Famous Dublin bookshops set to close.

national | arts and media | news report Thursday January 08, 2004 11:05 by Joesph Murtagh

Several Dublin bookshops are set to close over the next few years. Owners have complained that they are no longer able to afford the rent increases and high rates.

Several Dublin bookshops are set to close over the next few years. Owners have complained that they are no longer able to afford the rent increases and high rates.

"I'm getting out of it and most of my friends are getting out of it" said one owner of a landmark bookshop who wishes to remain annonymous. "Unless you own your own building the combination of rent and rates is a killer. Its sad, people are going to be really shocked when they see some really famous bookshops close"

Rates and rent are unaffordable to nearly all but the big chain stores.

A decline in bookreading is not as big a factor in the death of dublin bookshops as either rent or rates increases although owners have noticed that people seem to have less time to browse. Even online book dealing hasn't been a major issue as not only can bookshops trade themselves online but many people will always prefer to browse and collect on the day.

A special rates dispensation for bookshops seems necessary if authorities wish to preserve these educational and cultural building blocks. Dublin authorities have no plans to this at the moment.

Perversely Dublin city authorities continue to promote Irish writing while forcing the bookshops to pay crippling rates. "If they taxed us on profits rather than hitting us with rates we might stand a chance." another owner adds. "Once a bookshop is lost, its gone for ever."