Owners aim to open a fresh chapter in the life of the book shop

He was right. It's the smell which gets you first and, with lingering positively encouraged, hours can be lost amid the shelves absent-mindedly flicking through the pages which took someone else years to write.

These are places where the assistants never seem too worried about making a sale and where forgotten authors are given a home. They're the kind of shops the country should treasure, not least because there's a lot fewer of them that there used to be. Over the past year, independent book shops have been closing at the rate of almost two a week. Increased competition from the internet and supermarkets, which now stock bestsellers next to the fruit and veg, combined with a general decline in the fortunes of the British high street have sent many to the wall.

At the last count, there were just 1,289 independent book stores left in the UK, a decline of 27 per cent over the last 10 years and it's not just the publishing minnows who have struggled. With Borders falling into administration and sales at Waterstone's dropping last year, even the big boys have not been immune.

However, with today marking the start of Independent Booksellers Week, it's hoped the event will be a chance for those who have made it through the recession to draw breath.

"The current economic climate is undeniably tough and the book retail sector is suffering across the board," says Meryl Halls, from The Booksellers Association, which is behind the week-long event. "We now need to support those shops who are fighting so hard to survive and which continue to deliver an outstanding service, focusing on the things that the deep price cutters can't offer.

"These shops are integral to the community. They are some of the most creative entrepreneurial retailers on the high street, but as with all retailers they need to be supported in order to survive."

Amid the talk of closures and the high profile victims of the recession – the UK's only specialist crime bookshop, Murder One, shut its doors last year – there is at least a glimmer of optimism.

While consumer spending on books is down by five per cent overall, the independent sector has seen a slight increase in the number of books sold. Many have also recognised that it's a case of adapt or die and have diversified. Author events have become a key stream of revenue, most now have dedicated websites and the occasional cup of tea given to regular customers has been replaced by in-store cafs. At Silverdell Books in Lancashire, there's even an ice-cream parlour.

One of the success stories which Independent Booksellers Week was designed to champion is Simply Books in Pocklington

Opened by Sara Waddington and her mother Joyce Hulls in 2006, many thought the plan risky, but the shop has thrived.

To celebrate their two-year anniversary, Sara organised a literary festival, which has now become an annual event, and earlier this year, the upper floor of Simply Books was turned into a gallery for local artists.

"Our first premises weren't very visible and as soon as we had a chance to move into the centre of town we took it," says Sara.

"The business rates are higher and it was a gamble, but it paid off. We've survived the recession and that is largely down to the hard work which goes into giving customers what they want.

"Websites like Amazon are always going to beat us on price, but there's something really nice about coming into a bookshop and having a flick through before you buy. We know what to recommend someone looking for a present for their 80-year-old gran and we have the time to discuss people's likes and dislikes. That's something you don't get at a click of a button.

"There was a lovely moment the other day when a customer who'd bought two of a series of books from WH Smith popped in on the off-chance that we had the third. In fact we had all three and we were selling them for half the price. That doesn't happen very often, but when it does it's very satisfying."