BTW Articles

Both the American Booksellers Association and the Book Sense program, including BookSense.com, receive prominent mention in an article published in the October 21, 2002, and current online issue of Time magazine. The article, "Plucky Little Competitors," by Daren Fonda, details how independent stores in several industries -- including bookstores, the pet business, coffee shops, and hardware stores -- are prospering, "sometimes literally in the shadow of popular national chains."

The American Booksellers Association Board of Directors held its fall meeting in Washington, D.C., from October 8-10. In addition to discussing a range of association-related issues, the Board also presented a gift of books for the White House Library to First Lady Laura Bush on October 9. (For full story, click here.) While in Washington, some members of the Board also helped staff the ABA exhibit at the second annual National Book Festival, which was held on October 12.

Jimmy Scott was born with Kallman's Syndrome, a rare deficiency that interferes with sexual maturation. So, when he entered New York's jazz scene in the 1950s, listeners heard a high-pitched, androgynous singing voice. At first, his unique vocals seemed out of place in an age when Nat King Cole and Billy Eckstine were hit-makers, but audiences soon caught on.

The Mountains and Plains Booksellers Association (MPBA) 2002 Trade Show was held at the Marriott Denver Tech Center in Denver, from September 19 - 22. This year's show incorporated some scheduling and format changes, which were received well by attendees, said Lisa Knudsen, executive director for MPBA. Overall, the show was "excellent," she said. "I was happy with the turnout of booksellers, and exhibitors were pleased with traffic. It was a vigorous trade show."