For the past few years, a growing number of Cornell professors have chosen to support a local and independent bookstore, Buffalo Street Books, by sending their courses’ book lists exclusively to Buffalo Street Books. 

 The professors feel the need to support Buffalo Street Books — formerly known as “The Bookery II”-— in order to conserve what they feel is an important part of the Ithaca literary scene. 

 “It is a part of our community,” said Prof. Mary McCullough, English. “[So] it is our ethical responsibility to give something back.”

According to Gary Weissbrot, owner of Buffalo Street Books, independent book stores in Ithaca used to dominate the book-selling landscape before “big box” stores, such as Borders and Barnes & Nobles, arrived in Ithaca during the early 2000s. Around that time, online book-buying sites like Amazon.com also became very popular. 

Weissbrot says that approximately half a dozen independent Ithaca booksellers closed because of the increased competition. 

However, Buffalo Street Books remains a mainstay, even with national retailers taking away about 10 percent of its business and internet sellers taking away about 10 to 15 percent. Weissbrot notes that prices in his store can compete with these bigger companies — his books are usually cheaper than the same titles offered at Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles. 

The “First Class Program,” which allows students to order from book lists that were handed to Buffalo Street Books, get books delivered to their first class. Weissbrot hopes this innovative solution will increase his business and create a larger customer base.

 According to Weissbrot, it is also important to introduce students to the variety that independent booksellers offer.

 “They don’t really know the uniqueness of independent book stores. They don’t know what they’re missing if they’ve never seen it or experienced it,” Weissbrot said. “People think: ‘A book is a book is a book. I can get it on Amazon, online. All books are the same. It doesn’t matter where I get it.’”

 Weissbrot said stores like his have a greater responsibility than just selling paperbacks — they are literary arts centers for the community to enjoy.  Buffalo Street Books caters to the Ithaca community with free workshops, group discussions, author signings and readings, and many other events. Additionally, the bookstore is a member of the American Booksellers Association, which means it offers independent titles as well as New York Times’ best-sellers. 

 Even though the Cornell Store’s textbook department is independently run and separate from the University, Prof. McCullough and Weissbrot do not consider it to be in the same class as independent bookstores because the Cornell Store’s textbook department has a large enough customer base to ensure its survival. 

 Margie Whiteleather, strategic projects manager for the Cornell Store, said they have seen a slight decline in textbook sales from recent years.

 “It’s very challenging for us because of recent online competition. We’ve always had modest markups on textbooks, but Amazon is selling the same books at the price we buy those books from publishers,” Whiteleather said. “So there’s no way we can lower prices.”

 Weissbrot notes that he receives positive feedback for his “First Class Program” from students via annual surveys and many students want to use their CornellCard through his store. Some students also feel that the Cornell Store is more convenient because they can purchase all their books at once. 

 However, in reference to Buffalo Street Books’ delivery component of their “First Class Program,” McCullough said, “It doesn’t get more convenient than that.”