Aside from the G-20 and unruly Steelers, nothing has provoked more heat around here this fall than libraries and bookstores.

The one-two punch of losing five branches of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the closing of the Barnes & Noble Bookseller outlet in Squirrel Hill has both stunned and angered many,

They don't see these closings as simple economics, but as serious assaults on their way of life, yet another deprivation in an American culture that is growing coarser and more digital every day.

Bookstores and branch libraries, by their very open, bright nature, become neighborhood gathering places, havens, if you will, that encourage browsing and even loitering among books.

Charlene Saner, for instance, spoke at last week's Allegheny Regional Asset District hearing on the plan to close her library branch in Beechview. For her, the building was a spot offering solitude, Hemingway's clean, well-lighted (and warm) place of quiet, respectful people sharing the atmosphere of reading and writing.

The story of the branch closings continues to be written, but it's definitely the end for Barnes & Noble, which was welcomed on Murray Avenue when it opened in 1994. It will close Dec. 31 -- no reprieve. Corporate headquarters in New York would only say the lease on the two-story space would not be renewed.

Nationally, the book chain, isn't in the rosiest of economic shape. Earnings and store inventories are down and the chain plans little expansion. In fact, it said in March it will close 10 stores and eliminate all remaining BDalton outlets this year.

Will the bookstore vacuum in one of Pittsburgh's busiest business districts prompt somebody to open an independent shop? In these days of retail retreats, some "boutique" style booksellers are experiencing modest gains in places such as Toronto and Chicago.

After all, two independents here -- Pinocchio Books for Children, closed in 1994, and the Squirrel Hill Bookstore, expired in 1998 -- blamed B&N for stealing their customers. With the big guy no longer on the block, there might be an opportunity for a small, nicely stocked shop run by a knowledgeable, if well-financed owner.

But, if the sluggish economy was enough of a deterrent, now comes the price war in new hardcover books between Amazon.com, Wal-Mart and Target. The first stores are pricing upcoming "big books" like Sarah Palin's ghost-written autobiography at $8.99 while Target is offering that price on pre-orders.

They will take losses on those book sales, but they can manage. An independent bookseller can't.

"Bob Hoover's Book Club" is available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.