We hear so much bad news, all the time, that I wanted to share some good news with you.

After the latest depressing study about how few people read books, I have to say that it seems like somebody out there is reading, because bookselling is a growth industry all of a sudden.

Barnes & Noble, the longtime bookstore chain that was a fixture of many malls and shopping centers before struggling a few years ago, is on an aggressive growth curve.

USA Today reported this week that the bookstore company plans to open 60 new stores in 2025. B&N has about 600 stores, up by several that opened in 2024.

Where I live, the city is getting a second B&N, in the most prosperous and thriving part of the city … not far from its existing location in the most prosperous and thriving part of the city.

This means a few things:

No company like B&N makes decisions to expand on the basis of hope. B&N has done some demographic research, run the numbers and thinks there’s market for even more books.

The company made that decision on the basis of sales and probably surveys and analysis of foot traffic, and that’s a pretty clear indicator that sales are good and the book business is good.

Maybe coolest of all is that B&N thinks there’s enough call for books that it doesn’t have to exist solely on online sales.

The last time I bought a couple of books, it was through the online arm of Powell’s City of Books, the PNW-based mega book retailer. I’ve spent a little time and money in McKay’s, a used bookstore chain, lately too.

And I continue to be on the lookout for my favorite retail spaces of all time, small and independent bookstores. Unfortunately we’ve had two that I know of close in the city in the past couple of years.

Yes, Barnes & Noble is a big company, although not as big and possibly not as soulless as Amazon. And yeah, other stores and companies sell books.

I’m glad people are buying books, no matter where they get them. I’m glad people are reading. (Not surprising sentiments for an author who has a new book coming out in the next couple of weeks, I know.)

If some of that increased interest in books, reading and book-buying benefits a big company like B&N, I’m glad of that.

Don’t forget though – patronize your locally-owned booksellers.