BEA 2010: Opportunity in Change

In a period of turbulent technological change, several hundred ABA member bookstores arrived at BookExpo America 2010 in New York City to focus on education, networking, and a full-sensory immersion in the upcoming fall list on the bustling trade floor. Certain packed educational sessions reflected booksellers' interest in staying on top of, and even ahead of, changes in the industry: Google Editions, offering indie booksellers an opportunity to sell e-books, and "2010 Survey of Book-Buying Behavior With Verso Digital," which offered upbeat information about book-buying demographics.

John Clukey and Catherine Weller of Sam Weller's Bookstore at the St. Mark's Bookshop open house, with store manager Benjamin Friedman (left).

Many kicked off BEA with a tour of Manhattan bookstores at Open Houses, co-sponsored by the participating stores, ABA, and BEA. Following the Open Houses, Random House hosted a reception at the Park Central Hotel, where booksellers had a nightcap with special guest authors, including Justin Cronin, whose The Passage is the number-one Indie Next List Great Read for June.

About 25 prospective booksellers began their BEA experience at the  Introduction to Retail Bookselling seminar on Monday, sponsored by ABA and facilitated by the bookstore training group of Paz & Associates.

The following day was ABA's Day of Education, sponsored by Ingram, which launched with an Opening Plenary: A CEO Panel on the Value of the Book.   The panel, co-sponsored by ABA and BEA, featured Bob Miller, Group Publisher, Workman; Esther Newberg, Executive Vice President, International Creative Management (ICM); Skip Prichard, Chief Executive Officer, Ingram; David Shanks, Chief Executive Officer, Penguin Group (USA); Oren Teicher, Chief Executive Officer, American Booksellers Association (ABA); Scott Turow, Author and Incoming President, Authors Guild.

Other education sessions included roundtable discussions and seminars on a range of issues, including techniques and tactics for website promotion, Tween readers, and more. The day was capped by the Opening Night Keynote. Singer, actress, director, and soon-to-be author Barbra Streisand, interviewed by Gayle King, editor-at-large of O, The Oprah Magazine.

On Wednesday, more than 40 indie booksellers' favorite authors were honored at this year's ABA Celebration of Bookselling Luncheon, sponsored by Baker & Taylor. The well-received event, featured the presentation of the 2010 Indies Choice Book Awards.

At the end of the day, ABA held its Town Hall Meeting and the ABA Annual Membership Meeting. This year's meeting featured a new format.

Pulitzer Prize-winner Paul Harding signed copies of Tinkers in the ABA Bookseller Lounge.

As always, the ABA members-only lounge was a haven for booksellers from the packed show floor, as well as a place to have books autographed by some of their favorite authors, recharge their laptops, have a snack, and relax in a comfy chair.

The end of the show seemed to come a little too soon for many of booksellers, who can look forward to an additional day at next year's BEA, which will be in New York from May 24 to 26 for 2011.

Watch for more on ABA at BEA in next week's issue of BTW.