News - Bookselling

Driving down Highway 2 in Leavenworth, Washington, tourists might pull off the road, thinking their eyes are playing tricks on them. Nestled in the majestic North Cascade Mountains is a small village that belongs in southern Germany.

Booksellers are reminded that by now they should have received by mail from ABA ballots for both the 2002 ABA Officers/Board of Directors and the Book Sense Book of the Year Awards. Appearing on the ballot for members’ ratification is the slate of officers elected by the ABA Board at its January meeting. The Board chose:

A substantial majority of independent bookstores participating in the Book Sense national marketing program saw sales increases in 2001 over 2000, according to a recent ABA survey. Among those stores in the Book Sense program responding to the survey, 63 percent reported sales increases for the year. Over half of the stores noted increases of more than five percent. For the 2001 holiday season, 66 percent of the bookstores reported increases over a strong 2000 holiday season.

In conjunction with ABA’s 2002 Spring Bookseller Forums scheduled in March and April, Avin Mark Domnitz, ABA CEO, will be leading four special financial sessions for booksellers. The sessions, "Basic Bookstore Finances," will discuss operating within a system of financial controls to help predict performance and measure outcomes against those predictions, and cash flow control. Attendees will receive a computer disk with worksheets, which will help them integrate the session’s ideas into their everyday business.

Programming for children’s booksellers looks stronger than ever at this year’s BookExpo America (BEA), as, for the first time, the Association of Booksellers for Ch

"Book Club Night," held Monday, March 4, at Newton, Massachusetts-based Newtonville Books was an event that the store hoped would achieve a number of goals. First, the store hoped to bring book clubs, and people interested in joining them, together. Second, it wanted to show book club members the importance of a knowledgeable bookseller in choosing a title. Third, it was an opportunity to find out what the clubs wanted from Newtonville Books.

By Robin Whitten Awards bring a useful focus to audiobook recommendations, and spring produces a fine crop. On February 27, the Recording Academy’s Grammy Awards were splashed across the entertainment press, soon to be followed by the Academy Awards.

In its quest to "Bring the Past Alive," the History Channel is offering a number of documentaries based on outstanding books of nonfiction.

Scholastic has reached an agreement to acquire the noted children’s publisher Klutz from Corus Entertainment of Canada for an initial payment of approximately $43 million. The March 4 announcement noted that the deal was structured to include possible additional payments should Klutz reach certain performance goals over the next three years.

The late Ken Kesey, noted author and Oregon legend, resisted conformity in every aspect of his life.