Industry News

Retail sales at bookstores were up by 10.7 percent in March 2016 compared to March 2015, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

Preceding the Annual Meeting, ABA member booksellers shared their comments, questions, and concerns about a range of topics with the association’s Board.

The 16th annual Celebration of Bookselling and Author Awards Lunch honored the authors and illustrators who have helped to make bookselling fulfilling and fun for independent booksellers over the past year.

On Thursday, May 12, at BookExpo America, HarperCollins Publishers announced a “New Bookstore Development Program” for independent booksellers in the U.S. who are opening new stores or expanding to additional locations.

Gary Robson has been selected as the general manager and CEO of the new Billings Bookstore Co-operative, set to open this summer in Billings, Montana. Robson’s bookstore, Red Lodge Books & Tea, will close in June.

Old Harbor Books, which was founded as a collective in 1976 by three couples in Sitka, Alaska, will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Saturday, May 7. 

The Association of American Publishers is encouraging booksellers to post their open staff positions on the organization’s Bookjobs.com website, which is widely used by young book-loving professionals to search for entry-level jobs and internship positions.

Main Point Books owner Cathy Fiebach is moving her Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, bookstore to a larger space after a developer in nearby Wayne offered her an incentive to relocate.

Indie booksellers reported bustling stores, extraordinary sales, happy customers, and soaring community spirit following Independent Bookstore Day on April 30.

Two New Orleans bookstores have won an important battle in their challenge to a Louisiana law that would require them to verify the age of visitors to their store websites.

Before BEA kicks off next week at McCormick Place in Chicago, here are some final reminders about author autographing and the galley room in the ABA Member Lounge, Publicists Speed Dating, the ABA Town Hall and Annual Membership Meeting, discounted parking, and more.

The June Indie Next List flier, arriving in stores in the May Red Box, features a prominent space on the front page for store branding, three additional “Now in Paperback” titles, and a coupon for a customer sweepstakes.

Publishers are offering specials on 10 adult titles and 10 children’s titles chosen by panels of ABA member booksellers from across the U.S. as the top debuts of the upcoming publishing season.

Thanks to the generosity of lead sponsor Baker & Taylor, 38 publisher sponsors, and the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, 53 ABA member booksellers will be attending this June’s ABC Children’s Institute on scholarship.

PBS to host panels, livestream coverage from BEA and BookCon; NetGalley blog highlights Independent Bookstore Day; B&N founder Len Riggio to retire; Bargain wholesaler Book Depot launches automation project; IPG announces POD deals with Bookmasters and Edwards Brothers Malloy