BTW News Briefs

Another Poll Predicts Happy Holidays for Retailers

If predictions equal sales, then this holiday season will be an extremely profitable one for retailers. The Gallup Organization recently released a new Gallup Poll, conducted November 3 - 5, that indicated consumer optimism is now "at its highest level in more than 18 months" and that "consumer spending intentions are more positive than they have been at any point since 9/11."

The Poll predicted that, coupled with the surge in economic growth during the third quarter and the new job growth reported by the Labor Department, there is "every reason for retailers to be extremely optimistic about consumer spending during the upcoming holidays." The Gallup Poll follows similarly positive holiday retail predictions recently released by Forrester Research and the National Retail Federation. To read Gallup's "Poll Analysis," click here.

Wisconsin Libraries May Have to Tell Parents What Kids Borrow

On Tuesday November 4, the Wisconsin Assembly gave preliminary approval to a bill that would require public libraries to tell parents of children under 16 what books, CDs, videotapes, and other library materials their kids check out, the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel reported. At present, libraries are prohibited from disclosing any records that indicate the identity of individuals who borrow library materials or use library services, the Sentinel noted. The matter is set for final approval in the near future. The Wisconsin Senate gave final approval to an identical bill on November 4 also.

Shamus Award Winners Announced

On October 17 in Las Vegas, Blackwater Sound by James W. Hall (St. Martin's Press) was been named Best P.I. Novel of 2002 by the Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) at its 2003 Shamus Awards. Sue Grafton was this year's recipient of PWA's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Best First P.I. Novel Award went to The Distance by Eddie Muller (Scribner); Best Paperback Original P.I. Novel to The Poisoned Rose by D. Daniel Judson (Bantam); and Best P.I. Short Story to "The Second Coming," by Terence Faherty. PWA was founded in 1981 by Robert J. Randisi. Past Presidents have included Bill Pronzini, Sue Grafton, Sara Paretsky, and Lawrence Block. Currently Max Allan Collins heads the organization. Overall Awards Chair is S.J. Rozan.