Sunday Dialogue - Tumult in the Book World - NYTimes.com Can traditional bookstores survive the digital marketplace? The end of the traditional bookstore and print books is cause for woe only among those of a certain age. Younger generations will miss them no more than they miss celluloid film stock and vinyl records. Yet video and music are alive and well, and more people than ever are producing artistic and creative content because the barrier to entry is lower than in the past and the means of distributing the content is vastly more efficient. It will be the same with written expression. Writers will still enjoy creating stories using the written word, and people will still enjoy spending time with a "good book" - regardless of the technology used to consume it. I am reading "Journey to the Center of the Earth" now on my tablet while visiting Snaefellsnes National Park in Iceland, the very place that inspired Jules Verne to write his classic story. I downloaded the book in seconds the day after arriving here. If the author were still alive, he would be delighted that his works were so easily accessible! BARRY BRISCO Hellnar, Iceland, Aug. 14, 2013 As both a bookseller and the president of the American Booksellers Association, I would heartily agree that the book industry has seen an astounding digital transformation. What shouldn't be overlooked is that it's also witnessing a vibrant renaissance in indie bookselling. Nationwide, sales in independent bookstores are up over the past two years, new stores are opening nationwide and a whole new generation of booksellers is coming to the fore. While indie booksellers, too, were stunned by the Justice Department's assault on a legal pricing model for e-books that was resulting in greater consumer choice and lower prices, our focus will be to continue providing readers and book buyers an unparalleled experience for browsing and discovering their next great read. Research bears out that the percentage of those who discover new titles in a physical bookstore far outstrips that of those who learned about a new book online. Algorithms are still a pale substitute for a bookseller's insight, knowledge and passion. Our neighborhood bookstores are where customers come to experience firsthand a deeper connection with authors, great writing and their own community. The writer is co-owner of BookPeople.