BTW News Briefs

ASAE Urges Action on 1099 Repeal

Despite overwhelming support  for the repeal of the 1099 provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, its fate remains uncertain until President Obama signs a bill passed by both chambers of Congress. Both the Senate and the House have passed their own versions of repeal, and an overwhelming majority of members have voted for repeal at some point.

The Senate is now considering whether to take up the repeal bill passed by the House or to pass its own version of repeal again.

ASAE (the American Society of Association Executives) is urging businesses to send their own message to encourage both chambers of Congress to work together before it is too late. It has created an electronic form letter, available here, to send to members of the House and Senate that urges them to be champions for the repeal of 1099.

BEA Embraces All Things Digital

It was announced on Tuesday that this year’s BookExpo America (BEA) would have more focus on the technology that is transforming the industry. Organizers are expanding the digital presence on the show floor and forming a number of partnerships.

BEA’s partnership with the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) includes the IDPF Digital Zone, which will encompass 17 booths and 16 kiosks in 5000 square feet of space. In addition, Google, Amazon, and HP, all will have substantial booths outside the Digital Book Zone. IDPF will also conduct its Digital Book Conference in 2011.

Additionally, the recently announced Publishers Launch Conferences, a partnership between Michael Cader and Mike Shatzkin, will debut at BEA with a day-long conference about digital change aimed at international visitors and the Americans who are doing business with them. The conference will take place on Wednesday, May 25.

BEA’s own conferences will include key panels on the latest intelligence, social media, emerging publishing models, and enhanced e-books. Coverage will be available via a new mobile app for BEA, live Twitter feeds running at key conference programs, enhanced and expanded video podcast broadcast of all author special events via bookexpocast.com, and further development of BEA’s new year-round Webinar Program.

Ingram to Open POD Operation in Australia

On Monday, the Ingram Content Group announced Melbourne as the location for its forthcoming Lightning Source print-on-demand book manufacturing operation in Australia. Melbourne was selected to be Ingram’s fifth networked book manufacturing facility for its proximity to publishers and book distributors and key metropolitan regions in the country.

“The addition of a new manufacturing facility will have a significant impact on publishers, the retail book trade and ultimately consumers,” said David “Skip” Prichard, President and CEO, Ingram Content Group. “At Ingram, we are pleased to expand our leading print and distribution network to the Asia Pacific market, helping more content reach more destinations around the world.”

The Australian Lighting Source print-on-demand operation was announced last September, and Ingram said that response from publishers has been overwhelmingly positive.