News - Bookselling

Ohio’s Oldest Bookstore Becomes Hub for Flights and Food

Bookselling This Week has added two enhancements designed to improve the functionality of the BTW Web site. Now, at the end of every BTW story, readers will be able to select a "printer-friendly" version of the article, or to quickly e-mail the story to a colleague. Both options have been added to help booksellers more easily distribute BTW, both within the bookstore and to others in the industry.

Olsson’s Books and Records recently delivered approximately 2,000 books and $1,200 in gift certificates to three Washington, D.C., schools directly affected by the terrorist strikes of September 11. The donations were the result of a book drive held by Olsson’s between October and December.

Move over Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. The latest reunion news in rock ‘n’ roll is that BookExpo America’s house band is returning.

It’s doubtful that either Nancy Pearl, executive director of the Washington Center for the Book at the Seattle Public Library (WCB), or Chris Higashi, associate director for WCB, realized just how influential an idea they had conceived when they launched "If All of Seattle Reads the Same Book" in 1996. Today, over 50 cities, counties, or states have begun programs that encourage communities to read the same book at the same time and then to discuss it in numerous venues.

Independent Apple Book Center Struggles for a New Lease on Life Sherry McGee may be in her last days as an independent bookseller. After signing yet another loan, dumping her 401(K) fund into her beloved Apple Book Center, and facing debts totaling $300,000, she told her staff in late February that she would close the doors this month.

Now is the time for bookstores interested in participating in the 2002 Prescription for Reading marketing program to sign up and receive promotional kits, along with 200 copies of this year's book, Sylvia Long's Mother Goose, published by Chronicle Books.

Many independent bookstores are looking for ancillary business to increase profits, and record labels are constantly seeking new outlets to promote established, and up-and-coming, artists. Enter, the Book Music Network [BMN]: a company that’s hoping, with assistance from Book Sense, to offer a marketing solution to both industries. In April, BMN will begin mailing to independent bookstores free monthly compilation CDs showcasing a large selection of artists.

For Get Caught Reading Month in May, Book Sense is supplying numerous ideas for booksellers. This month, expect the information about a "Community Wish List" program to help stores work with local groups in need of books.