WH Smith sale could turn high street into ‘book desert’, authors say

WH Smith’s high street stores are ‘critical in getting books into the hands of teenagers’. Photograph: TM O Buildings/Alamy

Authors are concerned that the sale of WH Smith’s high street stores could create “book deserts”, reducing opportunities for young people to get into reading, while publishers hope that any new buyer will keep books a core part of the business.

Last weekend, the retailer confirmed it was in talks to sell about 500 high street stores as it focuses on its 1,300 branches at airports, hospitals and train stations.