BOOK SENSE THIS WEEK

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5 Ifyourbookstorehasspecialplanstocelebratethereleaseofthe lasttitleinthePotterseries, BooksellingThisWeek wouldliketo hearfromyou.Pleasesendane-mailtoeditorial@bookweb.org 6 . BooksellersshouldnotethatScholastic'sorderdeadlinefor deliveryof HarryPotterandtheDeathlyHallows beforetheJuly 21on-saledateisFriday,April27.Scholasticdoesnotguarantee earlydeliveryforordersreceivedafterthatdate. "IndependentMugglesforHarryPotter" Sweepstakes--AnABAExclusive April26,2007 --AllAmericanBooksellersAssociationmember bookstorescanoffertheircustomersachancetowinatripforfour toLondonbyparticipatinginthe"IndependentMugglesforHarry Potter"Sweepstakes,anexclusivepromotionforABAmembers only.Tohelpbooksellerspreparematerialstopromotethecontest, lastweektheassociationlaunchedan"IndependentMuggles" Sweepstakesmini-site 7 onBookweb.orgthatfeatures downloadablepoint-of-purchasedisplays,entrycoupons,adaptable artwork,andmore. Customersenterthegiveawaybycompletinganentrycouponthat booksellerscollectin-storeatmidnightpartiesoratotherspecial eventsmarkingtheJuly21releaseofJ.K.Rowling's HarryPotter andtheDeathlyHallows (Scholastic),orduringaverylimitedtime period.ThesweepstakesentryperiodisfromJuly20at10:00p.m. ETtoJuly24,11:59p.m.ET.Booksellersshouldnotacceptentries completedatothertimes. An"IndependentMugglesforHarryPotter"sweepstakespublicity poster;sweepstakesentrycoupons;officialrules;aposter promotingallofthetitlesintheHarryPotterseries;andspecial "IndependentMugglesforHarryPotter"art--whichcanbe adaptedtocreateadditional HarryPotterandtheDeathlyHallows promotionalgoodies(hats,mugs,T-shirts)--areallavailablevia BookWeb.org 8 .( Note: Scholasticmustapproveallpromotional BOOKSELLINGTHISWEEK April26,2007 ©2007AmericanBooksellersAssociation.http://news.bookweb.org/2 itemsrelatedto HarryPotterandtheDeathlyHallows ;check BookWebfordetails.) Attheconclusionofthesweepstakes,couponsshouldbemailedto theAmericanBooksellersAssociation,Attn.:MegSmith,200 WhitePlainsRoad,6thFloor,Tarrytown,NewYork10591.All entrycouponsmustbereceivednolaterthanAugust2,2007.A promotionfirm,PromotionMechanics,Inc.willchoosethewinner, whowillbeannouncedin BooksellingThisWeek 9 . EarlyRegistrationDiscountsforBEAto ExpireSoon April26,2007 --May11isthe"EarlyBirdDiscount"registration deadline 10 forBookExpoAmerica.Afterthatdate,rateswill increaseforallthree-dayandone-daypassesinallindustry categories.ForABAmemberbooksellers,theratewillincrease from$75to$100forathree-daypassandfrom$40to$50for one-dayadmission.(AcompletescheduleofBEAshowpass pricing,aswellasanelectronicregistrationform,isavailablevia bookexpoamerica.com 11 .) TheBEAtradeshowrunsfromFriday,June1,toSunday,June3, attheJacobK.JavitsConventionCenterinNewYorkCity.This year,theAmericanBooksellersAssociation'sfulldayofeducation andtheCelebrationofBooksellingwillbeheldonThursday,May 31,atHotelABA 12 ,theNewYorkMarriottattheBrooklyn Bridge,inBrooklyn,NewYork. WhenregisteringforBEA,ABA-memberbooksellersshouldcheck "ABABookstoreMember"underRegistrationOptions.(Amember numberisrequired.)Inaddition,memberbooksellerswhoplanto takepartinABA's free 13 fulldayofeducation,the"WhatAreYou Reading?"Breakfast 14 ,andtheAmericanBooksellersFoundation forFreeExpressionLunchonThursdayatHotelABAmustcheck theappropriateboxesontheBEAregistrationformormake reservationsviaBookWeb.org 15 . Registrationforthisyear'sHotelABA,whichoffersaspecialrate of$159pernightandaspecialpackageofotherbenefits,issolely throughABA'stradewebsite,BookWeb.org.Thehoteliscurrently full;however,ABAismaintainingawaitinglistincasethereare cancellations.Togetonthewaitinglist,booksellersshould completetheHotelABAreservationform 16 . AblockofroomsattheHotelhavebeenreservedforstudentsat thisyear'sABABooksellersSchool.ABAmemberswhohave registeredfortheschoolshouldcontactMargaretNafzat(800) 637-0037ext.6614ore-mailmargaret@bookweb.org 17 tobooka roomatthehotel.TheseroomswillonlybeheldasideuntilMay1. AfterMay1,ABAmemberstudentswillneedtofindalternate hotelaccommodations(nameswillbeplacedonthewaitinglistand contactedifahotelroombecomesavailable). BooksellerswithroomreservationsatHotelABA-Brooklynwho arenolongerplanningtousethemareaskedtocontactMargaret Nafz 18 assoonaspossiblesothattheroomscanbeofferedtoother booksellersonthewaitinglist. AnyquestionsaboutHotelABAshouldalsobeaddressedtoNafz 19 . TitleWaveHitsDowntownAlaska April26,2007 -- 20 Thisweek,TitleWaveBooksofAnchorage, Alaska,announcedthatitwouldbeopeningabranchstoreinthe city'sdowntown,inthe6,000-square-footspacerecentlyvacatedby CookInletBookCo.Thestore,TitleWaveBooks--Downtown,is expectedtohaveasoftopeninginmid-Mayanditsofficialopening onMay25,saidco-ownerJulieDrake.Sheandco-ownerSteve LloydsignedtheleaseforthenewlocationthispastFriday. Theoriginal33,000-square-footTitleWaveBooks,locatedabouta mileawayinmid-townAnchorage,openedin1991,and,according toDrake,untilveryrecentlytherewerenoplansforexpansion."It wasasurpriseopportunityforus,whenwefoundoutattheendof Marchthatthespacewouldbeavailable,"sheexplained,adding withalaughthatduetothesecondstore'smuchsmallersize, "We'vestartedcallingitMini-Me." Thenewstorewillcarrymorethan25,000newandusedbooksin nearlyeverysubjectcategory,withaparticularlylargeselectionof booksonAlaskaandthecircumpolararctic.Itwillalsostock magazines,newspapers,maps,greetingcards,uniquegifts,and Alaskansouvenirs. Drakeexplainedthat,despitetheclosingofthebookstoreinthe samelocation,andbeforethataRexallDrugStore--sheisnot worriedthatTitleWave'sdowntownbranchwillsufferthesame fate.Withtwobranches,thebookstorewillbenefitfromeconomies ofscale,shesaid.PartofTitleWave--Downtown'sinitial inventorywillcomefromthemid-townbranch."Theotherstoreis sobig,itwon'tevenmakeadent,butitwillmakeabigsplashat thenewstore,"Drakesaid.Fortheremainderofinventory,the store"isworkingwithIngramandBaker&Taylorandgettingtheir suggestedopeningstock." TheoriginalTitleWaveBookshassurvivedcompetitionfrom BordersandBarnes&Noble,soDrakefullyexpectsthenewstore toflourishdowntown,wherethereisnobookstorecompetition-- thoughthereiscompetitionfromgiftshopsintermsofsidelines. Importantly,Drakestressed,"Wereallydohavegreatsupportfrom thecommunity....Wearetrulythriving,notjustsurviving." Atpresent,plansaretoofferstaff,whichcurrentlynumbersmore than40,theabilitytorotatefromstoretostore.Justthisweek, Drakehiredthreemoreemployees,andsheexpectsthateight peoplewillstaffthenewstore. "Whenweopened16yearsago,wethoughttheAlaskanreaderwas underestimatedandunderserved,"Drakesaid."Storeswouldonly sellbestsellersandAlaskantitles."Ifreaderswantedsomething moreesoteric,itwashardtofind,butsheandLloydbankedonthe ideathatAlaskanreaderswerefarmoresophisticatedthananyone gavethemcreditfor."It'sworkedwellforus,"sheconcluded.-- DavidGrogan 21 Authors,Products,Services&Morein ABA'sBookSenseLounge April26,2007 --TheAmericanBooksellersAssociation'sBook SenseLoungeatBookExpoAmerica 22 --Room1E07/1E08ofNew YorkCity'sJacobJavitsConventionCenter--willoffermember booksellerssnacksandaplacetorelax,checke-mail,meet colleagues,andlearnaboutABAproductsandservices. Additionally,thisyear,duringthethreedaysofthetradeshow-- fromFriday,June1,throughSunday,June3--theloungewill featuresomeofindependentbooksellers'favoriteauthors autographingtheirlatesttitles. RepresentativesfromABAaffinitypartners 23 BankofAmerica, PartnerShip,ConstantContact,andAbovetheTreelinewillbeon handtoprovideinformationabouttheirmoney-savingservices availabletoallmembers.Alsofeaturedwillbeinformationabout BOOKSELLINGTHISWEEK April26,2007 ©2007AmericanBooksellersAssociation.http://news.bookweb.org/3 theIndependentMugglesforHarryPotterSweepstakes 24 , Scholastic'sMainStreetEssayContest 25 ,theInternational BooksellersFederation2008BookstoreCalendar 26 ,andmore. TheABABookSenseLoungewillonceagainfeaturetheBooklog InternetCafe,whereABAmemberbooksellerscanchecktheir e-mailaccountsorbrowsetheweb.Thecafeisprovidedcourtesy ofBooklog,apoint-of-saleandinventorymanagementsolutionfor booksellersforover20years. Theloungeopensat9:00a.m.onFriday,ratherthanonThursday thisyear,asallofABA'sThursdayprogrammingwillbeatHotel ABA 27 .Theloungewillcloseat3:00p.m.onFriday,sothatall membersandstaffcanattendABA'sTownHallMeeting,whichis followedat4:00p.m.bytheAnnualMembershipMeeting.On Saturday,theloungewillbeopenfrom9:00a.m.to5:00p.m.;and onSunday,June3,from9:00a.m.to4:00p.m. Here'safirstlookatthisyear'sBookSenseAutographingschedule; anupdatedschedulewillbeavailableintheLoungeduringthe show: Friday,June1 10:00a.m.-10:30 a.m. DavidWeisner Flotsam Clarion 10:30a.m.-11:00 a.m. JennyHan Shug S&SChildren's 11:00a.m.-noon SaraGruen Waterfor Elephants Algonquin 2:00p.m.-2:30 p.m. BonnieTimmons Eats,Shootsand Leaves PenguinYoung ReadersGroup 2:30p.m.-3:00 p.m. TimothyEgan TheWorstHard Time HoughtonMifflin Saturday,June2 10:00a.m.-10:30 a.m. TBD 10:30a.m.-11:00 a.m. MimHarrison WordsAtWork Walker&Co. 11:00a.m.-11:30 a.m. MichelleKnudsen LibraryLion Candlewick 11:30a.m.-1:00 p.m. LindaGreenlaw LauraMoriarty Slipknot TheRestofHer Life HYPERIONCAFE 1:00p.m.-1:30 p.m. PeterCharles Melman Landsman Perseus 1:30p.m.-2:00 p.m. KateBraestrup HereIfYouNeed Me Little,Brown 2:00p.m.-2:30 p.m. VincentLam Bloodletting& MiraculousCures WeinsteinBooks 2:30p.m.-3:00 p.m. MarkusZusak TheBookThief RandomHouse Children's 3:00p.m.-3:30 p.m. JoeHill Heart-ShapedBox HarperCollins Sunday,June3 10:00a.m.-10:30 a.m. JohnGrogan BadDog,Marley! HarperCollins Children's 10:30a.m.-11:00 a.m. JaneO'Connorand RobinPreiss Glasser FancyNancyand thePoshPuppy HarperCollins Children's 11:00a.m.-noon TimothySchaffert AndreaPortes Devilsinthe SugarShop Hick UNBRIDLED HOUR OnSaturdayfrom4:00to5:00p.m.inthelounge,booksellersare invitedtojointhe"Define-A-Thon"phenomenon.The BookSense/AmericanHeritageDictionary"Define-A-Thon"isa gameofvocabularystrengththat"upstheante"onword-based competition.DevelopedbytheeditorsoftheAmericanHeritage Dictionary,thisquick-pacedgametakesparticipantsbeyondthe spellingbee.Thehostwillgiveeachcontestantadefinition, followedbyseveralpossibleanswers.Thecontestantmustchoose thecorrectone.Asthecompetitionprogresses,thedegreeof difficultyincreasesuntiltwocontestantsareleft.Thesetwoplayers willenterthefinalroundwithnewrulesandhigherstakes.All ABAmemberbooksellersareinvitedtopittheirknowledgeof Englishagainstthatoffriendsandcolleagues.Thewinnerwill receiveaniPodNanoandanAmericanHeritageDictionary referencelibrary.Thetworunners-upwillreceiveAmerican HeritageCollegedictionaries. EveningReceptionsaHighlightofHotel ABA April26,2007 --FromWednesday,May30,throughFriday,June 1,atthisyear'sBookExpoAmerica,AmericanBooksellers Associationmembersareinvitedtoeveningreceptionssponsored byBookSensePublisherPartnersatHotelABA 28 ,theNewYork MarriottattheBrooklynBridge,inBrooklyn,NewYork.Opento allABAmembers,eachevening'sreception,from9:00p.m.until midnightinthehotel'sLegendsBallroom,willprovidegreat networkingopportunitiesinafestiveatmosphere. OnWednesday,Scholastic,Inc.ishostingaBlockParty celebratingitsnewseries,MainStreet,writtenbyNewberyHonor authorAnnM.Martin,best-knownforherawardwinningseries TheBabysitter'sClub.Remembertheneighborhood"blockparties" ofyourchildhood?TheMainStreetBlockPartywillcelebratethe launchofthenewseriesanditsfirsttitle, WelcometoCamden Falls ,thisMay.ThepartyisalsoacelebrationofthespiritofMain Streetseverywhereandtheirlocallyownedstores,business communities,andassociationsthatsupportthem.Theguestof honorwillbeMainStreet'screator,AnnM.Martin.Eachguestwill receiveaMainStreettotebag,whichwillincludeafinishedcopy of WelcometoCamdenFalls ,acopyoftheaudiobook,a one-sheetfeaturinginformationabouttheMyMainStreetBook SenseContest 29 ,andfive"AskmeabouttheMainStreetContest" pins.Thecontestencourageschildrenagessixto12yearsoldto submitapainting,drawing,photograph,orwrittenorvideoessay toparticipatingstoresaboutwhytheirtown'smainstreetisspecial. FinaljudgingwillbecompletedbyScholastic,theAmerican BooksellerAssociation,andAnnM.Martin.Refreshmentswill haveaBlockPartytheme,andthefoyerdecorwilldepictMartin's imaginedMainStreetinCamdenFalls. BOOKSELLINGTHISWEEK April26,2007 ©2007AmericanBooksellersAssociation.http://news.bookweb.org/4 OnThursday,Collins,animprintofHarperCollinsPublishers,is servingupthePresidentialMemorabiliaExhibitandReception, wherehistorywillberevealedinawholenewlight.Theeventwill featurehistoriansBarryLandau( ThePresident'sTable:200Years ofDiningandDiplomacy ,onsaleNovember2007)andJordan Wright( CampaigningforPresident ,onsaleJanuary2008)and morethan80objectsfromtheirprivatecollectionsofmemorabilia rangingfromGeorgetoGeorge(WashingtontoBush). One-of-a-kindpiecesondisplaywillincludecampaignbuttons, statedinnermenusandseatingarrangements,andanoriginalkeyto theWhiteHouse. OnFriday,BeaconPressandtheFriendsofChrisFinanare sponsoring"APublicationCelebration!"tocommemoratethenew title FromthePalmerRaidstothePatriotAct:AHistoryofthe FightforFreeSpeechinAmerica byChrisFinan,presidentofthe AmericanBooksellersFoundationforFreeExpression.Ofthe comprehensivehistoryoftheevolutionoffreespeechinAmerica writtenforageneralreadership,Sen.BernieSanders(VT-I)said, "AtatimewhenAmerica'sfreedomsandlibertiesareunderattack inWashington,Finan'sbookisapowerfulreminderofwhywe mustcarryonthefighttopreservethecentralunderpinningofthe Americandemocraticsystem--therighttofreeanduncensored discourse." AllABAmembersareinvitedtoendtheirdaysattheevening receptions,whichhavebecomeahighlightamongtheopportunities tonetworkandsocializeatBEA. HarperCollinsBagCheckRoom:A BenefitforHotelABAGuests April26,2007 --HarperCollinsissponsoringaBagCheckRoom attheJavitsConventionCenterfortheexclusiveuseofbookstore membersoftheAmericanBooksellersAssociationwhoarestaying atHotelABA 30 atthisyear'sBookExpoAmerica 31 .Ratherthan carryingbooksandothermaterialsbacktothehotelinBrooklynor fromboothtoboothatthetradeshow,HotelABAguestswillhave theaddedconvenienceofstoringmaterialsattheBagCheckRoom fromFriday,June1,throughSunday,June3. "Weareveryhappytohelpmakebooksellers'liveseasierinthis way,"saidCarlLennertz,HarperCollins'vicepresidentof independentretailing.Lennertzadded,"Watchforaflyerwith detailsaboutagalleyofferforstorestaffintheMayBookSense RedBoxmailing.Yourstaffcanfilloutmailinglabelsforselect Luxepaperbacks,andyoucanbringthelabelstotheCheck Room." WhenbooksellersdropoffmaterialsattheCheckRoom,an attendantwillasktoseetheirBEAbadge,whichcarriesABA membershipidentification.Theywillthenbegivenaclaimticket thatwillberequiredinordertoretrieveitemsleftintheroom. Althoughtherewillbe24-hoursecurityfortheCheckRoom, booksellersusingtheCheckRoomagreethatneitherABA,the JavitsConventionCenter,CenterPlate,norHarperCollinsare responsibleforanymissingitems. TheABABagCheckRoom--Room1C01attheconventioncenter --willbeopenfrom9:00a.m.until5:30p.m.onFriday,June1, andSaturday,June2.OnSunday,June3,thehoursofoperationare 9:00a.m.until4:30p.m.,atwhichtimeallitemsmustbepicked up.Anyitemsremainingafter4:30willbedonatedorsubjectto disposal. BookExpoAmericawillbeofferingAttendeeShippingonthetrade showfloor;detailsandthelocationwillbeavailableintheofficial BEAdirectory. ABACUS2007: DidYouKnow ... April26,2007 -- Didyouknow ...ofthe172bookstoresthatparticipatedinboththe ABACUS2006andABACUS2005surveys,104stores(or60percentof thetotal)reportedanincreaseinsalesbetween2005and2006.The averagesalesincreasewasmorethan10percent. TheAmericanBooksellersAssociationiscurrentlycollectingdata frommemberbookstoresforthe2007ABACUSsurveyviaan enhancedwebform 32 . EachABAmemberbookstoreparticipatinginthestudywill receiveacustomizedreportwithdetailedanalysisoftheirstore's financialresults;comparisonswithotherstoresbasedonmorethan 20differentcriteria;anexecutivesummaryofthestudy'skey findings;keyinsightsintothedriversofindependentbookstore profitability;year-to-yeartrendsdata;andopportunitiesto participateinancillarystudies--alltoolsthatcanbeusedto evaluateandimproveastore'sfinancialperformance. Tomakeiteasierforbooksellerstoparticipatethisyear,the ABACUSsurveyalsoallowsuserstodownloadanExcel spreadsheetthattheycanusetoorganizetheinformationfromtheir financialstatementssothatitmatchesthecategoriesonthe ABACUSform. Theclosingdateforbooksellerstosubmitdataforthisyear's surveyisAugust15,2007.Booksellerswhosubmitcompleted surveysbythatdatewillreceivea$50rebateofftheirABAdues. Formostbooksellers,completingthesurveytakesnomorethanan hourorso,andallinformationprovidediskeptstrictly confidential. Anumberofthekeyfindingsfromlastyear'sstudyarenow availabletoallABAbookstoremembersinthe2006ABACUS Review 33 ,whichABACEOAvinMarkDomnitzpresentedatthe ABACUSLunchatthisyear'sWinterInstitute. QuestionsabouttheABACUSstudyshouldbedirectedtoDavid Walkeratdavidw@bookweb.org 34 or(800)637-0037,ext.6612. SyracuseBooksellersForum "Energizing" April26,2007 --OnWednesday,April25,booksellersgatheredat theHolidayInnCarrierCircleinSyracuse,NewYork,foran AmericanBooksellersAssociationBooksellersForumand educationprograminconjunctionwiththeNewAtlantic IndependentBooksellersAssociation(NAIBA). "[Theday]wentreallywell,"saidRobStahl,thegeneralbook managerforColgateBookstoreinHamilton,NewYork."There were13peoplethere,itwasasmall,butdedicatedgroup.There wasgreatinteractionbetweenbooksellers." 35 TheprogramkickedoffwithaNAIBAupdatefromStahl,who remindedattendeesaboutupcomingevents,suchastheNAIBA TrunkShowonJune20andBooksellersSalesConferencein October,amongotherthings. FollowingStahl'supdate,ABACEOAvinMarkDomnitz presented"ParticipatingintheDigitalRevolution,"anexamination ofthewaysinwhichtechnologyischanginghowconsumersgather BOOKSELLINGTHISWEEK April26,2007 ©2007AmericanBooksellersAssociation.http://news.bookweb.org/5 informationthatwascounteredbypracticalwaysinwhich independentbookstorescanmakethemostofthesenew developmentstoreachouttotheircustomers. PattyKutzofLiftBridgeBookShopinBrockport,NewYork,told BTW thatherbookstorerecentlycelebratedits35thyearandthe informationprovidedbyABAovertheyearshasbeeninstrumental inhelpingthestorereachthatmilestone."Ialwayslistento everythingAvinhastosay,"sheexplained."Hespokeabouthow thisistheageofinformation,andbooksellersneedtothinkabout howtheyaregoingtoparticipateinthedigitalrevolutionandhow theyaregoingtobeaffected." "Wearen'tnecessarilythe'earlyadopters,'"saidBillReillyofthe River'sEndBookstoreinOswego,NewYork."Inthebusiness world,obviously,therearesomebooksellersthatare,butgenerally, booksellerscomefromaconservative,traditionalbackgroundas farasbusinesspracticesgo.I'vebeenhearingthisfromour youngerbooksellersatthestore,'You'vegottodothis,you'vegot todothat.'"Reillysaidthedigitalsessionwas"energizing.Iadded thistomylistofthingsthathavetobedone." Thoughtheshowearnedthumbsupfromattendees,Stahlnoted thathalfwaythroughthedigitalsessiontherewasapoweroutage, but,headded,"Avindidareallygoodjobandfortunatelyhis laptophadbatteries." Reillyconcurred."Avindidamarvelousjobofpresentingthe sessiontous[afterthepowerwentout]." Followingthedigitalsession,booksellersgatheredforlunch,where eventually,thepowercamebackon.Afterthelunch,Domnitzled theBooksellersForum&StrategicPlanningsession.Here,he providedinformationabouttheassociation'sprogramand initiativesandgatheredinputfrombooksellerstohelpABA formulateitsnextfive-yearstrategicplan.Topicsdiscussedatthe forumincludedhowtodefinecoremembership,publisherorder minimums,andtheimportanceoftheBookSensebrand. "Avinaskedusifwethought[whatconstitutesABA's]core membershipgroupshouldbemodified,"Reillysaid. Stahlreportedthattherewassomedisagreementoverwhatshould constitutethecoremembership."Therewasoneonlinebookseller there,"saidStahl,"andIsaidthat'independent'isthemost importantpart.Somesaid...itshouldbethestorefronts.Itwasa gooddiscussion,andtherewasnoanimosity.Itwasamatterof differentperspectives." Someattendeesalsobroughtuptheissueoforderminimumsfor certaintitles.Stahlnotedthatheorderedafrontlisttitlefroma majorpublisherthatendedup"landingonabestsellerlist."When thebookfailedtoarrive,hecalledthepublisherandfoundoutthe title"didn'tshowupbecausehisorderdidnotmeettheminimum ...orderingtwocopiesofabookdoesn'tguaranteeyou'llgetthe book." LiftBridge'sKutzsaid,asabooksellerwithasmallerstore,the minimumorderissueisimportanttoher,whichiswhysheisglad tobeapartofABA."Whentheseissuesarepresentedbyour parentorganization,itcarriesmorecloutwithvendors." Aftertheforum,DomnitzandErikaDavisofCreeksideBooksin Skaneateles,NewYork,presented"Handselling:CustomerService WithResults,"whichfocusedonattractingandtraininggood handsellers,integratinghandsellingintomarketingefforts,and ensuringthatcustomerswalkawaywithauniqueandpositive shoppingexperience. "It'sgoodtoberemindedofthebasicsandhandsellingisjustthat," saidReilly."Ifwe'renotbrushinguponthoseskills,we'llloseour way.[Handselling]setsusapart.It'sthatpassion." "IthinkofallthemanywonderfulthingsthatABAdoesforus,and gettingbooksellersachancetogettogetherisveryhelpful,"said Kutz,"becausewhenyouarerunningabusinessbyyourself,you don'thaveanyfeedback." --DavidGrogan 36 SpringinOmaha:AForum&Education Program April26,2007 --OnSaturday,April21,theAmericanBooksellers AssociationheldaneducationprogramandaBooksellersForum& StrategicPlanningSessioninconjunctionwiththeMidwest BooksellersAssociation(MBA)attheCrownePlazaHotelin Omaha.Thefreeprogram,thisyear'ssecondintheMBAregion, drewabout40booksellerattendees. Atthekickoffsession,"ParticipatingintheDigitalRevolution," LenVlahos,ABA'sdirectorofeducationandBookSense.com, demonstratedhowtechnologyischangingthewaypeopleare interactingandacquiringinformation.Digitizationofcontent, socialnetworking,opensource,andprint-on-demandwereamong thetopicsofdiscussion,andVlahosshowedbooksellershow MySpace,SecondLife,andblogscanbeusedeffectivelyto promoteabookstore. BethBlack,co-ownerofOmaha'sBookworm,told BTW ,"As usual,theprogrammingwasveryprofessionalandwelldone."The "DigitalRevolution"sessionwasparticularlytimely,shesaid, becauseoftheroletechnologyplaysinattractingyoungercrowds tobookstores. StaffatWatermarkBooksinWichita,Kansas,wastednotime puttingwhattheylearnedatthe"DigitalRevolution"intopractice. Severaldaysaftertheforum,WatermarkownerSarahBagbysaid thestorehadalreadycreatedaMySpacepage."Idon'tknowwhat's onit,"shesaidwithalaugh."Wehavetofleshoutsomeofthe details,butwe'llpostinformationaboutourevents.Andwe'llalso havepost-eventrecaps,somethingwehaven'tdonebefore,toshow peoplewhattheyhavemissed.We'llbuildonwhatwehave,but we'lljustusedifferenttechnology." SharonCareyofBeaverdaleBooksinDesMoines,Iowa,saidshe appreciatedVlahos'explanationoftheconceptofnichemarketing asdiscussedin TheLongTail byChrisAnderson(Hyperion),as wellashisshortlistofbookblogs,whichincludedtheWrittenNerd 37 andPublishingInsider 38 . "OneofthediscussionsthatIthoughtwasreallyhelpfulwasto makeamuchmoreaccessiblewebsite,"Careysaid."Iwasthinking thatourstaffpickslistthatwehaveonthewall...wouldbereally usefultohaveonoursite." TheMBAbreakoutsession,"ItWorksForMe,"provided booksellerswithanopportunitytogetaneeded"shotinthearm," asBlackputit,astheywereabletonetworkandcontinue discussionsabouttechnologyissues. DuringMBA's"Let'sTalk"Lunch,eachtableofbooksellersmet withseveralpublisherrepsinsmallgroupstotalkaboutworking relationshipsandindustrytopics,ratherthandiscussingspecific titles.ABACOOOrenTeicherwasincludedintherotationand talkedtobooksellersaboutScholastic'sMyMainStreetBook SenseContest.StartingMay2,ScholasticandABAarepartnering tobringtheMainStreetContest--anessaycontestforchildren-- tostoreswithBookSense.ThepromotioncentersonNewbery honoreeandbestsellingauthorAnnM.Martin'snewseries,Main BOOKSELLINGTHISWEEK April26,2007 ©2007AmericanBooksellersAssociation.http://news.bookweb.org/6 Street. (Readmore 39 .) Afterlunch,therepsofferedtheir"PicksoftheLists"forspring andsummer. Vlahosthenpresented"Handselling:CustomerServiceWith Results."Thesessioncoveredimplementingandimproving handsellingstrategiestogrowastore'sreputation,energizestaff, andincreasesales.Attractingandtraininggoodhandsellers, integratinghandsellingintomarketingefforts,andensuringthat customerswalkawaywithauniqueandpositiveshopping experience,wereallpartofthediscussion.Videovignettesalso illustratedsomedo'sanddon'tsofhandselling. Thehandsellingsessionwas"quitegood,"saidBagby."Wepride ourselvesonbeingexperts,butthereweresomereallygoodtipsI hadn'tarticulated.Lentalkedaboutmentioninghowabookmakes youfeel.Whenhandselling,wecantellyoueverythingabouta book,andmorelikelythannotwe'lltellyouhowitmakesusfeel. Buttohavehimpresentitinthatframeworkwashelpful." Followingtheeducationsessions,TeicherandVlahosfacilitated the"BooksellersForum&StrategicPlanningSession,"wherethey providedupdatesontheassociation'sprogramsandinitiativesand gatheredbooksellers'inputonthefuturedirectionoftheassociation forthenextfive-yearstrategicplan. Followingtheprogramming,areceptionwasheldatThe BookwormfeaturingsomeoftheHeartland'sfavoritesauthors, includingJonisAgee,MarkLevine,LauraMoriarty,Andrea Portes,andTimothySchaffert. SusanWalker,MBAexecutivedirector,told BTW thattheevent wasverysuccessful,withapproximately40peopleinattendance. "About14storeswererepresented,andseveralwerebrand-new booksellers,or[stores]justonthevergeofopening,"shesaid."A nicemixofexperiencelevels." Walkertold BTW that,becausedistancesbetweenmemberstoresis greatintheMBAregion,meetingslikethisareverysignificant. "It'shardformanyofourmemberstogetto[regional]tradeshows andmanydon'tattendBEA.For[ABA]tobeabletobring somethingtothemisverysignificant."Walkeralsomentionedthe successofMBA'smarketinginitiative,MidwestConnections,in bringingmemberstorescloser. ForBlack,thegatheringprovidedanimportantopportunity"tobe surroundedbypeoplewhoshareyourownconcernsand difficulties.Itwasgreat." --NomiSchwartz 40 andKarenSchechner 41 TheFreedomtoSpeak:FromthePalmer RaidstothePatriotAct April26,2007 --BooksellerBetsyBurtondescribesChrisFinan's FromthePalmerRaidstothePatriotAct:AHistoryoftheFight forFreeSpeechinAmerica 42 (BeaconPress)as"oneofthemost importantbooksofourtime."BurtonrecentlyspoketoFinan, presidentoftheAmericanBooksellersFoundationforFree Expression,abouttheMaytitle,which PublishersWeekly describedasaninsightfulhistoryand Booklist gaveastarred review. 43 BetsyBurton:Youbothbeginandendyourbookwitha discussionofso-calledNationalSecurityLetters(NSL).Your understandingoftheprobabilityofNSLmisuseandofthe consequencesseemsprescient--NationalSecurityLettersare suddenlyinthenewsonanalmostdailybasis.Couldyoutalk brieflyabouthowtheydifferfromothergovernmentefforts intendedtoobtaininformationprotectedbytheConstitution andtostiflefreespeech? ChrisFinan :NationalSecurityLettersaredemandsfortelephone andInternetrecordsthattheFBIcanissuewithoutanyjudicial oversightwhenitisconductingaterrorisminvestigation.In2004,a federaljudgeruledthatNSLsposeaseriousthreattofreespeech byallowingthegovernment"tocompileelaboratedossierson Internetusers."TheFBIcouldalsohaveusedSection215ofthe PatriotActtoobtaintheserecords.Section215givesthe governmentthepowertoseizealmostanyrecord,includingthe recordsofbookstoresandlibraries.ButSection215ordersare moredifficulttoobtainbecausetheymustbeapprovedbyajudge. ArecentreportbytheInspectorGeneraloftheJusticeDepartment provesthattherehasbeenwidespreadabuseofthepowertoissue NSLs.WewerestunnedtolearntheFBIissued143,000NSL requestsinthethree-yearperiodendingin2005. BB:Havinggrownupinthe1950s,Ihadalwaysassumedthat thetraditionoffreespeechwassacredandthattheRedScare, theMcCarthyera,andsimilartroublingincidentswere isolatedthreatstofreespeechinAmericanhistory.Giventhat yourbookdescribesanearlyunbrokensuccessionofsuch threats,fromtheRedScareof1919forward,doyouhavean opinionaboutwhichoftheserepressiveperiodsposedthe gravestdangertofreespeech? CF :IthinkwewouldhavetopickoneofthetwoRedScares.The onethatoccurredafterWorldWarIwascertainlybrutal,resulting inthearrestofthousandsofimmigrantsfornoothercrimethan belongingtoradicalpoliticalparties.Butitwasalsorelatively short,andmostoftheimmigrantswereultimatelyfreedand permittedtostayinthiscountry.ThesecondRedScarelasted nearlyadecadeandwitnessedthedisgraceofAmericancitizens beingconvictedandjailedformembershipintheCommunistParty. ThefailureofeventheAmericanCivilLibertiesUnion(ACLU)to domoretoopposethesecondRedScareisachillingreminderof whatcouldhappenagainifwedonotcontinuetofightfortheright toexpress[even]theideaswehate. BB:Howdifferentlymightfreespeechhaveevolvedinthe courtswithouttheACLUoralikeorganization?Wouldthe courtsalone,withouttheeffortsofpeopleorganizedto championfreespeech,haveacteddifferently?IguesswhatI'm reallyaskingis,howimportanthastheACLUbeenovertime intermsofprotectingfreespeech? CF :TheACLUhasbeenhuge.Inthe1920s,itsentlawyersinto someofthemostdangerouslaborconflictstoasserttherightof workerstoholdpublicmeetingsandtopicketinsupportoftheir demands.ItrecruitedJohnScopestochallengeaTennesseelaw banningtheteachingofevolutionandtaughtthenationalesson abouttheimportanceofintellectualfreedom.Eveninthe1950s,it remainedthestrongestadvocateoffreespeech.Today,thereare scoresofcivillibertiesgroups,includingtheAmericanBooksellers FoundationforFreeExpression.Butweallcontinuetolookto ACLUforitsleadership. BB:Whatothergroupshavesignificantlycontributedtothese efforts? CF :Inthebook,Italkabouttheemergenceofa"freeexpression community."Thiscommunitywasbornfromtheeffortsof BOOKSELLINGTHISWEEK April26,2007 ©2007AmericanBooksellersAssociation.http://news.bookweb.org/7 individualswhowereoutragedbytheactsofcensorshiptheysaw aroundthem.Inthebeginning,itwasahandfuloflawyers,judges, andsocialworkerswhowerealarmedbytheviolationsofcivil libertiesthatoccurredduringWorldWarIandthefirstRedScare. Inthe1920s,theywerejoinedbypublishers,librarians,and booksellerswhofoughttherestrictionsonartisticspeechthathad beenimposedbyVictorian-eradecencygroups.Manyofthese earlycivillibertarianswereliberals,butnotall.Libertarian conservativeshaveplayedanimportantroleinthefightagainstthe governmentexcessesthathaveoccurredsince9/11. BB:Youdescribetwomajorstrandsofchallengestofree speech,onepoliticalandoftenexercisedintimesofwar,the otherconcerningcommunitystandardsof"morality"and usuallyexercisedinthenameofsome"ism."Bothstreamssee themselvesasjustifiable--onthegroundsofnationalsecurity intimesofwarontheonehand,andonthegroundsofharmto community,especiallytominorsandwomen(i.e.,child pornographyandsnufffilms)intermsof"morality"onthe other.Doyouseeeitherstreamofchallengesaspersuasiveor justifiableinanyway,ordoyouthinkthatfreespeechtrumps both? CF :Advocatesofcensorshipoftenactwiththebestofintentions. Theytargetspeechbecausetheybelievethatitcanbeharmful-- andtheyareright."Everyideaisanincitement,"JusticeOliver WendellHolmesobserved.Tothecensors,itseemsnaturaltocurb speechthatmightbeharmful.Theydon'tseethedangerthatliesin givinggovernmentthepowertosuppressideas.Underthe ComstockActof1873,thegovernmenttriedtosuppressnotonly "obscene"booksandmagazines,butimportantliteraryworkswith sexualcontent,includingnovelsbyD.H.Lawrence,JamesJoyce, TheodoreDreiser,andErnestHemingway.DuringWorldWarI, theEspionageActtargetedspiesandsaboteurs,butitalsowasused toconvictmorethan1,000Americanswhohadmerelycriticized thewar.Evenchildpornographylawsmustbenarrowlyandclearly definedtopreventachillingeffectonFirstAmendmentprotected material. BB:AspresidentofABFFE,whatroledoyouseebooksellers playinginthepresent-dayfighttoprotectourrightstoprivacy andfreespeech,especiallyinreferencetoSection215ofthe PatriotAct?Congresshasgivenusbacktherighttoconsultan attorneywhenreaders'recordsaresoughtbytheFBI,butisn't ittruethatwecanstillbearrestedforholdingbacksuch records?Wouldacourtchallengebefeasibleoristhecurrent lawimpossibletochallenge?Andisthereanythingbesides petitioningandlobbying--andgoingtojail--thatwe can do? CF :Booksellersareplayinganimportantroleinchallengingthe PatriotActandothercivillibertiesthreatsthathavearisensince 9/11.Workingtogetherwiththenation'slibrarians,wehave circulatedpetitions,writtenletterstoourrepresentativesand sponsorededucationalprogramsthatraisedawarenessaboutthe importanceofprotectingfreespeechinaperiodofintenseconcern aboutnationalsecurity.Inearly2006,Congresstookthefirststeps towardrestoringsomeofthesafeguardsforreaderprivacythathad beeneliminatedbythePatriotAct,includingtherighttochallenge Section215andNSLsincourt.Itisalsoencouragingtosee Congressmorevigorouslyexercisingitsauthoritytooverseethe exerciseoflawslikethePatriotAct.However,booksellerswill continuetofightuntilwehavefullyrestoredreaderprivacy. BB:Technologyhaschangedthewayswecommunicate;have lawsregardingfreespeechkeptupwithtechnology?Have effortstosuppressfreespeechonlineoutstrippedeffortsto protectourrightstofreeexpressionoristhereversetrue? CF :Generally,theprinciplesestablishedinpreviousfreespeech caseshavbeensuccessfullyappliedtonewmedia.Oneofthe biggestchallengeshasbeentheefforttorestrictfreespeechonthe Internet.First,Congresspassedalawbanningall"indecency"on theInternet,butthatlawwasheldunconstitutionalbytheSupreme Court.Thelatestefforthasbeentobananarrowercategoryof speech--materialthatis"harmfultominors."BothCongressand manystates,includingUtah,havebannedthedisplayof"harmful" materialonthecommercialwebsites.Federalcourtshave repeatedlystruckdowntheselawsbecausetheylimittheaccessof adultstoconstitutionallyprotectedmaterial.(ThecasefiledbyThe King'sEnglishBookshopandACLUchallengingtheUtahlawis stillpending.)ThecourtshavealsocitedtheFirstAmendmentin rejectingeffortstobanthesaleofviolentvideogamestominors. BB:Haveeffortstocurtailthemedia'sfreespeechhadany impactonhowfreeexpressionissuesarecoveredinthepress? CF :Ithinkthatthepressismoresensitivetothethreatstofree speechthantheyhavebeeninmanyyears.Thisislargelytheresult oftheirownfrustrationincoveringnationaleventssince9/11. Theyhavebeenrepeatedlyblockedbyanadministrationthat believestherehasbeentoomuchopennessingovernmentandhas clampeddownoninformationaboutallofitsaffairs.Thepressalso seesagrowingwillingnessonthepartofofficialsatalllevelsof governmenttoattempttodenyitaccesstotheconfidentialsources thatareessentialtouncoveringgovernmentwrongdoing.Itis aggressivelypressingforfederal"shield"legislationtoprotect thosesources. BB:Istheclimatechangeinrelationtofreespeechthat occurred,thanksto9/11andthePatriotAct,stillworsening andifsowhatcanweascitizensdoaboutit? CF :Publicopinionpollslastyearshowedthatabout40percentof theAmericanpeoplebelievethatthegovernmenthasgonetoofar inrestrictingcivilliberties.Thisisasignificantincreaseinsupport forcivilliberties.However,fearofterrorismremainshigh,andas manyas60percentcontinuetosupportthePatriotAct.Itisin timeslikethesethatcivillibertariansmustfighttheirhardesttobe heard.Wemustcontinuetodemandthatthegovernment'sfight againstterrorismnoterodetheindividualfreedomsthatarethe heartofourdemocracy. BB:OneofthethingsIsolovedaboutreadingyourbookwas thechainofvoiceschampioningfreespeechthatyouwove throughyournarrative--fromEmmaGoldman,Oliver WendellHolmes,andAlfredSmithintheearlydaysofthelast centurytoBernieSanders,RussFeingold,andSandraDay O'Connorintheearlydaysofthisone.Doyouhaveoneortwo whoareparticularfavorites,peopleyouconsidertobepersonal heroes? CF :AlSmithandBernieSandersaretwoofmyfavorites.Smith waselectedgovernorofNewYorkin1918andtookofficejustas theRedScarewasgettingunderway.Thefactthathewasa first-termgovernorwhohadbarelysqueakedintoofficedidnot stophimfromdenouncingtheNewYorkAssembly'sexpulsionof itsSocialistmembersandthenvetoinglegislationthatwouldhave BOOKSELLINGTHISWEEK April26,2007 ©2007AmericanBooksellersAssociation.http://news.bookweb.org/8 severelyrestrictedfreespeech.Sandersalsodemonstratedgreat politicalcouragein2002bychallengingthepopularPatriotAct. ThedebateoverhisFreedomtoReadProtectionActhelpedraise publicawarenessaboutthedangerofuncheckedfederalpower. "Libertyliesintheheartsofmenandwomen;whenitdiesthere, noconstitution,nolaw,nocourtcansaveit,"JudgeLearnedHand wrote.ItismenlikeSmithandSanderswhoinspireustocarry libertyinourhearts. BB:Thankyou,Chris.Ibelievethatfreespeechisclearlythe mostimportantissueofourera,giventheBushAdministration attacksonit,andIseeyourtimely--andbrilliant--historyas oneofthemostimportantbooksofourtime,oneweare fortunatetohave. Thisintervieworiginallyappearedin TheInkslinger ,the newsletterofTheKing'sEnglishBookshopinSaltLakeCity. BTW NewsBriefs April25,2007 -- MakingInformationPay2007 OnMay10,inNewYorkCity,theBookIndustryStudyGroup, Inc.(BISG)willbeholdingitsfourthannualMakingInformation PayConference.Thehalf-dayconferenceaimstoprovidepractical guidanceonhowtoevaluateandexploittechnologiesthroughout thebookindustry'sincreasinglydigitalsupplychain.VISTA Internationalissponsoringtheevent,withbreakfastprovidedby NielsenBookScan. Titled UsingEmergingTechnologytoImproveYourBottomLine , MakingInformationPay2007willoffermorethan150industry professionalsusefuldirectiononhowtouseemergingtechnologies toincreasesalesandprofitability,decreasewasteandreturns,and remainrelevantinanever-evolvingindustry.NicolePoindexter, vicepresidentanddirectorofstrategicplanningforHachetteBook Group,willprovidetheopeningkeynote,"ReachingaNew GenerationofReaders."Aclosingkeynote,"BeyondtheBook: RespondingtoaChangingMarketplace,"willbedeliveredby AllenNoren,DirectorofOnlineMarketingforO'ReillyMedia. (Forthefullagendaandconferenceregistrationinformation,visit theBISGconferencewebsite 44 ). MakingInformationPay2007willtakeplaceattheMcGraw-Hill Auditorium,locatedat12216thAvenueinNewYorkCity. Registrationis$95forBISGMembersand$175for Non-Members.Discountedhotelroomratesareavailableto conferenceattendees.MakingInformationPayisaneventhosted annuallybytheBookIndustryStudyGroup.Furtherdetailscanbe foundonthewebatwww.bisg.org/conferences/mip4.html 45 ,orby emailingangela@bisg.org 46 . PublishingSalesRiseinFebruary BookssalestrackedbytheAssociationofAmericanPublisherssaw anincreaseforthemonthofFebruarywithnetsalesupby12.6 percentforthemonthand10.2percentfortheyear.TheAdult Hardcovercategorywasupby43.4percentinFebruarywithsales of$111.9million;saleswerealsoupby40.8percentforthe calendaryear. AdultPaperbacksalesalsosawagainof3.2percentforthemonth ($97.6million);however,salesweredown4.9percentfortheyear. TheAdultMassMarketcategorydeclinedby11.2percentfor Februarywithsalestotaling$59.3million;salesdeclinedby7.8 percentyear-to-date.TheChildren's/YAHardcovercategorygrew by43.4percentforthemonthwithsalesof$37.4million;sales year-to-datewerealsoupby31.7percent.TheChildren's/YA Paperbackcategoryincreased5.7percentinFebruarywithsales totaling$34.1million;however,salesweredownby12.9percent fortheyear. AudioBooksalespostedasmalldecreaseof0.5percentfor Februarycomparedtolastyear'sfigureswithsalestotaling$10.5 million;salesforthewholeyearwereupby9.5percent.E-books salesroseby44.7percentforthemonth($2.5million);the categoryalsopostedanincreaseof26.4percentfortheyear. (E-bookfigureswerecompiledincooperationwiththe InternationalDigitalPublishingForum.)ReligiousBookspostedan increaseof31.8percentforFebruarywithsalesof$39.5million; saleswerealsoupby33.0percentfortheyear. AlbertMurrayWinsW.E.B.DuBoisMedal Ninetyyear-oldnovelist,culturalcritic,andpoetAlbertMurrayhas beenawardedtheW.E.B.DuBoisMedalbyHarvardUniversity's W.E.B.DuBoisInstituteforAfricanandAfricanAmerican Research.Theannouncementwasmadetodaybytheinstitute's director,HenryLouisGates,Jr.,inrecognitionofMr.Murray's "contributionstothearts,culture,andtothelifeofthemind."The W.E.B.DuBoisInstituteisthenation'soldestresearchcenter dedicatedtothestudyofthehistory,culture,andsocialinstitutions ofAfricansandAfricanAmericans. AAPOffersEvents,PromoMaterialsto MarkLatinoBookMonth April25,2007 -- Tohelpbooksellers,librarians,andothersinthebookindustry createcelebrationsforthefourthannual"LatinoBooksMonth"this May,theAssociationofAmericanPublishers(AAP)isofferinga LatinoBooksMonthResourceKit,featuringreadinglists,posters, andothermaterialstoencouragecommunitiestoreadbooksbyand forLatinos,inbothEnglishandSpanish.Aspartoftheinitiative, AAPmemberpublisherswillalsobeholdingaspecialauthorevent atBookExpoAmerica(BEA). TheLatinoBooksMonthResourceKit,createdbyAAP'sTask ForceonPublishingLatinoVoicesforAmerica,includes: " ALatinoBooksSummerReadingList,withrecommended booksforadultsandchildreninEnglishandSpanish " APublishingLatinoVoicesBrochure,whichincludesa samplingoftitlesbyandforLatinospublishedbyAAPmember publishingcompanies " GetCaughtReading/¡Ajá,leyendo!postersfeaturingcelebrities includingGloriaEstefan,MayaandMiguel,JorgeRamos,Dora theExplorer,andothers " A"how-to"sheetonstartingaSpanish-languagereadinggroup withinacommunity " ContactinformationforbookingLatinoauthorsforauthor appearances ThoseinterestedinaLatinoBooksMonthresourcekitshould e-mailAAP'sChristinaRodriguezcrodriguez@publishers.org 47 or visittheAAPBooth(Booth#4876)atBEA. AlsoatBEA,onFriday,June1,from3:00p.m.-4:00p.m.in BOOKSELLINGTHISWEEK April26,2007 ©2007AmericanBooksellersAssociation.http://news.bookweb.org/9 Room1E06oftheJavitsCenter,bookindustryprofessionalswill havetheopportunitytohearLatinaauthorsandeditorstalkabout theirupcomingEnglishlanguageworks.ParticipantsincludeAna Castillo( TheGuardians ,RandomHouse);MichelleHerrera Mulligan( JuicyMangos:TheBestLatinaErotica ,Atria);and JuliaAlvarez( OnceUponaQuinceanera:ComingofAgeinthe USA ,Viking).Theevent,hostedby NewYorkTimes journalistand authorMirtaOjito( FindingManana:AMemoirofCubanExodus, VintageEspanol),willbefollowedbyareceptionat4:00p.m.for LatinosinPublishing.TheprogramsareopentoallBEA registrants. AvoidingBusinessInsuranceRenewal Troubles April25,2007 -- InsuranceTipsFromLIBRIS Today'sindependentbookstoreownerhasmanyissuestoaddress inmanaginghisorherbusiness.Amongthemanydeadlines needingattentionistherenewalofbusinessinsurance,anditisnot uncommontobefacingaterminationdatewithlittletimetoadjust, especiallywhentermsandpricingcanvarygreatlyfromyearto year.Thiscanleadtosomewranglingwiththeinsurerandanupset toyourbudgetingprocess.Herearesomeproactiveplanning suggestionsforbookstoreownerstoconsider: 1)Yourbrokershouldcallyouapproximately90dayspriorto therenewaldate. Bepreparedtoprovidethenecessarydatatorate yourinsurance.Thisincludesanticipatedannualrevenue,changes ininventoryandpropertyvalues,andestimatedpayroll/employee countsforthecomingyear.Additionalinformationsuchaspast losses,securityinformationonthebuilding,trainingofemployees, andfinancialinformationmayberequiredifseekingquotesfrom otherthanyourcurrentcarrier. 2)Instructyourbrokertodeliverthequote30-45daysprior torenewal. Also,youcanaskforquotesatdifferentdeductible levelsorlimits.Thiswillallowadequatetimetoaddressanyissues --insistonanearlyquote! 3)Askyourbrokertoidentifyallcoveragechanges. Itistypical industrypracticetoonlyrevealwhattheinsurerdeterminesas "significant"coveragechanges.Askquestionsaboutanycoverage changesyoudonotunderstand. 4)Iftheinsuranceprogramyouareconsideringprovidesfora dividendpossibility,findoutwhendividendsarepaidandif theyarebasedontheperformanceoftheinsurerasawhole,or somesubsetsuchasbooksellers. TheLIBRISinsuranceprogrampaysdividendsbasedontheresults ofparticipantswithinthegroup.Otherinsuranceprogramsdosoon theentirebusiness--whichcanincludeanyindustry. Aftersecuringyourinsurance,followupin60daysifyouhavenot receivedyourpolicy.Oncereceived,reviewitcarefully.Arecent studyindicatedthat50percentofallinsurancepoliciesissued containerrors. Editor'sNote: Theinsurancetipscontainedinthisarticlewere providedbytheinsuranceprofessionalsatLIBRIS(Leagueof IndependentBookRetailerInsuranceServices).LIBRISisan insuranceprogramexclusivelyforindependentbooksellersandis sponsoredbytheABAandownedbyABAmembers. YouareinvitedtocontactLIBRISat(888)694-8585orvisit www.LIBRIS.org 48 withanyquestionsyoumayhaveaboutyour businessproperty,liability,orworkers'compensationinsurance. ThestaffatLIBRISwillbehappytoprovideyouwithafree,no obligationinsurancequoteusuallywithinonebusinessday. BookstoreSalesContinueSlide April24,2007 --RetailsalesatbookstoresinFebruary2007were downascomparedtothepreviousFebruary,accordingto preliminaryestimatesrecentlyreleasedbytheBureauofthe Census.Inaddition,theBureauadjustedbothJanuary2006and January2007figuresupward,buttheendresultwasthatbookstore salesdecreasedby1.4percentthispastJanuary. February2007bookstoresalesof$1,012millionwerelowerthan thepreviousFebruaryby6.5percent.Thiswastheeighthmonthin arowthatbooksalesfailedtokeeppacewiththepreviousyears' results. Overallretailsales,however,wereupinFebruary--retailsales were$328billioninFebruary2007ascomparedto$316billionin February2006,anincreaseof3.8percent,basedonpreliminary figures. 2006-2007RETAILSALESforBOOKSTORE (unadjusted) Period 2006Final (Millionsof Dollars) 2007(Millionsof Dollars) %Change2007 over2006 January 2,206 2,175 (1.4) February 1,082 1,012( p ) (6.5) YTD 3288 3,187 (3.1) (p)Preliminaryfigure Note:Estimatesreflectsalesofalltypesofparticipatingbookstore, includingtrade,college,religious,chainstores(including superstores),andothers.Abookstoreisdefinedasanyretail establishmentwithsalescomprisedofmorethan50percentnew booksandperiodicals,andestimatesincludesalesofallproductsin thesestores. Source:BureauoftheCensus,CurrentRetailTradeBranch. E-mailtoExplainImprovementstoGift CardAdministration April25,2007 --Givex,BookSense'spartneringiftcard processing,ismigratingthecurrentstoreadministrativewebsiteto amoresecureportalwebsite.Thenewportalwilladdanextralevel ofsecuritytotheprogram'sadministrationandtransaction processing.BookSenseisalsomovingitsgiftcardprogram fulfillmentservicestoacompanyintheU.S.thatwillexpeditecard andpresenterdeliverytimes. Participatingstoresshouldbeonthelookoutforane-mail regardingthesechangescomingfromGivexwithinthenextfew weeks.Thee-mailwillexplainspecificstepsrequiredtoavoida BOOKSELLINGTHISWEEK April26,2007 ©2007AmericanBooksellersAssociation.http://news.bookweb.org/10 disruptionofservice. Booksellerscanlearnmoreabouttheprogram'senhancementsat theBookSenseGiftCardsUsersGroupMeetingatBookExpo AmericaonFriday,June1,at10:00a.m.-11:00a.m.inRoom 1B05oftheJavitsConventionCenter.Hands-ondemonstrations willbefeaturedintheABA'sBookSenseLounge,Room 1E07/1E08,whichisopenFriday,June1-Sunday,June3. Toset-upameetingatBEA,orforanswerstogeneralquestions, contactABAMarketingDirectorJillPerlsteinatjill@bookweb.org 49 . BuildersBooksource--25Yearsof InspirationandTechnicalKnow-How April25,2007 --GeorgeandSallyKiskaddon,ownersofBerkeley, California'sBuildersBooksource 50 ,haven'tdecidedpreciselyhow theywillbecelebratingtheirstore'ssilveranniversary,butthey planto"makeabigdealofit,"saidGeorgeKiskaddon."We're goingtohaveayearlongexclamationofjoy." The2,000-square-footstore--whichsellsbooks,reference material,andsoftwareforcontractors,designers,architects, do-it-yourselfers,andothers--openedonApril3,1982,asadirect resultofGeorgeKiskaddon'sownbuildingprojects,successfuland otherwise.AftercompletinghisBachelorsinInvertebrate PhysiologyandEcologyattheUniversityofCalifornia--Berkeley, hebeganworkingonaseriesofremodelswithfamilyfriends."I wasoverlyconfidentandsortofjumpedintohomeremodeling,"he recentlytold BTW ."Ididfoolishthingsandgotintotroubleand wenttobookstorestobailmyselfout."Onhisinformationforays, Kiskaddonoftencouldn'tfindtheresourcesthatheandSally neededtocompletetheirprojects,sothehusband-and-wifeteam createdBuildersBooksource,acommunityresourceforbookson building,design,andmore. Thestore'sFourthStreetneighborhoodwasoriginallyfilledwith "quasi-industrial"buildingsboughtandremodeledbyadeveloper whonamedtheareatheBuildingDesignCenter."Thatwasoneof thereasonsweopenedhere,"saidKiskaddon."Whenwemovedin, therewasaplumbingfixturecompany,awood-workingsupply store,anorganizationcalledtheOwnerBuilderCenter,andtub makers.Wewereabunchofinteresting,hippy,entrepreneurial businesses." Nowthingshave"gonekindofupscale,"saidKiskaddon.What usedtobeaninexpensiveplacetorentretailspaceisalmost prohibitivelyexpensive,buttheneighborhoodisstillunusualand entrepreneurial.Andthereremainotherareastalwarts,including Bette'sOceanviewDiner,whichopenedseveraldaysafterBuilders Booksourcein1982andstillserves"thebestbreakfastinthe westernworld,"opinedKiskaddon.Anotherconstant,henoted, wastheconcentrationofloyalbookbuyers."BerkeleyandFourth Streetcontinuetobeanamazingmeccaofwonderfully overeducatedconsumerswholovebooks." Customerssoappreciatedthebookstore,manybeggedtohave anotherbranchacrossthebridgeinSanFrancisco.Thatlocationin GhirardelliSquaredid"okay"forabout15years,saidKiskaddon. Whenthebuildingneededtoberetrofittedforearthquakes, however,thelandlordsdecidedagainstrenewingBuilders Booksource'slease,andinsteadreopenedthebuildingasahotel. TheKiskaddons'businesspartnerintheSanFranciscolocation optedout,andthecoupledecidedtofocustheireffortsonthemain storeinBerkeley. KiskaddonwasinvolvedintheNorthernCaliforniaIndependent BooksellerscommitteethatoriginatedtheideaofBookSense,and BuildersBooksourcehasbeenaBookSensestoresincethe programlaunchednationallyin1999.Thestorewasanearly adopteroftheBookSenseGiftCardProgram,andKiskaddon describedthecardsasawonderfultool."We'vebasicallycreated ourowncustomizedcardpresenterwithourlogo,"heexplained. "Wecapitalizedontheideaofagiftcardandpresenterasareally coolandfungift.Wedesignedanewpresenterforthispastholiday season,andwe'lldoanotherwithour25thanniversarylogo." 51 TheBuildersBooksourcelistoftop-sellersdifferssomewhat fromotherBookSensebookstores."Whenyougetabunchof booksellersaroundatable,they'lltalkaboutwhatthey'rereading andwhat'shot,andIwouldmentionthatthe UniformedBuilding Code (UniformBuildingCodeCommission)wasdoinggreat." Currently,booksaboutbuildinggreenaresellingverywell, especially GoodGreenKitchens byJenniferRoberts(Gibbs Smith).Kiskaddonalsonotedthatthestorehas"neverhad somethingashotas ConcreteCountertops "bylocalwriter Fu-TungChengandEricOlsen(TauntonPress),whichhe encouragedareluctantTauntonPresstopublish.Builders Booksourcealonehassoldmorethan2,000copies,hesaid. 52 Creditforthestore'ssuccessislargelyowedtoSally,according toKiskaddon,alongwiththe"hugenumberofverywelleducated contractors,builders,homeowners,anddo-it-yourselfers"inthe BayArea. WhenheandSallynamedthestore,theirintentionwasthatthe word"builders"wouldbeinclusive."Weusebuildersinthe broadestpossiblecontext,"heexplained."Abuilderisanyonewho isinterestedintheirbuiltenvironment,anyone--homeowners, architects,engineers,landscapers,interiordesigners.We'veplayed withabilliondifferentcatchphrasestoshowwhatwe'reabout.My fallback,andfavorite,is'BuildersBooksourceisaboutinspiration andtechnicalknow-how.'That'showIseeus.Thatgivesalmost anybodytheimpetustovisit."-- KarenSchechner 53 Classifieds BOOKSTOREFORSALE Forsaleduetohealth: Generalbookstoreinmid-south.Approx. 1,800sq.ft.Norealestate.BlondFranklinfixtures.Custom children'sroomfixtures.Smallcoffeebar,customerseatingarea. LatestBooklogPOSsystem.Kitchen,backroom,storage,office, cashwrapequipment.Photosavailable.Writeto editorial@bookweb.org 61 .PleaseputMid-SouthBookstorein subjectline. Orrville,Ohio. Turnkey.Needsowner-operator.Inventoryand fixtures.Call(937)767-2727. FIXTURES Allnewfixtures:SkylineDesigns ,inbusinesssince1986.See ourstandardfixturesandpricesatwww.skylinedesigns.com 62 or call1-800-775-1478.Wewelcomerequestsformodifiedorcustom displays. BOOKSELLINGTHISWEEK April26,2007 ©2007AmericanBooksellersAssociation.http://news.bookweb.org/11 BookstoreFixtures: Standard,Modified,andCustomDisplay Fixturesdesignedspecificallyforbookstores.Relatedservices includingcomplimentarystorelayouts. FranklinFixtures- PartneringwithIndependentBooksellerssince1974. More informationatwww.franklinfixtures.com 63 . FORSALE Closing5000sq.ft.bookstore .Clearfirbookcases,gondolas,a camerasecuritysystem,and8userIBIDcomputersystem. EverythingmustgobyApril30.MaryScottat messcott@hotmail.com 64 or1-360-708-1825. POSITIONSAVAILABLE GiftBuyer: Award-winningArizonabookstoreisseekinga full-timegiftbuyer.Previousbuyingandmerchandisingexperience required.Knowledgeofbudgets,staffmanagement,andtheability toworkwellwithothersisessential.Dutiesincludebuying, inventorymanagement,stocking,merchandising,returns,and designingcompellingdisplays.Salaryplusbonuses,medical reimbursementplan,401k,andbookperks.E-mailresumeto gayleshanks@msn.com 65 withacoverlettertellinguswhyyou'd liketoworkwithusandwhatyoucouldbringtothisjob.Changing HandsBookstore,6428S.McClintockDr.Tempe,AZ85283--A GreatPlacetoWork. TechnicalAssistant: Nat'lTradeAssociationinWestchesterseeks entry-leveltechnicalassistant.ResponsibilitiesincludeNovelland Winsupport,generaluserandsystemmaintenance.Good organizationalskills,abilitytoworkindependently.WinServer 2003,PHP,webdevelopment,databaseknowledgea+.Excellent benefitspackageandapleasantworkingenvironmentin Tarrytown,NY.Pleasesendresumeandcoverletterto wexler@bookweb.org 66 . AllRegularABAMemberBookstoresingoodstandingmay haveuptofour2-weekClassifiedAdinsertionsperyearin BooksellingThisWeek atnocharge(50-wordlimit).Formore informationonbookingaclassifiedad,clickhere 67 . OtherAdvertising _________________________________________________ The IndependentMugglesforHarryPotter 68 Sweepstakes! "Whatafabulousidea,theHarryPotterSweepstakes 69 .Ithinkthis will reallyspeaktomycustomers!Thankyou,ABA."-- PatRutledge, ABookforAllSeasons,Leavenworth,WA (ForABAMembersOnly.) _________________________________________________ BigStore?SmallStore?RedStore?TallStore? ThemoreABAknowsaboutitsbookstoremembers,thebetterour programming,products,andservicescanbetailoredtoyourneeds. Sotellustoday! GettingtoKnowYou --theABAMemberQuestionnaire--isavailableonlineat http://www.bookweb.org/account/update.do 70 now. OremailJoeDawsonatjoed@bookweb.org 71 toreceiveaprinted form. 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Limitedto2seatsperstore*Confirmationemailswilltobesent theweekofMay14th _________________________________________________ Linksinthisdocument: 1.See http://www.bookweb.org/read/9439 2.See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5214 3.See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5214 4.See mailto:nomi@bookweb.org 5.See mailto:karen@bookweb.org 6.See mailto:http://news.bookweb.org/5214 7.See http://www.bookweb.org/booksense/bookseller/9439.html 8.See http://www.bookweb.org/booksense/bookseller/9439.html 9.See http://news.bookweb.org BOOKSELLINGTHISWEEK April26,2007 ©2007AmericanBooksellersAssociation.http://news.bookweb.org/12 10.See http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/App/homepage.cfm?moduleid=323 & appname=288 & campaignid=61326772 & iUserCampaignID=29923196 11.See http://www.bookexpoamerica.com 12.See https://www.bookweb.org/aba/convention/9057.html 13.See http://www.bookweb.org/read/9369 14.See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5157 15.See http://www.bookweb.org/read/9363 16.See https://www.bookweb.org/aba/convention/9057.html 17.See mailto:margaret@bookweb.org 18.See mailto:Margaret@booksense.com 19.See mailto:Margaret@booksense.com 20.See http://www.wavebooks.com 21.See mailto:dave@bookweb.org 22.See http://www.bookexpoamerica.com 23.See http://www.bookweb.org/join/affinity/ 24.See http://www.bookweb.org/read/9439 25.See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5215 26.See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5132 27.See https://www.bookweb.org/aba/convention/9057.html 28.See https://www.bookweb.org/aba/convention/9057.html 29.See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5215 30.See https://www.bookweb.org/aba/convention/9057.html 31.See http://www.bookexpoamerica.com 32.See http://www.bookweb.org/docs/abacusform/index.htm 33.See http://www.bookweb.org/docs/bookstores/abacus/ABACUS_2006_Review.pps 34.See mailto:davidw@bookweb.org 35.See http://www.newatlanticbooks.com/ 36.See mailto:dave@bookweb.org

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