BTW News Briefs

BookExpo Courts Bargain Book Industry

According to Bargain Book News, Book Expo America is planning a significant change for remainder dealers and buyers for this year's Book Expo in New York City. "The remainder pavilion has become increasingly more important to us," Lance Fensterman, BEA show director told BBN. "We recognize the unique nature of the bargain book business and the process in which they are sold. With their limited inventories and buyer competition it has become necessary for remainder companies to extend their trade shows with suites, show rooms, and pre-shows which, obviously, add to their expenses. We would like to embrace the industry and some of their unique issues by opening the Remainder Pavilion a day early."

At present, the plan is to open the Remainder Pavilion on Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. exclusively for remainder dealers and any attendee with a valid BEA badge.

Dr. Perri Klass to Receive 2006 WNBA Award

Pediatrician-author Perri Klass, whose "work as medical director and president of Reach Out and Read has brought books to millions of children," is the recipient of the 2006 Women's National Book Association Award. A reception in her honor will take place on Sunday, December 3, in New York City. The Women's National Book Association presents the WNBA Award every other year to honor a living American woman who derives part or all of her income from books and allied arts and who has done meritorious work in the world of books beyond the duties or responsibilities of her profession or occupation.

WNBA noted that Perri Klass's role in promoting literacy through "Reach Out and Read" has made readers out of children who might otherwise never even have had a book of their own. A national non-profit organization, "Reach Out and Read" promotes early literacy by making books a routine part of pediatric care. Through "Reach Out and Read," Klass has "been a driving force in inspiring the sustaining, even life-transforming, habit of reading and has assumed a leadership role by training other physicians to do the same."

Insurance Industry Looks to Insure the Uninsured

According to the Los Angeles Times on Monday, November 13, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) unveiled a proposal to extend coverage to nearly 47 million uninsured people. AHIP represents companies that provide coverage to more than 200 million people, the Times noted.

The article stated that the plan would rely on a mixture of expanded federal and state programs and tax credits for workers and their families to purchase private health insurance and pay medical expenses. It would also provide federal grants to states that are trying to expand coverage for their residents. It calls for providing coverage within three years to all uninsured children, currently numbering about 8 million, and within 10 years to virtually all adults.

However, AHIP's proposal "does not address the key elements that would determine whether it is even workable," the Times said. "For example, there are no details on how to pay its estimated 10-year price tag of $300 billion or how to control healthcare costs over the long run." And the proposal does not require that employers or individuals buy health insurance, which many see as necessary in order to reach a goal of coverage for all.

SBA Grants Will Fund Women's Business Centers

On November 13, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced $12 million in grant funding for 19 new Women's Business Centers (WBCs) and 80 existing WBCs, broadening the reach of business training and counseling to assist women to start, grow and expand their small businesses. The $12 million includes funding for the 19 new WBCs, continued funding for the 29 existing WBCs that are still in their first five years of funding, and 51 older WBCs that were awarded sustainability grants. Each WBC is required to match a portion of the federal funds with private contributions.

WBCs are community-based and they are in nearly every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa, serving a wide variety of economic environments including urban, suburban, and rural. The WBC program, established by Congress in 1988, is administered by the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership and promotes the growth of women-owned businesses through business training and technical assistance, and provides access to credit and capital, federal contracts, and international trade opportunities.