It has warned that the role they play should not be “taken for granted” and raised concerns they will be put at risk of “serious harm” without intervention to try to secure their future.
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The Booksellers Association report recommends that bookshops receive targeted backing to help them grapple with the impact of rising running costs and allow them to put on more author events. It calls for the introduction of a new “culture voucher” for young adults in Scotland to encourage them to visit bookshops more.
Tourism organisations are being urged to ensure bookshops are used in campaigns and tours showcasing local culture and literary connections around the country, while the Scottish Government is being urged to do more to ensure bookshops are factored into policies to revive town centres and high streets.
Wigtown has been Scotland’s book town since 1998. (Image: Alex Eavers)
The report, which has been published to coincide with the Scottish Book Trust’s annual celebration of books and reading, suggests bookshops are “significant” contributors to “the vitality of the nation’s cultural landscape.”
Earlier this week it emerged that the UK’s biggest chain, Waterstones, is planning to open up on the doorstep of Argonaut Books, one of Edinburgh‘s leading independent shops, after snapping a prime site next to a tram stop.
The report urges a “more flexible” approach to funding applications from bookshops from organisations like Creative Scotland to ensure events with lesser-known authors are more viable, and suggests the country is being left behind both England and Wales.
The report highlights the role played by bookshops in providing “dual roles” – as places where people can access “reliable and trusted” sources of information, as well spaces where “rational debate and competing ideas can be respectfully exchanged and developed.”
However the research, which involved more than half of Scotland’s bookshops, and was carried out between April and June this year, said there was a clear need for them to be “better known, celebrated and supported”.
It states: “The distinct picture which emerges from this research is of the scale and reach of the cultural activities and the community engagement delivered by Scotland’s bookshops.
“They are remarkable places, delivering an abundance of cultural connections and enrichment.
“The nation’s bookshops are vital fulcrums for connecting communities with the talents of writers, and supporting a wider creative ecosystem, not least Scottish publishers. Scotland’s bookshops relate to their communities with enduring generosity and imagination, forging stronger bonds and positive connections.”
The report warns that the cultural and social contribution of bookshops “should not be taken for granted”.
It adds: “Serious harm is risked if public policy, arts sector policy, and practices across publishing and the wider book trade fail to adequately value and support Scotland’s bookshops.
“The skilled delivery of cultural enrichment and community support are qualities that cannot be replicated by an algorithm or from a giant automated warehouse.”
Meryl Halls, managing director of the Booksellers Association, said: “At a time when bringing communities together and celebrating national culture is more important than ever, it is vital that we support and protect those who work tirelessly in facilitating this. Scottish bookshops are unsung heroes, going above and beyond to deliver far more than selling books.
“This unprecedented and far-reaching report proves that bookshops are not just retail spaces; they are an essential part of Scotland’s cultural fabric and deeply deserving of wider recognition, tangible support, and ongoing investment to allow them to deliver for years to come.”
Marc Lambert, chief executive of the Scottish Book Trust, said: “We know that Scotland’s bookshops are at the heart of our reading and writing communities, and every year, as Book Week Scotland celebrates the magic of books, we value our bookshop partners and encourage bookshops across the country to be involved.
“This report is a welcome study of Scotland’s bookshops and highlights just how vital they are in supporting authors, encouraging children’s literacy, boosting an interest in Scots and Gaelic, and acting as a cornerstone of communities.
“It’s so important that they are given the right support to allow them to thrive and grow.”
Scottish culture secretary Angus Robertson said: “We welcome the report and the insight it provides.
“The Scottish Government places great importance on literature and booksellers have an important role to play in promoting that.
“Scotland’s bookshops are also cultural and social assets for the nation. They are also vital in connecting communities with literature, hosting events, supporting Gaelic and Scots languages and collaborating with schools and local organisations.
“We will consider the recommendations that apply to the Scottish Government and the new data provided by the report as we continue our work to create a strong, resilient culture sector that benefits everyone, right across Scotland.”