In a column published yesterday, The Stranger’s books editor, Christopher Frizzelle, notes that Bailey/Coy Books, one of my neighborhood bookstores, is moving into used books. He quotes Bailey/Coy’s owner, Michael Wells: “The Powell’s model, mixing used and new [books], will be what the independent bookstore of the future is. I’m sure of that.”

Just today, the Shelf Awareness newsletter reported that University Book Store (the independent bookstore that serves the University of Washington) is expanding into used books, and they’re getting help from Powell’s. In September, Powell’s will be sending buyers north to Seattle to set up a temporary operation inside University Book Store, where they’ll buy books for Powell’s and train U Book Store staff. The U Book Store begins buying used books on an ongoing basis later in the month.