The digital age has claimed one of the city's five used bookstores, with At Second Glance scheduled to close as soon as owner Pat DiFrancesco can sell off her stock.

And DiFrancesco isn't alone as other used-book retailers in Kamloops feel a similar pinch to the 25-per-cent drop in sales At Second Glance endured during the last year.

"That's a huge percentage," said DiFrancesco. "I didn't realize how 100-per-cent significant that was until I sat down and crunched the numbers."

She blames the growing popularity of digital books and ereaders, saying the ease and accessibility of the electronic medium is hurting the book industry.

DiFrancesco held a press conference Wednesday morning at the Victoria Street location she's occupied for 13 years to deliver the bad news to friends and customers.

The decision was not an easy one, and means her nine staff — the majority of whom work part time — will be out of a job.

But the prime downtown location and 3,000-square-foot retail space doesn't come cheap, she said.

"I'm losing money," said DiFrancesco.

So DiFrancesco is selling all 100,000 of her books at a premium. The deal now is two books for the price of one. She said the amount will increase in the coming weeks, with books going for three-to-one, four-to-one and so on until they're all gone.

"How long does it take to sell 100,000 books?" she said, adding she expects to close at the end of November.

That leaves four used bookstores in Kamloops. Those contacted by The Daily News on Wednesday say business isn't brisk, and ebooks are to blame.

Jason Wiggins, owner of The Book Place on Third Avenue, said he's also seen sales slow during the last year, although not to the same degree as At Second Glance.

But his business is significantly smaller, so he doesn't feel quite the pinch.

"As it is, I'm barely making it here," said Wiggins.

The owner of Andrena's Book Company on Columbia Street briefly considered closing her doors when sales hit a recent slump. But Andrena Blair has decided to tough it out.

"I think (ebooks) will always be a problem. It will affect things for sure, but I think I can weather it out and there will be room for both," said Blair.

The pending closure of At Second Glance is sad news to its loyal customers and staff. Mike Grant has worked at the store for 12 years and will miss the relaxed banter he enjoyed with the patrons.

He said DiFrancesco encouraged her staff to be friendly and a little out there, which made At Second Glance a fun place to work.

"This is down-home, family-type shopping," he said.

Customers Bev Markle and Solange Belleforte will miss exploring the store's many aisles and shelves full of books. Markle is travelling to Scotland and came to find books on the country. She had two in hand.

"What a resource," she said.

Belleforte is sad to see her bookstore close.

"I think Pat has been a real anchor to the reading community here because it's affordable and accessible," she said.