Book buyers and, oh yes, professional book browsers, have more than a passing interest in the Borders bookshop changing hands. An Australian group, A&R Whitcoulls, has bought the American chain's Singapore and Australasian shops, numbering 30 in all. But it will retain the Borders trademark. As well it might. The store in Wheelock Place has been the chain's best performing worldwide, reckoned by sales per square foot.

Why did the owners give up a winning business? Intriguing. But book lovers would not care too much if Borders was sold to Tibetan Buddhism's commercial arm, as long as the improved book scene does not regress with the dilution of American marketing pizzazz.

The chain has said the Singapore management will be unchanged. Bibliophiles (such a pretentious word) are more interested in the mix of titles and literary genres, and whether the store ambience will remain welcoming.

In the metaphorical bullock-cart days, before Borders and the stylish Japanese store Kinokuniya professionalised book retailing here, Times the Bookshop (it tried) and MPH (not bad, not bad) were places that you went in and got out of within 30 minutes. Browsing was discouraged. Titles were sparse. Staff did not know much about publishing sensations. So, yes, may Borders and Kinokuniya burnish their art of selling an experiential thing, not only books.

In Europe the cafe-within-a-bookshop is celebrated as a spot where friendships are made and debates on books and writers take place.

Borders and Kinokuniya have cafes, although there is scant danger of book discussions among strangers breaking out. People actually go there to eat. All that's missing on the book scene is a cosy enclave of used-book stores, run by people who know their books for people who burrow for half-forgotten treasures. But, please, not too many shelves stocked with Sidney Sheldon-type penny-dreadfuls. These draw noisy lelong buyers.