and unique offers. The store sells items online and in most cases can provide next-day shipping, Whiteman said.

Inside the store, the couple offer recording equipment for patrons to create music accompaniment or audio tracks. Whiteman stocks several varieties and interpretations of the Bible and books on heaven, hell and spiritual warfare, all popular topics, he said.

"We have to be competitive," he said.

Drawbacks exist, he said.

Whiteman and his wife man the shop most days and rely on volunteers to help curb costs. He said he's trying to figure out how to benefit from chain store closures and electronic reader takeovers.

"If customers don't support the ma and pa stores, we'll become history," he said. "The doors are still open, but it's an everyday challenge to keep them open."

Contact Centennial and North Las Vegas View reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@viewnews.com or 477-3839.