A Paris Bookstore With No Books

Stepping into the new bookstore in Paris, 'Librairie des PUF', visitors might be surprised to discover a store that, despite its name, has no books lining its shelves. This isn’t a mistake but a core part of the business model: operated by the French publishing house 'University Press of France', this bookstore works with an 'on-demand book' approach. Customers request specific books, which the staff print immediately. The printing machine, aptly named the 'Espresso Book Machine', prints a book in the same time it takes to make and enjoy a cup of espresso—about five minutes. So, how does it work? Customers enter the store and sit by a tablet computer, browsing and selecting titles they wish to purchase. They can even add handwritten dedications if desired. Then the machine begins printing while they relax with a cup of coffee in the brightly lit and comfortable shop. The selection is vast: aside from the 5,000 titles by 'University Press of France', an additional three million books from the company that makes the 'Espresso Book Machines' are available. Many of these books are classics with expired copyrights. The concept is so appealing to French readers that other publishers are expected to send PDF files of their books to be included. One of the biggest advantages of this model, the staff notes, is the ability to bring back books that are out-of-print. It's not cost-effective for publishers to issue new editions of books that may sell only a hundred copies at best, but this technology easily allows for printing a single copy for any interested customer. Originally opened in 1921, 'Librairie des PUF' was much larger and a gathering point for intellectuals from nearby universities. However, economic difficulties led to its closure over a decade ago. This wasn't an isolated event; between 2000 and 2014, 28% of Parisian bookstores shut down, with similar trends worldwide. Last March, 'Librairie des PUF' reopened, albeit in a smaller space not far from its original location, supported by a program from the city of Paris that leases properties at low rates to initiatives of cultural significance. Alone, this low rent wouldn't be enough for the shop to survive. Recognizing the need for a dramatic change, the publishing house transformed the bookstore into a print-on-demand model. "We are selling much more than expected," say the publishers, hopeful to expand this bookstore concept to other French cities. "We thought we would sell ten books a day—it’s closer to forty." The combination of a café and high-tech service, they explain, targets a specific competitor that has overshadowed traditional bookselling: "We want to offer our customers something better than Amazon," they declare confidently.