Independent and Used Books Bookstores and Booksellers in Bogotá and Medellín. Typologies and Functions

ABSTRACT

Based on the results of the application of a survey to 214 users of bookstores in Bogotá and Medellín, and 21 interviews with booksellers in these same two cities, this article presents an analysis of the conditions in which bookseller or bookstore owners performs their role and the functions they perform in relation to the particularities of each bookstore. The aim is contributed to the knowledge of these important spaces within the fabric of our cities, even more so in the framework of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conclusions of the analysis make it possible to establish the main characteristics that are currently expected of a bookseller and the bookstore space, as well as to propose a series of recommendations to strengthen the country's bookstore network. © 2022 Escuela Interamericana de Bibliotecologia. All rights reserved.