Unlike Powell’s borders is a chain bookstore which means that it has many small stores

(more than twelve hundred) scattered around the world and the same network of policies connects all. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI, , Inc., is a publicly held company with 2006 consolidated sales of $4.1 billion. Borders Group operates over 500

Borders superstores in the U.S.; 70 Borders stores outside the U.S., located primarily in the U.K. and the Pacific Rim; 30 Books etc. stores throughout Great Britain; and over

530 stores in the Specialty segment. Borders Group has also acquired -based Products Limited, a retailer of stationery, cards and gifts with approximately 100 locations outside the U.S., including stand-alone stores and concessions. There are also more than 260 Paperchase shops located within U.S. Borders superstores. Online shopping is also available through www.borders.com.

As for man power they have more than 32,000 employees worldwide and engage customers with a rich shopping experience and provide them with the books, music, movies, and other entertainment items they love in a relaxing, enjoyable atmosphere.

Powell’s Books on Burnside

Powell’s city of books is one of the largest bookstores in the world. Within its walls there are nine color coded rooms house over 3,500 different sections, offering something for every interest, including an incredible selection of out-of-print and hard-to- find titles. This complex is four stories and takes up an entire city block. Located in downtown Portland, Oregon the City stocks more than a million new and used books.

Apart from just being an over grown used store they also have a gift shop, coffee house and art gallery. Each month, the Basil Hallward Art Gallery (located upstairs in the

Pearl Room) hosts a new exhibit, as well as dozens of author events featuring acclaimed writers, artists, and thinkers such as Roddy Doyle, Susan Sontag, Robert Olen Butler,

Annie Leibovitz, and former President Jimmy Carter.

Here is a map of the inside of the store and the colored blocks represent the different rooms. This place is so big that the store offers tours for small groups that are interested in finding their way around. Because they claim that over six thousand people visit daily to look at books and sit and read at the coffee shop. As you can see by the pictures this place is packed with everything that a book worm could ever want or need.

Aside from the normal books that you can find at any or store, Powell’s has a lot of specialty books like for schools, owners manuals for cars and other mechanical and technical devises, and upstairs they even have a room dedicated

to rare and unique books for collectors. When I went into this room I was amazed,

some of these books are over two hundred years old!

This is definitely not a place that you want to go if you are in a hurry and need something

that can be found at any store but if you have a few hours or days to kill then come and

browse the selection and get lost in a book but careful don’t loose yourself in the store!

For directions through the city of books first you have to enter from Burnside Street past

the Park Blocks, then cross Ninth and continue past our oldest office building and the Dr

Martens office. Cross Tenth then step on the porch out of the rain, and come inside. The

Green Room is a trap. Just about the smallest room in the City, our store-within-a-store,

it's entirely possible to enjoy your Powell's experience (and walk out with an armful of

great books) without making it more than a hundred feet past the entrance. But you can't stop at the Green Room, not today — that would be something like leaving the

amusement park without riding the coaster, the teacups, and the Ferris wheel. Resist, then: the new arrivals and award winners, the shelves of staff picks, the sale books, the east walls lined with almost a thousand different magazines and periodicals. Next is the blue room, Poetry will come in handy later, in the coffee shop and this is the room to get it. Now The Gold Room, room of notable poles. A room of goblins and cowboys, sailors

and space monsters, blood and guts; lovers, clones, detectives; a room brimming with

strong personalities. This is the fantasy and other nonfiction book room.

The Orange Room has all of your cooking book needs covered and this is just the

beginning there are still six more rooms but I will let you explore them your self.