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In a move that has been anticipated for some time, the major book retailer chain Borders has filed for bankruptcy today. The news comes after months of declining sales and missed payments to vendors. But Kobo, the e-book retailer that's run Borders' digital bookstore says that its customers needn't worry.

There are a number of reasons why Borders stumbled, but it's hard not to look at the changing landscape of publishing and the rise of e-books as having some small part to play in the company's decline. Unlike its competitors Barnes & Noble and Amazon, Borders opted not to build a branded e-reader device. It was also slow to move create an online platform with which to sell e-books, opting instead to partner with the Kobo, a spin-off of Canadian publishing company Indigo Books & Music. Kobo has provided a branded Borders e-bookstore and reader, accessible via the Kobo software and hardware.

The book-seller Borders may become the first casualty of a changing publishing industry. According to reports, the company has been delaying payments to book publishers in order to help refinance its debt.

Borders is the second largest book retailers in the U.S., after Barnes & Noble, but even so, Borders says "there can be no assurance" that these refinancing efforts will be successful in keeping the company afloat.

As eBooks have become increasingly popular, many major eBookstores have created ways to fill those eBookshelves not just with the titles of well known authors but with the works of any author willing to cough up the fees to have their projects published and distributed in this new format. And today, Borders throws its hat into the ring with a partnership with the Boulder-based startup BookBrewer, offering a service that will let independent authors publish and sell their eBooks via the Borders' eBookstore.

Before the e-reader wars, Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook e-readers were $259. Then B&N dropped the Nook to $199 and lowering its lower-end Wi-Fi version to $149. Amazon then dropped the Kindle's price to $189. All the while, Borders stood in the background paring its nails. Border's e-reader, the Kobo, has stayed steady at $149.99 and its smaller version, the Libre, at $119. Borders believes that's the right place for the e-reader to be.

"According to Boston Consulting Group, high prices continue to be a barrier to eReader adoption. The consumer sweet spot for eReader cost (is) between $100 and $150. This positions Borders for strong consumer adoption and market penetration."

Borders is getting ready to jump into the e-book market. The company, which is second-largest chain of bookstores in the U.S., started taking pre-orders for a $119 e-book reader from Aluratek today. Last month, the company started taking pre-orders for the $149 Kobo e-reader. Borders also announced that it is on track to launch its long-awaited e-book store and mobile e-reader apps for the iPhone OS later this month. While Borders' competitors like Barnes & Noble and Amazon have long made e-books a central part of their business strategies, Borders has struggled to enter this market.

Bookworms around the world have something to rejoice about today. The Borders bookstore, a competitor of Barnes and Nobles, has launched an online version of their storefront. You may recall Borders partnering with Amazon.com for online sales. Now it seems Borders is ready to step out on its own. Here's a look at what you'll find in Borders online.