World Book Night Bookstore Signup Begins

This week, signup opened for booksellers interested in becoming 2014 World Book Night (WBN) host stores. The online form, available here, also spells out the five obligations of a host store.

Bookstores that become host stores for the April 23, 2014, nationwide celebration devoted to spreading the love of reading must agree to:

• promote WBN on social media in fall 2013 and April 2014 (WBN is very active on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest) and contact local media in early April 2014;
• access and make use of WBN marketing resources;
• ensure that the store’s WBN coordinator reads and responds as required to all WBN updates;
• receive and distribute givers’ boxes promptly; and,
• hold a pre-WBN reception if the store has more than five givers.

Host store signup ends December 31, 2013.

WBN was first celebrated in the U.S. in 2012, and it continues to grow each year. Last year, WBN received 137 million media impressions, including an appearance on the Today Show by WBN U.S. Director Carl Lennertz and coverage by many news outlets, such as the Associated Press, Time, and the Huffington Post. But this year, “we want more,” said Lennertz, who is already working with NPR and has a TV campaign in the works. Additionally, “we expect more of the local coverage that we received in every market last year,” he said.

This year’s WBN plans call for important announcements to be made earlier than last year. On October 23, six months before World Book Night, the 2014 titles will be announced and the giver application process will open.

“I think booksellers will be very pleased by the diversity of the 2014 list,” said Lennertz.

In other WBN news this week, World Book Night U.S. announced changes to its staff, board, and key committees.

Carolyn Schwartz, who spent 15 years in marketing at Bantam Books and Random House, has joined WBN U.S. as director of development, replacing Erin Cox, who left to join the staff of St. Martin’s Press.

Theresa Zoro of Random House and David Byrnes of Simon & Schuster have become members of the WBN Board, replacing Suzanne Herz of Knopf Doubleday and Dennis Eulau of S&S, respectively. They join current board members, just reaffirmed for a third year: Michael Pietsch, Hachette (Board chair), Oren Teicher, American Booksellers Association (Board secretary), Molly Barton, Penguin; Phil Ollila, Ingram Content Group; Patricia Bostelman, B&N; Josh Marwell, Harper; Jeff Seroy, FSG; and Elisabeth Schmitz, Grove/Atlantic. Byrnes will become the new Board treasurer.

On the WBN Steering Committee, Tracey Guest of Penguin Group USA replaces Molly Barton (who remains on the WBN Board). Other Steering Committee members include Mary Ghikas of the American Library Association, Cathy Langer of Tattered Cover, Jan Lindstrom of Barnes & Noble, and Joan DeMayo of Random House.

The Media Committee of Jeff Seroy, FSG; Sophie Cottrell, Hachette; Amy Cox-Williams, Ingram Content Group; Erica Glass, Penguin; and Sandi Mendelson of Hilfinger-Mendelson will continue to meet for year three, with Board member Theresa Zoro and Steering Committee member Tracey Guest to participate as needed.