Announcing the 2008 Book Sense Book of the ABA (The Renaissance Hollywood)

March 20, 2008 most enjoyed handselling during 2007, will be presented at ABA's TABLE OF CONTENTS: annual Celebration of Bookselling on Thursday, May 29, at Hotel • Announcing the 2008 Book Sense Book of the ABA (the Renaissance Hollywood). Year Winners ...... 1 "We hope the entire industry will join us at Hotel ABA to honor • ABA Joins Retail Council of New York in this year's Book Sense Book of the Year Award winners," said ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz. "Each is an indie favorite that has Albany E-Fairness Effort ...... 2 been handsold to customers at ABA member stores during 2007. • BTW News Briefs ...... 2 We look forward to applauding these winning authors and • Booksellers Forums in Colorado, Georgia & illustrators for their unique contributions to the diversity of titles Oregon Next Week ...... 3 sold at independent bookstores nationwide." • On California Minds: E-Fairness, Localism, Fiction Honor Books BookSense.com ...... 4 • The Yiddish Policemen's Union: A Novel by Michael Chabon (HarperCollins) • Hilton Atlanta to Host Spring Book Show, ABA • Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo (Knopf/Random House) & SIBA Programs ...... 5 • Away: A Novel by Amy Bloom (Random House) • Creating a Compendium of Green Resources • Run: A Novel by Ann Patchett (HarperCollins) ...... 5 Nonfiction Honor Books • From NY to DC: A Mini Bookstore Tour ...... 6 • The World Without Us by Alan Weisman (Thomas Dunne • Bookstore Sales Up for 7th Consecutive Month Books/St. Martin's) ...... 6 • Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin • Hotel ABA Reminder ...... 7 (Scribner/S&S) • The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War by David Halberstam (Hyperion) BOOK SENSE THIS WEEK • The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to • Bestsellers Bookstore & Coffee Co. Thrives on Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs (Simon Courthouse Square ...... 7 & Schuster) Children's Literature Honor Books MARKETPLACE • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman • Classifieds ...... 8 Alexie (Little, Brown Young Readers) • Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Young Readers) • Other Advertising ...... 8 • Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Abrams Books for Young Readers) • The Arrival by Shaun Tan (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic)

Announcing the 2008 Book Sense Book Children's Illustrated Honor Books of the Year Winners • Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy by Jane O'Connor, Robin Preiss-Glasser (Illus.) (HarperCollins) March 20, 2008 -- The winners of the 2008 Book Sense Book of • Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long, David Shannon the Year Awards as voted by the owners and staff of American (Illus.) (Harcourt Children's Books) Booksellers Association member bookstores are: • The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis •Fiction: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Frances Foster Books/FSG) (Riverhead/Penguin) • Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney (Viking •Nonfiction: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Juvenile/Penguin Young Readers Group) Barbara Kingsolver, with Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver The Book Sense Book of the Year winners and honor books were (HarperCollins) selected by ABA members from titles most often nominated for the •Children's Literature: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Book Sense Picks lists in 2007. Booksellers were also able to write Selznick (Scholastic Press) in titles on the ballot. Only books published in 2007 were eligible. This year's winners will receive prizes provided by Book Sense •Children's Illustrated: Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken 5 Identity by Mo Willems (Hyperion Books for Children) partner Levenger, Inc. , a catalog and Internet seller of high-quality tools for reading and writing. The awards, which recognize the titles independent booksellers In addition to being honored at the Celebration of Bookselling, the Book of the Year winners and honor book recipients are being

© 2008 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 1 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK March 20, 2008 invited to ABA's Book Sense Author Luncheon on Friday, May 30, and quality -- not be dictated by special favors to out-of-state at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The luncheon, open retailers." exclusively to stores with Book Sense, is a festive gathering of At a time when New York is facing a budget deficit of more than booksellers and dozens of authors whose books they have made $4 billion, the groups stressed to each lawmaker how the state's past or present Book Sense Picks. Reservations are limited to two unwillingness to enforce existing sales tax laws negatively effects people per bookstore. Since seating is limited, booksellers are crucial revenue streams for the state, and that this situation will urged to make their reservations as soon as possible via an only get worse as the number of people who shop online grows. electronic form on BookWeb.org 6 . Questions regarding the luncheon should be addressed to ABA Senior Director of Publisher Teicher noted that, while it is unclear which provisions will be Initiatives Mark Nichols at [email protected] 7 . --Rosemary included in the final budget, he believed that the legislators with Hawkins 8 whom ABA and the Retail Council met now have a much fuller understanding as to why this issue is so crucial to the financial ABA Joins Retail Council of New York in health of New York State retailers of all types, and to the vitality of Main Street. Albany E-Fairness Effort "With fewer than two weeks before the April 1 budget deadline, it March 20, 2008 -- Following up on letters sent by New York is imperative for New York booksellers to keep the pressure on by booksellers to their state legislators, on Wednesday, March 19, writing to their legislators to urge them to keep the Internet Sales American Booksellers Association staff joined representatives of Tax provision in the final budget," said Teicher. "While there is no the Retail Council of New York in Albany, where they met with guarantee that the budget will be passed by the deadline, currently, key legislators from both the Assembly and Senate in support of there is no indication that this budget will be delayed -- so it is the Internet Sales Tax provision's inclusion in the final state budget. critical to write your legislators now." At the meetings, the groups urged legislators to include in the final budget the Internet Sales Tax provision, which would enforce ABA has created template letters reflecting the latest developments existing sales tax laws by requiring out-of-state retailers like regarding the budget and the Internet Sales Tax provision that New York booksellers are urged to send to their assembly member and Amazon.com to collect and remit sales tax on sales made to New 9 York residents. senator. The letter to the assembly member thanks him or her for keeping the executive budget intact and urges a firm stand on Initially, a series of lobbying events with independent booksellers keeping the Internet Sales Tax proposal in the final budget. The had been planned for the day, but these appointments were letter to a bookseller's state senator 10 urges him or her to reinstate canceled on the recommendation of the Retail Council after the the Internet Sales Tax provision. Booksellers who have already abrupt resignation of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer thrust the written their legislators are being asked to write them again. capitol into an unprecedented state of uncertainty. Before the day's Booksellers can find their assembly member here 11 and find their start, it was unclear how all the upheaval would affect the day's 12 focus, but the meetings with legislators proved to be a positive step senator here . ABA also asks booksellers to send copies of their letters to ABA Public Policy Liaison Dave Grogan at forward for both ABA and the Retail Council on behalf of their 13 14 members. [email protected] . -- David Grogan "We had a long day and some encouraging meetings in Albany with our ABA partners," said Retail Council of New York State BTW News Briefs President James R. Sherin. "With the hard work ahead of us during March 20, 2008 -- the next two weeks, it's important that individual retailers keep up the pressure with letters to their local legislators to let them know Borders, Strapped for Cash, Up for Sale? the importance of this budget proposal and their appreciation for Borders Group may put itself up for sale and has lined up $42.5 the legislature's support to date. The [letter-writing] outreach so far million in loans to help continue operations, according to the has been critical and was an excellent table-setter for today's 15 Associated Press . The second-largest bookstore chain in the U.S. sessions. You can count on the Retail Council to keep up the work is examining a range of possibilities, including selling part of the here in Albany until this budget is done." company or some of the company's divisions, said the AP, which During the day, ABA and the Retail Council met with the offices of noted that Borders has lost book sales to both to online companies State Senators Jeff Klein (D-Bronx), Frank Padavan (R-Queens), and to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Center), Owen Johnson (R-Babylon, and Borders said the financing commitment comes from investment Senate Finance Committee Chairman), and Dale Volker funds affiliated with Pershing Square Capital Management LP, a (R-Depew); Assembly Ways and Means Chairman Denny Farrell major shareholder in Borders, and includes an offer to buy the (D-Manhattan); Assembly member Jim Tedisco (R-Schenectady, company. and Assembly Minority Leader); and the office of Assembly Ways and Means Director Steve Pleydle. After delaying the posting of fourth-quarter earnings, the company reported net income of $64.7 million, or $1.10 a share, compared "As we told legislators, the Internet Sales Tax provision is pro-New with a loss of $73.6 million, or $1.22, over the same period last York and pro-business," said Oren Teicher, ABA COO. "The retail year. Revenue dropped 2 percent to $1.35 billion, from $1.37 landscape is competitive enough for booksellers and other billion. Borders' quarterly dividends have been suspended. merchants without them having to compete at an eight-percent disadvantage because out-of-state retailers like Amazon.com are News of the company's financial situation caused Borders stock to allowed to skirt New York's sales tax laws. We asked legislators to plunge $1.82, or 26 percent, to $5.28 at 10:35 a.m. in New York treat all retailers fairly by enforcing the existing tax laws and to Stock Exchange composite trading, the biggest decline since the allow the competitive landscape to be decided by product, service, company went public in 1995, according to Bloomberg.com 16 .

Bloomburg.com also reported that, in a conference call with On Wednesday, March 19, the American Booksellers Foundation investors, Barnes & Noble's Chief Financial Officer Joseph for Free Expression 21 (ABFFE) board of directors announced that it Lombardi said the company planned to take a "good look" at had selected Betsy Burton of The King's English Bookshop, Salt Borders. Lake City, Utah, to fill the unexpired term of Jack Buckley of Ninth Street Book Shop, Wilmington, Delaware. Buckley resigned Roy Schonfeld Named PW's Rep of the Year because of an increase in his workload as a member of the Wilmington school board. On Friday, March 14, Publishers Weekly 17 announced that Roy Schonfeld of Abraham Associates, Inc. had been named its Sales Burton, a bookseller for more than 30 years, is the co-owner and Rep of the Year. co-founder of The King's English Bookshop, which opened in 1977. She has long been active in free speech fights and is Schonfeld, who has been a sales rep for 15 years, all of them with currently a plaintiff in ABFFE's challenge to a Utah law that Abraham Associates, services bookstores in the Midwest. He is censors the Internet. Active on numerous boards in the book also a member of the board of directors of the Great Lakes business and in her community, Burton co-founded and is board Booksellers Association. Prior to becoming a rep, Schonfield chair of Local First Utah, and is on the boards of two national worked for 12 years as a book buyer at two different Ohio organizations whose member-networks are composed of bookstores. independent businesses -- BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Schonfeld told PW : "I'm very honored to have this recognition of Living Economies) and AMIBA (American Independent Business my work by booksellers. It's especially heartening to get this news Alliance). She is the author of The King's English: Adventures of after driving around throughout this incredible hard winter -- I an Independent Bookseller (Gibbs Smith), which was published in seem to have hit every storm in Michigan and Ohio. But, I enjoy 2005. traveling around, meeting these booksellers, and having friendships with them." BISG to Hold 5th Making Information Pay Conference Earlier in the week, PW had named Vroman's Bookstore in The Book Industry Study Group will be holding its fifth annual Pasadena, California, as its Bookseller of the Year. (See related Making Information Pay conference on May 9 at the McGraw-Hill story 18 .) Auditorium in New York City. The conference will focus on the Vroman's and Schonfield will be honored at PW 's 16th annual role of experimentation in an evolving publishing industry, as well award ceremony at this year's BookExpo America in Los Angeles. as the loci and effects of this experimentation. A presentation about the Espresso Book Machine by Todd Lambda Literary Awards Finalists Announced The Lambda Anderson from the University of Alberta bookstore might prove Literary Foundation has announced the finalists for the 20th annual particularly interesting to booksellers, noted BISG Executive Director Michael Healey. Learn more about the conference on the Lambda Literary Awards in 21 categories. The winners will be 22 announced at a gala ceremony in the Silver Screen Theatre at the BISG website, www.bisg.org . Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California, on May 29, in conjunction with BookExpo America. The 107 finalists were chosen by a jury of judges who come from Booksellers Forums in Colorado, all walks of literary life: journalists, authors, booksellers, librarians, Georgia & Oregon Next Week playwrights, and illustrators. The complete list of finalists is 23 19 March 19, 2008 -- Three American Booksellers Association available at www.lambdaliterary.org/ . Forum programs are on tap for the remainder of this month: on Thursday, March 27, in Estes Park, Colorado, and on Saturday, Publishing Triangle Announces 20th Annual Awards Finalists March 29, in Atlanta, Georgia, and Portland, Oregon. The owners and staff of all ABA member stores, as well as those of the The 20th Annual Triangle Awards, honoring the best lesbian and respective regional associations, are invited to attend. The events gay fiction, nonfiction, and poetry published in 2007, will be will feature an education component and an opportunity to discuss presented on April 28 at the Tishman Auditorium of the New concerns and hear the latest news about the association's programs School for Social Research in New York City. The ceremony is and initiatives from ABA senior staff and Board members. free and open to the public, with a reception to follow. Katherine V. Forrest is the 2008 recipient of the Publishing Estes Park, Colorado Triangle's Bill Whitehead Award for Lifetime Achievement. Forrest has written 15 works of fiction, including her eight-volume The ABA Booksellers Forum program will be held in conjunction Kate Delafield mystery series -- the latest, Hancock Park won the with the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Lambda Literary Award for Best Mystery, as did two of the earlier (MPIBA) Spring Meeting 24 , which runs from Wednesday, March volumes in the series. In 2005, she won the Lambda for Science 26, through Friday, March 28, at Rocky Mountain Park Holiday Fiction/Fantasy for Daughters of an Emerald Dusk . The Bill Inn (101 South Vrain Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517). Whitehead Award is given to a woman in even-numbered years and On Thursday, March 27, ABA will present a Booksellers Forum a man in odd years, and the winner receives $3,000. and "Booksellers at the Tipping Point: Leveraging Localism and For a complete list of the award finalists and information about the Independence to Promote Your Store." ABA CEO Avin Mark ceremony, go to www.publishingtriangle.org 20 . Domnitz, COO Oren Teicher, and Board member Cathy Langer of Denver's Tattered Cover Bookstore will participate in the program. (Read more 25 .) ABFFE Welcomes Betsy Burton to Board

Atlanta, Georgia Monica Carter of Skylight Books in Los Angeles said the session Due to damage from last week's storms in Atlanta, the ABA offered practical steps for working with other area independent Booksellers Forum program in conjunction with the Southern businesses to raise their profile in the community. "I was also Independent Booksellers Alliance 26 has been moved, along with impressed with the digital media kit, as well as the hard copy, that the Spring Book Show 27 , from the Georgia World Congress Center shows the steps we need to take." to the Hilton Atlanta 28 (255 Courtland Street NE, Atlanta; Of SCIBA's "Tools to Do Business Better," Andrea Vuleta of Mrs. 404-659-2000). The Spring Book Show runs from Friday, March Nelson's Toy & Book Shop in La Verne noted, "Several stores 28, through Sunday, March 30. presented their inventory systems' pros and cons. We're looking to On Saturday, March 29, ABA will present a Booksellers Forum update our POS/Inventory system, so that portion was very helpful. and "Booksellers at the Tipping Point: Leveraging Localism and Wholesalers also presented information on their systems, which Independence to Promote Your Store." ABA COO Oren Teicher was really a plus." and Chief Marketing Officer Meg Smith will participate in the Following the education sessions, ABA's Domnitz, Teicher, program. (Read more.) Vlahos, and Smith facilitated the Booksellers Forum, where, in addition to being able to voice concerns, booksellers heard about Portland, Oregon some of the association's newest initiatives. Issues addressed at the forum included e-fairness, BookSense.com websites, and The ABA Booksellers Forum program in conjunction with the communications with customers. Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association 29 will be held at Heathman Hotel (1001 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97207) on Several booksellers brought up the functionality of the Saturday, March 29. The ABA program, which will include the BookSense.com website, said Carter. "We talked about the BookSense.com templates and how they're not that user-friendly. education session "Booksellers at the Tipping Point: Leveraging Localism and Independence to Promote Your Store," will be I'm happy to hear that's something ABA is working on." Other followed by PNBA's 2008 Book Awards Presentation Party. items of interest were ways to facilitate customer communication via the web and making bookseller book reviews more readily Participating in the ABA program will be CEO Avin Mark available. Domnitz, Chief Program Officer Len Vlahos, and President Russ Lawrence of Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton, Montana. (Read Of particular interest to Charles Day of Book Soup in West more 30 .) Hollywood was the discussion of plans currently in the works for creating a more compelling online marketplace that takes advantage of open source software. Day also mentioned that For planning purposes, booksellers who will be attending any of ensuring the equitable collection of sales tax on online purchases the ABA Forum programs are asked to RSVP to was an issue that concerned a number of booksellers at the forum. [email protected] 31 . The day's events concluded with "Martinis for the Mind: SCIBA Annual Meeting, Reception, and Reps Picks," which included a On California Minds: E-Fairness, talk by L.A. Times editor David Ulin and a look forward to Localism, BookSense.com BookExpo America, while booksellers sipped martinis and nibbled 32 on mashed potatoes with toppings served in a martini glass. "It was March 19, 2008 -- On Monday, March 10, and Wednesday, fantastic," said Carter. "David Ulin talked about reader March 12, the American Booksellers Association held Booksellers demographics in terms of web and hard copy use and how to utilize Forum programs in conjunction with the Southern California 33 each format best. It was very interesting to consider how to appeal Independent Booksellers Association (SCIBA) and the Northern to our customer base based on their marketing strategies." California Independent Booksellers Association 34 (NCIBA), respectively. ABA staff at each included ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz, COO Oren Teicher, Chief Program Officer Len Vlahos, San Francisco and Chief Marketing Officer Meg Smith. Both programs also The March 12 Booksellers Forum program was held at the offices featured ABA's "Booksellers at the Tipping Point: Leveraging of San Francisco's Books Inc., owned by ABA Board member Localism and Independence to Promote Your Store," which Michael Tucker. Approximately 45 booksellers participated in the covered the issues of localism, independence, and sustainability. day's two events: "Booksellers at the Tipping Point" and the Booksellers Forum discussions. Los Angeles The programming was "quite good," said NCIBA Executive Held at the 2008 Hotel ABA 35 , the Renaissance Hollywood, the Director Hut Landon. "NCIBA continues to be appreciative of March 10 program featuring both ABA and SCIBA sessions was ABA's efforts to communicate directly with its members with these attended by more than 65 booksellers. forums. We recognize that it's a huge time commitment and travel commitment, but think that this communication has lot of value to "The day was terrific!" said SCIBA Executive Director Jennifer booksellers in all of the regions." Bigelow. "I am very pleased by the attendance.... Booksellers came from as far North as Ojai, east as Bakersfield, south as San Diego. Amy Thomas of Pegasus and Pendragon Books in Berkeley It was the strongest turnout for us for a Forum/Spring meeting. considered the time well spent, particularly "Booksellers at the SCIBA's 'Martinis for the Mind' was very well received as well -- Tipping Point," led by Vlahos. "I was quite taken with Len's insight great questions and answers regarding POS ... and the distributors about consumer shift," she said, referring to a change in customer did a good overview of their company's services." focus to localism. "It seems people now want something different. They want to buy local, and [independent booksellers] can be part The day began with ABA's "Booksellers at the Tipping Point: of that revolution." Leveraging Localism and Independence to Promote Your Store."

Following "Booksellers at the Tipping Point," Domnitz, Teicher, Boomers? Vlahos, Smith, and Tucker facilitated the Booksellers Forum, 2. By the year 2018, will boomers still be shopping in where Thomas said she observed a distinctly positive overall bricks-and-mortar bookstores or primarily online? attitude. "I noticed that conversations among booksellers were filled with energy and activity," she said. "There wasn't any gloom Saturday, March 29 and doom and bitching. It seemed like there was a lot of forward • 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: ABA's "Booksellers at the Tipping thinking...." Point: Leveraging Localism and Independence to Promote Your Store" The concepts of localism, independence, and Brad Jones of BookSmart in Morgan Hill reported that the forum sustainability are gaining traction with consumers. In this included a discussion of e-fairness. "It's an extremely important session, you'll hear how the retail marketplace has evolved to topic, especially when the community has difficulty paying school allow these phenomena to take root and grow, and will learn taxes and a giant corporation is allowed to skirt collecting sales tax how to leverage and exploit these powerful tools to more from customers," he explained. effectively market and promote your store. Jones also noted that forum participants brainstormed on • 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: ABA Booksellers Forum Over e-newsletter technology, as well as in-store events, and ABA staff Lunch ABA COO Oren Teicher and Chief Marketing Officer discussed the new national program for all of its bookstore Meg Smith will provide members, and prospective members, members to be unveiled at BookExpo America in Los Angeles this with updates on association programs and initiatives, as well as spring. "I'm excited to see that," he added. an opportunity to voice concerns and offer input on the future Jones echoed other booksellers who spoke with BTW when he said, direction of the association. Owners and store staff are "It's always inspiring to be around other booksellers and hear encouraged to attend to gain a broader perspective on how their what's going on in the rest of the country. The hosts [Books Inc.] stores fit into the larger industry, as well as to exchange ideas were wonderful. It was a great day. [ABA] got us filled up with with their fellow booksellers. great information and then got us on our way." -- Karen Schechner Questions about ABA programming should be addressed to 36 [email protected] 41 ; questions about SIBA programming should be addressed to [email protected] 42 . For planning Hilton Atlanta to Host Spring Book purposes, booksellers who will be attending the forum program are Show, ABA & SIBA Programs asked to RSVP to [email protected] 43 . March 19, 2008 -- 37 Due to storm damage to Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center, the American Booksellers Association Creating a Compendium of Green Forum program, the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance 38 Resources 39 education program, and the Spring Book Show have been moved March 18, 2008 -- For booksellers, becoming greener means to the Hilton Atlanta. The Spring Book Show runs from Friday, incorporating environmentally friendly practices in day-to-day March 28, through Sunday, March 30, with SIBA programming on operations, as well as meeting the needs of a growing number of Friday and ABA's Booksellers Forum program on Saturday. consumers looking for reliable information on everything from the The move to the Hilton Atlanta 40 (255 Courtland Street NE, science of global warming to public policies and personal practices 404-659-2000), which was already the event's host hotel, puts that can help make the world a better place to live. everything under one roof. The American Booksellers Association is involved in an ongoing Here's a rundown of ABA and SIBA programming: effort to help members meet these challenges. At this year's Winter Friday, March 28 Institute, becoming greener was the focus of a keynote address by • 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: SIBA's "Strength in Numbers," With Gary Hirshberg, president and CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farms and the Jeff Milchen, American Independent Business Alliance author of Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World (AMIBA) Based on the Independent Business Alliance model (Hyperion), and of the "Green Retaining" panel featuring Rep. Jay successfully pioneered in Boulder, Colorado, and incorporating Inslee (D-WA), author of Apollo's Fire (Island Press); Sue Lynn, the experiences of subsequent efforts in other communities, this Confluence Bookstore, Bistro, and Business Center (Bellevue, NE); workshop introduces the benefits of building an alliance among and Scott Sklar, co-author of Consumer Guide to Solar Energy community-based businesses, citizens, and community (Bonus Books) and president of The Stella Group, Ltd. organizations in your home town and offers an introduction to ABA's handout from the Wi3 "Green Retailing" panel is now how IBAs work. available to ABA bookstore members in PDF format on • 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.: SIBA's "EESY CHIT: Easy, BookWeb.org 44 , as is "Top 10: What Should I Do in My Home or Effective, Strategies That You Can Happily Implement Office Building? A Guide" 45 , prepared by Sklar for The Stella Today" Presenter: SIBA and Page & Palette President Karin Group. Wilson shares a treasure trove of great ideas that you can In addition, Bookselling This Week has begun a series of articles on implement in moments with a great return on time invested. An different aspects of green retailing, including features on idea-packed session not to be missed. bookstores with new green sections 46 and businesses instituting • Noon: Spring Book Show Opens environmentally friendly practices 47 that are money-saving, too. • 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: SIBA Resource Roundtables (View 48 a complete list of BTW 's green features to date.) • 2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: SIBA's "Deeper Understanding Conversation With Robert Gray at Spring Book Show! ABA is also in the process of compiling a selection of notable titles What Do Baby Boomers Want (to Read)?" Call it a dealing with the environment -- everything from how to modify conversation starter for 2008. personal and business practices to conserve resources and cut 1. What are your thoughts about long-term marketing to Baby carbon emissions to titles focusing on public policy -- that it will

© 2008 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 5 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK March 20, 2008 make available in PDF format as a "Green List," similar to the On the return trip was a stop at Chester County Book & Music "Shop Local" list 49 . Company 59 , a 49,900-square-foot store featuring more than Booksellers are being asked to e-mail nominations for the Green 250,000 books, 60,000 CD and DVD recordings, and a full-service List to Dan Cullen, ABA senior director of editorial content, at restaurant, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Originally only 1,000 [email protected] 50 and include the words "green list" in the square feet, the store was expanded by owners Kathy and Bob Simoneaux in 1996 when its neighbor, Rainbow Records, was subject line. The deadline for submissions to the Green List is 60 Friday, March 28. divesting its Pennsylvania properties. In a previous BTW article , Chester Country's Joe Drabyak explained that Kathy and Bob For future BTW articles, booksellers who are instituting green Simoneaux decided to buy out the record store, knock down the policies in their stores, creating green sections featuring books and wall between them, and begin with a fully stocked, ready made sidelines, or undertaking other initiatives are asked to contact BTW music department. Today, the recordings include a range from pop, Editorial Director Rosemary Hawkins at [email protected] 51 rock, rap, and R&B to classical, jazz, blues, country, and world . music. The music area also stocks a wide selection of specialty Booksellers heading to BookExpo America in Los Angeles should import titles and DVDs. Befitting Pennsylvania's importance in the mark their calendars to attend ABA's "Green Retailing" panel, part upcoming Democratic presidential primary, when Perlstein stopped of ABA's Day of Education 52 on Thursday, May 29, at Hotel ABA. at Chester County, the store featured two displays to help voters chose candidates: one of books by politicians and the other, in a From NY to DC: A Mini Bookstore Tour different section, by the pundits. In Hillsborough, New Jersey, Perlstein met with Chicklet Books 61 March 18, 2008 -- On her way to a meeting of the Library of owner Deb Hunter, who is not letting a broken ankle keep her from 53 Congress' Reading Promotions Partners at the Center for the the funky book boutique, which she opened in December 2004. Book in Washington, D.C., ABA Director of Member Services Jill With a hot pink, purple, apple green, turquoise, and polka dot Perlstein stopped at several bookstores along the way to chat with interior, comfy chairs, and window seats, Hunter has created a their owners and snap a few photos for BookWeb.org's photo distinctive environment in 1,300 square feet of space. In September 54 gallery . 2007, Hunter opened a second Chicklet Books 62 in Princeton, New In a trip covering over 600 miles in a little more than two days, Jersey, in 3,000 square feet of selling space upstairs and 6,000 Perlstein stopped at six ABA member stores. First up was a visit square feet downstairs. She also owns Glen Echo Books in with Jack and Jemma Buckley at Ninth Street Book Shop in Princeton, New Jersey, and Unique & Novel (a wholesaling Wilmington, Delaware. The former schoolteachers opened Ninth business). Street Book Shop in 1977, in a location approximately 100 feet The last stop on Perlstein's tour was Divine Inspirations 63 , a from the present storefront. The area has changed significantly over bookstore and wellness center founded by Gloria Brown in 2005 64 55 the years, and in June 2007 Jack Buckley said that fewer than 10 in Nutley, New Jersey. In a 2,000-square-foot space, Brown helps percent of the businesses that were in the surrounding area when people find their way to physical and spiritual health through books the store opened are still around. To adapt to the changing and instruction in the healing arts. The store sells books, candles, environment, the Buckleys reduced Ninth Street's inventory and incense, CDs, DVDs, and more. And in a 400-square-foot room changed its mix to feature fewer business books and more fiction. that Brown has designated as the wellness center, Divine In spite of the reduced inventory, Buckley noted that the store was Inspirations offers classes in everything from belly dancing and still good at having the right book for people. A selection of yoga to herbal medicine, diet, and other types of healing. magazines and greeting cards also draws customers to the store. Perlstein's next stop was Greetings & Readings 56 in Hunt Valley, At the Center for the Book Maryland, a 30,000-square-foot store filled with books and cards, sports memorabilia, tableware, porcelain, crystal, fashions, teapots, Each year, the Center for the Book convenes a meeting of Reading Promotion and more. The business, founded in 1969 by the Baum family, Partners for an "idea exchange." This year's meeting, moderated by librarian and began as a gift and card shop in a 1,800-square-foot space in a historian John Y. Cole, brought 45 partners to the Library of Congress' James Towson, Maryland, strip mall. About three years ago, Greetings & Madison Memorial Building on Wednesday, March 12. Readings, which is now co-owned by the founders' son, Steven The purpose of the day's discussion was to share information about each Baum, and his brother-in-law, Stephen Spund, moved to the Hunt 57 organization's reading and literacy promotion activities. The meeting also Valley Towne Centre in Baltimore County. In a BTW feature last provided opportunities to network. Among the programs that have grown out of fall 58 , Baum noted that each of the store's 100-plus employees previous meetings was ABA's Prescription for Reading promotion. Relationships works in a specific department. Staff members who sell handbags with other organizations, such as the Children's Book Council, the American don't blow up balloons, cafe servers don't fit shoes, and only Library Association, and the Association of American Publishers, have also been strengthened by participation. At last week's meeting, each organization reported booksellers sell books. on its literacy efforts and ways in which the other participants could help. Following the meeting at the Center of the Book, where she discussed literacy issues with like-minded organizations, Perlstein Perlstein spoke about ABA's mission and how independent booksellers are key in communities looking to encourage reading and literacy. She also encouraged the stopped at the first of two specialty stores on her route: Fairy attendees to search out independent bookstores and to shop locally. Godmother, a children's bookstore in Washington, D.C. In contrast to the vastness of Greetings & Readings, Fairy Godmother is a small store, tucked into an old house. It's filled with books for Bookstore Sales Up for 7th Consecutive children, from infants through teens, in English, Spanish, and French, as well as classic toys, Madame Alexander dolls, Steiff Month stuffed animals, CDs, DVDs, arts and crafts supplies, puppets, and March 18, 2008 -- The new year got off to a good start, with retail more. sales at bookstores exceeding last January's results. Preliminary

© 2008 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 6 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK March 20, 2008 figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census reflect an the "Registration Choices" page). There is no registration fee for increase in bookstore sales in January 2008 of 4.7 percent as the Day of Education. compared to January 2007. This was the seventh consecutive The BEA trade show will be held from Thursday, May 29, through month that retail sales at bookstores exceeded the previous year's Sunday, June 1, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. results. January 2008 bookstore sales are estimated at $2,278 million, compared to sales of $2,175 million for the same period last year. The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of December 2007 figures downward slightly, from $2,113 million to $2,109 million, bringing the increase in bookstore sales this past December to 2.5 percent. Overall total retail and food service sales were also up in January. Bestsellers Bookstore & Coffee Co. Retail sales were $349 billion in January 2008, compared to $332.8 Thrives on Courthouse Square billion in January 2007, an increase of 4.9 percent. March 18, 2008 -- Eleven years ago, Jamie Robinson, a third-generation retailer, and her husband, Scott, an experienced retailer himself, launched the 800-square-foot Bestsellers Period 2007 Final 2008 % Change 72 (Millions of (Millions of 2007 over 2006 Bookstore & Coffee Co. in Mason, Michigan. Since then, the Dollars) Dollars) business has more than tripled in size, with further expansions in the works. The Robinsons also own Darrell's Market & Hardware, a family business established in 1945 near Mason. January 2,175 2,175 (p) 4.7 Their son, Jared Browers, now manages the bookstore. "He's been in retail since he was old enough to put on an apron," said Jamie Robinson. "He's been running the business the last three years." YTD 2,175 2,175 (p) 4.7 About the bookstore's beginnings, Robinson explained, "We started (p) Preliminary figure tiny and brought in beautiful fixtures from Franklin fixtures. We made it look good. Ingram set us up with our opening inventory. Note: Estimates reflect sales of all types of participating bookstore, And four years later, we bought a building, expanded to 2,500 including trade, college, religious, chain stores (including square feet, and added an espresso bar and a full service cafe." The superstores), and others. A bookstore is defined as any retail store now stocks approximately 10,000 titles and specializes in establishment with sales comprised of more than 50 percent new general interest, children's, and regional books. books and periodicals, and estimates include sales of all products in these stores. Bestsellers Bookstore uses Book Sense fliers, with its physical and web address stamped on them, as bag stuffers and to distribute at book-related fundraising events. It has had significant success with Hotel ABA Reminder the Book Sense gift card program and reached a store best this past March 17, 2008 -- 65 With this year's Hotel ABA, The Renaissance Christmas season. "We sold 150 gift cards in one day," said Hollywood 66 , currently booked to capacity, ABA member Robinson. booksellers who would like reservations should contact the 67 The Robinsons recently bought a building on either side of the association's Margaret Nafz to be put on a waiting list. To ensure bookstore's current space. In one, they plan to open a high-end deli, that as many waiting booksellers as possible can be accommodated, wine, and cheese shop, and in the other they'll expand the anyone who no longer needs their Hotel ABA reservation should 68 bookstore another 1,200 to 1,400 square feet. The bookstore and contact Nafz , so the room remains in the ABA block and can be the expansion space were once one retail location, and doorways assigned to another member. connecting the two spaces are just dry walled over. "It was once There are other hotel options 69 close by Hotel ABA for those one big hardware store," said Robinson. "So it'll be much easier to currently without reservations; however, the association has not expand there." negotiated special rates with these hotels. (ABA reminds For Robinson, adding a full cafe was somewhat inevitable given booksellers to read a hotel's cancellation policy carefully before her experience owning and operating Darrell's, which offers a booking a room.) catering service and prepared food. "I've been in the food business Hotel ABA will be the site of ABA's Day of Education 70 on my whole life, so adding food service to the bookstore wasn't a big Thursday, May 29, as well as several ABA- and deal." It turned out to be both an easy and profitable decision. publisher-sponsored special events, beginning on Wednesday, May "When we put in a cafe, our books sales doubled. We went from 28. having 3,000 people on our ... mailing list to more than 6,000 in a year -- and this in a town of 7,500. People who'd never bought a Registration for the Day of Education, which is open exclusively to book from us before started coming in for the good coffee." ABA bookstore and provisional members, is via the BookExpo America trade show site, www.bookexpoamerica.com 71 , or the The 120-year-old brick building that houses Bestsellers Bookstore BEA registration booklet, mailing in April. In addition to & Coffee had been a hardware store for 70 years and following that registering for the trade show as ABA members, booksellers who a print shop. When the Robinsons took over, they completely wish to participate in the association's Thursday programming, gutted and renovated the structure, which overlooks the courthouse including the breakfast and lunch events, must check off the square. The overall effect is dramatic. One admirer, visiting author appropriate boxes (these options appear on the website following Chris Bohjalian, asked Robinson, "Do you realize what you have

© 2008 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 7 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK March 20, 2008 here? This is one of the top three most beautiful courthouse squares POSITIONS AVAILABLE in the country. Has Hollywood found out about you yet?" Latitude 33 Bookshop, in lovely Laguna Beach, CA, has an Maybe Hollywood hasn't discovered them yet, but Michigan's opening for an Assistant Manager. Bookselling experience governor has. Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently chose to hold a required. Duties will include daily backlist restock orders, community roundtable discussion at Bestsellers Bookstore & overseeing the children's department (including frontlist buying), Coffee at the recommendation of state Rep. Barb Byrum, a and being the "go-to" person when the manager is not available. longtime customer, said Robinson. "We had Governor Granholm, Call Tom at (949) 494-5403 or e-mail: [email protected] 81 . the mayor, and about 20 community leaders. Attendance was open Part Time, In-House Staff Writer : Information department of the to anyone. Anyone could ask a question." American Booksellers Association seeks part time, in-house staff Other scheduled events include serving as the booksellers for the writer to cover the bookselling, retail, and publishing beat. Strong local library's panel discussion of Mason's community read title, Al writing, copyediting, and proofing skills required to meet weekly Gore's An Inconvenient Truth (Rodale), which will also include deadline. Interested applicants should send a resume and clips to forum discussions and more on environmental issues. ABA Information Director, Dan Cullen via e-mail: 82 As Bestsellers Bookstore & Coffee has grown in square footage [email protected] . and sales, the Robinsons have also focused more attention on green issues, both in the bookstore and in the cafe. They added a "Going Green in 2008" books category on their BookSense.com website All Regular ABA Member Bookstores in good standing may and changed all their 60-plus spotlight bulbs to energy-saving have up to four 2-week Classified Ad insertions per year in Bookselling This Week at no charge (50-word limit). For more fluorescents. At the cafe, "We recycle almost everything," said 83 Robinson. "A local gardener picks up our coffee grounds and we information on booking a classified ad, click here . have a big, covered Rubbermaid bin where we put all of our compost, and a farmer picks that up, too." -- Karen Schechner 73 Other Advertising Away With All Gods!: Unchaining the Mind and Radically Changing the World 84 By Bob Avakian "Whether readers enthusiastically embrace or reject its claims and arguments, Away With All Gods! is a book that cannot be ignored." --- Peter McLaren, professor, Graduate School of Education and Classifieds Information Studies, University of California FREE A challenge to all sales pros: Get off the bench and into the game! Free, two 84-pocket note card spinners . White and plexiglass/lucite. Made by Millrock. In fairly good shape. Whoever All-Star Sales Book 85 wants them will need to pay shipping from Buxton, NC or come Author: Billy Cox pick them up. Contact Gee Gee at Buxton Village Books via e-mail ISBN 978-1-929774-48-7 at [email protected] 79 . Greenleaf Book Group Press

New from award-winning author Chris Lynch FOR SALE Cyberia: Animal Revolution 86 Out-of-business bookstore in Edenton, NC selling bookstore Coming this fall inventory and fixtures . Books, bookcases, check-out counter, chairs, display stands, and other items available. For more information contact Matt Cowper, Waterside Bookstore, phone: (252)-216-8496, e-mail: [email protected] 80 .

Links in this document: 1. See http://booksense.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=9781594489501 2. See http://booksense.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=9780060852559 3. See http://booksense.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=9780439813785 4. See http://booksense.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=9781423102991 5. See http://www.levenger.com/ 6. See http://www.bookweb.org/events/bea/bealunch.html 7. See mailto:[email protected] 8. See mailto:[email protected] 9. See http://www.bookweb.org/advocacy/salestax/nyletter1.html 10. See http://www.bookweb.org/advocacy/salestax/nyletter2.html 11. See http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

12. See http://www.senate.state.ny.us/sdlookup.nsf/Public_search?OpenForm 13. See mailto:[email protected] 14. See mailto:[email protected] 15. See http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/business/20apborders-web.html?_r=1&oref=slogin 16. See http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aRJXTxNs7zaI 17. See http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6540475.html 18. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5899 19. See http://www.lambdaliterary.org/ 20. See http://www.publishingtriangle.org/ 21. See http://www.abffe.com 22. See http://www.bisg.org/conferences/mip5.html 23. See http://www.bookweb.org/events/forums 24. See http://www.mountainsplains.org/springmeeting.html 25. See http://news.bookweb.org/news/5864.html#Estes 26. See http://www.sibaweb.com/ 27. See http://www.springbookshow.com/2008/ 28. See http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/ATLAHHH-Hilton-Atlanta-Georgia/index.do 29. See http://www.pnba.org 30. See http://news.bookweb.org/news/5864.html#Portland 31. See mailto:[email protected] 32. See http://www.bookweb.org/events/forums 33. See http://www.scbabooks.org/home.html 34. See http://www.nciba.com/ 35. See http://www.bookweb.org/events/bea/hotelaba 36. See mailto:[email protected] 37. See http://www.bookweb.org/events/forums 38. See http://www.sibaweb.com/ 39. See http://www.springbookshow.com/2008/ 40. See http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/ATLAHHH-Hilton-Atlanta-Georgia/index.do 41. See mailto:[email protected] 42. See mailto:[email protected]/ 43. See mailto:[email protected] 44. See http://www.bookweb.org/files/bookstore/pdf/education/Green_%20Retail.pdf 45. See http://www.bookweb.org/files/bookstore/pdf/education/STELLA.pdf 46. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5792 47. See http://news.bookweb.org/news/5843.html 48. See http://news.bookweb.org/m-bin/by_topic?topic_id=73 49. See http://www.bookweb.org/files/open/pdf/shoplocal/list.pdf 50. See mailto:[email protected] 51. See mailto:[email protected] 52. See http://www.bookweb.org/events/bea/program.html 53. See http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/partners.html 54. See http://www.bookweb.org/ideaexchange/mvnforum/listthreads?forum=12 55. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5382 56. See http://www.greetingsandreadings.com/ 57. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5636 58. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5636 59. See http://www.ccbmc.com/ 60. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/2062 61. See http://www.chickletbooks.com/ 62. See http://news.bookweb.org/news/5529.html 63. See http://www.divinebooks.net/ 64. See http://news.bookweb.org/booksense/4034.html 65. See http://cwp.marriott.com/laxrh/americanbooksellers 66. See http://cwp.marriott.com/laxrh/americanbooksellers 67. See mailto:[email protected]?subject=Hotel%20ABA 68. See mailto:[email protected]?subject=Hotel%20ABA 69. See http://www.bookweb.org/events/bea/hotelaba/other.html

70. See http://www.bookweb.org/events/bea/program.html 71. See http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/ 72. See http://www.bestsellersbookstore.com/ 73. See mailto:[email protected] 74. See mailto:[email protected] 75. See mailto:[email protected] 76. See mailto:[email protected] 77. See mailto:[email protected] 78. See http://www.bookweb.org/about/ads/booksellers.html 79. See mailto:[email protected] 80. See mailto:[email protected] 81. See mailto:[email protected] 82. See mailto:[email protected] 83. See http://www.bookweb.org/about/ads/booksellers.html 84. See http://www.awaywithallgods.com/ 85. See http://www.billycoxinternational.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9&Itemid=28 86. See http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=163707&FullBreadCrumb=%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.scholastic.com%2Fbrowse%2Fsearch%2F%3Fquery%3Dchris%2Blynch%26Ntt%3Dchris%2Blynch%26Ntk%3DSCHL30_SI%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchallpartial%26N%3D0%26Nty%3D1%22+class%3D%22endecaAll%22%3EAll+Results%3C%2Fa%3E