Industry News

A recent study by researchers at Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business shows that remote retailers do indeed enjoy a competitive advantage by not collecting sales tax at the point of sales.

A session presented at this month’s ABC Children’s Institute provided booksellers with a comprehensive understanding of child development and how various types of books can foster early learning and literacy.

The American Booksellers Association’s Board of Directors met from April 4 – 6, 2014, in San Antonio, Texas, just prior to ABA’s first stand-alone ABC Children’s Institute.

All ABA member booksellers at BookExpo America are invited to the Algonquin Buzzed Panel on Wednesday evening, May 28, at the Grand Hyatt New York’s Gallery on Lex.  The top-shelf evening will feature a whiskey tasting, hand-crafted beers, intoxicating appearances by Algonquin’s barrel-aged authors, and an off-kilter trivia contest.

The organizers of BookExpo America and BookCon are inviting booksellers from the NAIBA region to a preshow meeting with Steve Rosato and Brien McDonald, to be held in conjunction with the Booksellers Forum on Tuesday, April 29, at ABA’s office.

The Spring Forum schedule wraps up with programs at ABA’s office in White Plains, New York, on Tuesday, April 29, and at the New England Independent Booksellers Association’s All About the Books! in Boston, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, April 30.

The winners of the 2014 Women’s National Book Association’s Pannell Awards, which honor a general bookstore and a children’s specialty store for employing exceptional creativity to foster a love of reading in their young patrons, were announced on Wednesday.

Ballots to elect three directors to serve three-year terms on ABA’s Board of Directors must be cast by midnight EDT on April 30, 2014, in order to be counted.

ABA will hold its Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, May 29, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Room 1E10/11 of the Javits Convention Center during BEA. The Annual Meeting will be preceded by the Town Hall Meeting.

The 20th Annual Children’s Book Art Auction and Reception, on May 28 at BEA, will feature a special section of original artwork created to honor Dr. Seuss. Artists can submit works honoring Dr. Seuss until May 15.

In his bimonthly letter to members, ABA CEO Oren Teicher discusses topics raised at the recent Spring Forums and invites booksellers to take advantage of upcoming educational opportunities, including two new programs that provide booksellers with a chance to meet with publishers at BEA.

Amazon.com will be required to collect and remit sales tax in Florida beginning May 1, according to media reports this week. The requirement to collect was part of a real estate deal to build  a 1.1 million-square-foot fulfillment center in Hillsborough County.

ABA president talks U.S. indies at London Book Fair; ABFFE’s Chris Finan wins Hefner award; Top 10 most frequently challenged books revealed; Pulitzer Prize winners announced; Los Angeles Times Book Prizes awarded; McNamee steps down as president of EBF; University presses look to Ingram’s CoreSource 

With the April 23 celebration of World Book Night just days away, booksellers at stores from coast to coast are getting ready for giver parties, author events, and in-store performances. 

Advocates for Independent Business has produced the Backgrounder on the Small Business Credit Crunch, which outlines broad policy solutions, with a focus on strengthening and expanding community banks, increasing credit union business lending, and reorienting the SBA’s loan guarantee programs.