Modest Gain in Bookstore Sales in August
According to preliminary figures released by the Bureau of the Census, for the second month in a row, retail sales at bookstores showed a modest gain over the same period last year. Retail sales at bookstores in August were up 1.9 percent over August of last year. However, to date, bookstore sales are down 2.2 percent for the year.
Overall retail sales remain strong and continue to outperform bookstore sales. Overall retail sales of $365 billion for August 2005 were 9.9 percent ahead of the $332 billion reported in August 2004.
Seven Book Sense Publisher Partners have become the newest sponsors of the American Booksellers Association's first annual 
Bookstore Tourism, a grassroots effort to promote and support independent bookstores by marketing them as tourist destinations, has caught on fast. The term was coined by Larry Portzline, a Harrisburg-based writer for the Pennsylvania State Senate. In 2003, he organized and sold out the first tour from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to New York City's Greenwich Village.
Despite reports last week that the appointment of U.S. House conferees, who will take up USA Patriot Act reauthorization, was imminent, they had still not been chosen when Congress recessed for the Columbus Day and Yom Kippur holidays. Since the House must be in session when the conferees are chosen, they cannot be selected before Congress meets again next week.
As a helpful reminder, here is a "Three-Month Bookseller Action List" highlighting important dates related to ABA/Book Sense programs and events for the period October through December 2005. The list may also be downloaded in 
This month, the Americans for the Arts Emerging Leader Council is inviting booksellers and others interested in the arts to participate in creative conversations with other emerging arts leaders who want to make a difference in their lives and communities.