To read the Los Angeles Times article “Bookshops’ latest sad plot twist,” you’d think it’s the final chapter for neighborhood bookstores (Feb. 2, free registration may be required).

It isn’t until you get to the end of the article that you learn the new owner of a landmark San Francisco bookstore knows how to resuscitate it. He’s turning it into a resource for the neighborhood, with a rejuvenated website, more in-store events and a 21st century outlook to make the place “inescapable and irresistible.”

I’m a voracious book reader. I buy a lot of books online. But I love shopping at independent bookstores like Upstart Crow in San Diego, with its cozy nooks, pastry/coffee bar and great bayside location; funky Acres of Books in Long Beach, Calif., stacked so high with used books you wonder why the ancient shelves don’t topple under the weight; and Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle, a warm, inviting place downtown with wood floors, multiple levels and, of course, the obligatory coffee shop. Elliott Bay even has a web page devoted to the differences between themselves and the big guys.

Places like these compete against the Barnes & Nobles and Borders of the world by sticking to the formula the San Francisco owner embraces. They’re not corporate cookie-cutter stores and survive through personalized service, community involvement, good selection and distinct design. Most of them have websites, too, which helps them stay in touch with customers and vice versa.

The article quotes the editor of Wired magazine: “Since bookstores can’t compete on choice, many once-cherished stores are going to be road kill.” By bringing their shops into the 21st century, I hope savvy bookstore owners will prove them wrong.