BTW Articles

Retail sales for bookstores for December 2002 continued the decline that started last October. December bookstore sales of $2,160 million fell 1.7 percent behind the $2,197 million of December 2001.

By contrast, overall retail sales experienced a modest increase. Overall retail sales for December of $351 billion was 4.2 percent better than the $337 billion of the previous year.

December is the 11th month in a row in which bookstore sales failed to keep up with overall retail sales.

When making travel plans for this year's BookExpo America in Los Angeles, booksellers are encouraged to keep in mind that on Thursday, May 29, from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., ABA will once again be sponsoring a full day of bookseller educational programming.

The special educational programming, taking place the day before the BEA trade show floor opens, will include in-depth sessions on:

An Exclusive Money-Saving BEA Hotel Deal for ABA Member Booksellers

Getting the best housing deal possible at BookExpo America is always a major concern for independent booksellers. This year, BEA management, together with ABA, has found a great solution for any ABA member bookseller interested in the best hotel value at the show.

Arguments to Be Heard in the Supreme Court on March 5

The American Library Association's (ALA) and American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU) legal challenge of a federal library filtering law, which will be heard by the Supreme Court in March, continues. On Monday, February 10, ALA and the ACLU filed their response to the U.S. government's brief appealing a lower court's ruling that the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is unconstitutional.