Industry News

People who love their local bookstores may never have the opportunity to express their feelings. That's not so at the Country Bookshelf in Bozeman, Montana.

Below is a list of the most significant recent changes to the ABA Book Buyer's Handbook online.

Booksellers are strongly encouraged to alert ABA of changing terms that come to their attention. Publishers are asked to inform ABA immediately of any changes to terms and contact information.

Bookmark contests create big community involvement, if The Village Book Store in Littleton, New Hampshire, and Village Books in Bellingham, Washington, are representative of other stores between the coasts. Nationally, many independents currently are gearing up for their annual bookmark contests to coincide with National Children's Book Week in November when winners are announced.

The Southeast Booksellers Association (SEBA) has a solution for those who can't make it to this year's regional -- attend its trade show via the Internet. SEBA recently announced that it is launching a Virtual Trade Show in conjunction with this year's regional show, which is being held September 20 - 22 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The upcoming anniversary of the September 11 tragedies will be marked in bookstores with an emphasis on helping people to mourn the disastrous events and, also, according to many booksellers around the country, on offering opportunities for healing and education. Any attempts to use the anniversary as a self-serving marketing tool made all booksellers extremely uncomfortable. Many opted for in-store events that included both speakers who have had personal experience with the disasters and others who have analyzed the events or have attempted to find solutions.

Again this year, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) will be a sponsor of Banned Books Week, the only national celebration of First Amendment rights. In 2001, over 1,000 independent booksellers and 2,500 libraries participated in Banned Books Week, and, once again, participating booksellers report that Banned Books Week is one of their customers' favorite promotions.

Following the participation of Firehouse.com, the leading fire and emergency services Internet portal, there is growing consumer awareness and interest in the Book Sense and History Channel "The Fire on the Mountain, Campaign for Communities: Firefighter Fundraiser" promotion.

A majority of independent bookstores have shown sales increases during the first six months of 2002, as compared to the same period in 2001. The finding, the result of a recent ABA survey, continues a three-year trend, which has seen a majority of independent bookstores realizing increases over a comparable prior sales period.

By Carl Lennertz

Sales news from data gathered this week from 350 indies.

Hardcover fiction:

To watch:

For over 400 years, shipwrecks have landed hapless voyagers on the shores, or in the waters, of Bermuda. Now thousands come eagerly on titanic cruise ships to enjoy the sand, surf, and shops of the balmy island. As the boats reach port in Hamilton, Bermuda's capital and only city, those looking out can see the sign for The Bermuda Book Store awaiting them on the corner of Front and Queen streets.

ABA has announced that the successful Prescription for Reading program will be expanding to include a number of other organizations providing services for children. These include daycare centers, preschools, nursery schools, independent pharmacies, local Y's, day camps, senior citizen centers, or any organization that serves parents or grandparents of young children.

What should have been a simple transaction almost got Vroman's Bookstore Vice President/General Manager Karen Watkins arrested.

As Watkins tells it, on July 31, a group of three customers brought a box of 4" x 6" writing journals up to the register at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, California. The cashier began scanning the journals -- 11 journals priced at $4.95 each -- and gave the customers the total price.

There were two problems, however.

First, the cashier overcharged the customers by about $5.

Win a color inkjet printer at the upcoming fall regional trade shows.

At the upcoming fall regional trade shows, ABA is offering independent booksellers programming that includes sessions on financial operations and succession planning.

By Ken Paulson

In a First Amendment Center/American Journalism Review survey, nearly half of those responding said they think the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees. And about the same number said the American press has been too aggressive in asking government officials for information about the war on terrorism. Full survey results are available at www.freedomforum.org.

Fear can short-circuit freedom.

By Robin Whitten

As a bookseller you understand how important it is to know your customers. With audiobook listeners it is no less important, but it's probably harder for many booksellers, who may not be listeners themselves, to get a handle on who the listeners are and where they listen.