Today Barnes & Noble announced they will install 1,000 square-foot boutique areas in stores to show off the Nook eReader. The “full-service” boutiques will contain trial devices, a video screen playing demos, and a staff member dedicated to device support.

Just in time for the announcement, cartoonist Jeff Koterba drew a bleak cartoon about the bookshelf of the future. We hope the Barnes & Noble of the future has a few more books than those cartoon shelves. Follow this link to see more of Koterba’s work.

Nevertheless, electronic services are becoming more a part of the brick and mortor store plan. The bookseller estimated that it “averages more than 2 million free Wi-Fi connections per month in its stores.”
Read more at eBooknewser. (Via Mike Cane)