BTW News Briefs

W.S. Merwin Named Poet Laureate

The Library of Congress today named W. S. Merwin as the country's next poet laureate.

The 82-year-old Merwin is the author of more than 20 books of poetry.  His honors include two Pulitzer Prizes, for The Shadow of Sirius and The Carrier of Ladders, and the National Book Award, for Migration: New and Selected Poems.

“William Merwin’s poems are often profound and, at the same time, accessible to a vast audience. He leads us upstream from the flow of everyday things in life to half-hidden headwaters of wisdom about life itself,” said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington.

A full list of resources related to the new poet laureate is available on the Library of Congress website.

ABA Partnership With Google in New York Times

On June 29, the New York Times featured an article on the partnership between the American Booksellers Association and Google that will bring Google Editions, the “device-agnostic” e-book program, to ABA members. Google Editions is expected to launch this summer.

The article, "Stores See Google as Ally in E-Book Market," noted that the partnership “could help beloved bookstores like Powell’s Books in Portland, Ore.; Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park, Calif.; and St. Mark’s Bookshop in New York…. The Google deal could give them a foothold in this fast-growing market and help them keep devoted customers from migrating elsewhere.”

ABA COO Len Vlahos told the Times, “Google has shown a real interest in our market. For a lot of reasons, it’s a very good fit.”

Tom Turvey, Google’s director of strategic partnerships, explained, “I don’t think anyone who has bought an e-reader in the last several years has really intended to only buy their digital books from one provider for life.”

The partnership with Google Editions was announced to ABA members at an education session at BookExpo America in May.

Ingram Publisher Services Adds Three Clients

On June 30, Ingram Publisher Services Inc. announced the addition of three new publisher clients: Australian Academic Press, Dark Coast Press, and Pineapple Press.

Pineapple Press is known for regional titles about Florida, as well as specialty titles about lighthouses and books on Georgia and the Carolinas. Dark Coast Press specializes in literary fiction, poetry, essays, and avant-garde works. Australian Academic Press works with academics, researchers, and scholarly and professional societies to publish professional and popular books, e-books, monographs, and print and electronic journals in the behavioral and social sciences.

WNBA Pannell Award Installs New Chair

The Women’s National Book Association has appointed Valerie Tomaselli as the new chairperson to administer the WNBA Pannell Award. The award is presented annually at BookExpoAmerica to two bookstores that have demonstrated excellence in connecting young people and books.

Tomaselli is the president of MTM Publishing, a New York-based book production company, specializing in reference, nonfiction, and children’s books for the library and trade markets. She completed a four-year term as president of the New York City chapter of WNBA, and now serves as vice president/president-elect of the WNBA’s national board.

Audiobook Sales Increase in 2009

On June 28,the Audio Publishers Association (APA) released the results of its Survey of 2009 Sales. An independent research firm surveyed audiobook publishers and analyzed sales data from 2009, comparing those results against the previous year's findings. The survey found that audiobook unit sales increased by 4.7 percent in 2009, though like much of the publishing industry, the audio sector experienced a drop in revenue.

In response to the recession, publishers selectively reduced prices on audiobooks in 2009, which contributed to the 12 percent decline in revenues. However, consumers rewarded this tactic by purchasing more and sales increased to nearly 20 million units.

Revenue reported by 29 APA member companies for 2009 was $291 million. The APA estimates that the total size of the audiobook industry, based on the dollars spent by consumers and libraries, is approximately $900 million.

Marie Johns Confirmed as SBA Deputy Administrator

On June 22, Marie C. Johns, a longtime advocate for small businesses, was confirmed by unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Johns will be the second-ranking official at SBA, with major responsibility for management, policy development and program supervision.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Marie Johns as Deputy Administrator of the SBA,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “Marie’s strong leadership will help provide small businesses with the guidance, support and tools they need to grow, create jobs, and continue to drive economic recovery throughout the country.”

Midwest Booksellers Association on the Move

The Midwest Booksellers Association is moving its office from Minneapolis to the Twin Cities suburb of Golden Valley, Minnesota.

Beginning July 15, MBA can be reached at 2355 Louisiana Avenue N, Suite A, Golden Valley, MN 55427; Phone: (763) 544-2993; Fax: (763) 544-2266.

MBA's 800-number, e-mail addresses, and website URL remain unchanged.