POTUS promotes independent bookstores; and, an e-reader that helps those stores

This story could almost make me feel good about holiday shopping:

President Barack Obama made a quick trip to a Virginia bookstore for some Christmas shopping.

The president took his daughters, Sasha and Malia, to One More Page Books in Arlington, Va., on Saturday afternoon. … The White House says Obama bought 15 children’s books that will be given as Christmas gifts to family members.

Let’s hope lots of folks follow the president’s example. Meanwhile, closer to home, beloved Missoula bookseller Barbara Theroux has found a way to sell e-books to her customers, and still benefit the Fact and Fiction bookstore that she manages, according to Jenna Cederberg’s story in the Missoulian:

The bookstore is now offering “ebooks, ereaders and eaccesssories” at factandfictionbooks.com through Kobo, a Canadian e-reading company that has partnered with the American Association of Booksellers to help offer its service to independent booksellers. … An important Kobo system feature allows the store to get credit each time a user makes a purchase using their Fact and Fiction account, allowing customers to “shop indie” even online, Theroux said.

In addition to offering the Kobo ereader, Theroux is participating in the “Thanks for shopping indie” campaign when 20 titles will be 20 percent off through Dec. 22.