Click to Visit




headlines

News

Features

IndieBound

Free Expression

Media Guide

Classifieds

Contact Us

Printing Options

Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop: A Kid-Friendly Haven in Southern California
May 21, 2008 - When Judy Nelson and her husband, Byron, built a location for their children's bookstore, Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop, in La Verne, California, they made it as inviting to kids as possible. "The current location looks much like a home from the outside, with a lawn, flowers, and bay windows," said store manager Andrea Vuleta. "The interior of the bookstore is contemporary, with carpeting and tile, in shades of blue with red and yellow. It is very kid-friendly with benches for reading and play tables."
The Summer 2008 Book Sense Children's Picks Preview
May 15, 2008 - The Summer 2008 Book Sense Children's Picks list is available now for preview. The list will be arriving at independent bookstores with Book Sense by the end of this month.
Metropolis Books: Revitalizing L.A.'s Historic Core
May 15, 2008 - When Julie Swayze was exploring places in Southern California to open a bookstore, a friend suggested she check out the historic core of Los Angeles. In December 2006, Metropolis Books opened with the assistance of the Historic Downtown L.A. Retail Project and became a part of the revitalization of Skid Row. Now, the neighborhood attracts a mix of loft dwellers, artists, city, state, and federal employees, and urban explorers -- people that come for the day to shop and explore downtown.
The Holocaust Remembrance List
May 14, 2008 - Based on sales in independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending Tuesday, May 13, 2008.
In a Mysterious Galaxy Not So Very Far Away...
May 08, 2008 - San Diego's Mysterious Galaxy has issued an invitation to all "fellow lovers of Martians, Murder, Magic, Mayhem, as well as those who devour [the store's] more recent genres of Metro Mythos and Munchkins," to join in a 15th anniversary celebration. The party on Saturday, May 10, will feature author signings, birthday cake, and an auction to benefit local nonprofits.
The Poetry Bestseller List
May 06, 2008 - Based on sales at independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending May 6, 2008 (including National Poetry Month).
The June 2008 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
May 01, 2008 - Here is the full listing of June Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their June Picks fliers in the May Red Box.
BookSense.com Offers Free Del Rey Star Wars Download
April 30, 2008 - From 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, until midnight on Tuesday, May 13, BookSense.com participating stores are offering customers free downloads of Betrayal, Book One of the Del Rey series Star Wars: Legacy of the Force.
May Notables Flier & Shelf-Talkers Now Available
April 30, 2008 - The May 2008 Book Sense Notables flier is now available in a downloadable PDF on BookWeb.org. The flier includes jacket images, bibliographic information, and bookseller quotes. In addition, all 20 Notables titles are featured in an electronic file of shelf-talkers for in-store use.
Ensure a Great July List: Nominate Now
April 29, 2008 - Friday, May 2, is the deadline for nominations for the July Picks. "We really hope that booksellers can take a moment and participate in its formulation by sending in nominations for titles that they are looking forward to handselling to their customers in July," said Dan Cullen, Picks editor-in-chief.
A Bookstore Oasis in Venice Beach
April 29, 2008 - "It's an oasis in a rather frenzied beach environment," said Small World Books' Mary Goodfader of her Venice Beach, California, bookstore. In 1976, she and her husband, Bob Goodfader, bought a historic building where they relocated the bookstore and opened a restaurant, The Sidewalk Cafe. Small World Books, which was an exhibitor at last weekend's L.A. Times Festival of Books, is also involved in many other local events, including the Venice Art Walk and the Venice Garden Tour.
Announcing the Spring - Summer Reading Group Picks
April 24, 2008 - Stores with Book Sense will be receiving the Spring - Summer 2008 Book Sense Reading Group Picks list in the May Red Box mailing; however, the full list, with bookseller quotes, can be previewed online now.
Books, Coffee & the Great Outdoors
April 24, 2008 - Arches Book Company is part of a Moab, Utah, bookstore triumvirate co-owned by Andy Nettell, a former National Park Service Ranger. The two other bookstores are nearby -- Back of Beyond Books is across the street, and ABC & Beyond Used Books is a couple of blocks south -- creating a mini southwestern Hay-on-Wye in downtown Moab. Arches, a 1,600-square-foot general interest store, opened in October 2001 in a 80-year-old brick building of indeterminate architectural style that had once served as the Moab Garage.
The Finance & Personal Investing Bestseller List
April 16, 2008 - Based on sales at independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending April 15, 2008.
Summer Kids' & Paper Picks Deadline Friday
April 10, 2008 - There are two very important Book Sense Picks deadlines on Friday, April 11 -- the Summer Children's Picks and the Summer Paperback Picks. "These are two of the most important lists of the summer," said Dan Cullen, Book Sense Picks editor-in-chief, "and we really hope booksellers will nominate titles that they are especially excited about handselling for both of the lists."
The May 2008 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
April 03, 2008 - Here is the full listing of May Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their May Picks fliers in the April Red Box.
The Comics & Graphic Novels Bestseller List
April 02, 2008 - For the eight-week period ending April 1, 2008, and based on sales at independent bookstores throughout the U.S.
Corrections
April 02, 2008 - The on-sale date for the April Notable title The Only 127 Things You Need: A Guide to Life's Essentials -- According to the Experts by Donna Wilkinson (Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin) has been moved to May 15; however, the change came too late to be reflected in the April Book Sense Picks fliers. Because of an editing error, the bookseller quote in the May 2008 Book Sense Picks flier incorrectly indicates that Alexandra Fuller's The Legend of Colton H. Bryant is a work of fiction. In fact, it is nonfiction.
April Notables Fliers & Shelf-Talkers Available, Picks Deadlines Abound
March 27, 2008 - Want to shower your customers with a great selection of titles? Download the April Book Sense Notables flier and shelf-talkers in PDF format on BookWeb.org. Want to give them more great selections in the months to come? Nominate now for six upcoming lists.
Dr. Seuss Characters Now on Free, Limited Edition Gift Cards
March 27, 2008 - Stores participating in the Book Sense Gift Card Program can request two new card designs sponsored by Random House Children's Books and Listening Library. The free, limited edition gift cards, which are ready to ship to eligible booksellers, feature artwork from the Dr. Seuss classics Horton Hears a Who! and Oh, the Places You'll Go! Random House Children's Books and Listening Library are covering the cost of the cards, the transaction fees, and the presenters.
Staying BookSmart
March 26, 2008 - About 14 years ago, Brad Jones and spouse, Cinda Meister, left longtime careers in the restaurant business to start BookSmart in Morgan Hill, California. The general bookstore moved about year and a half ago to a new location that more than doubled its footprint to 7,500 square feet. It now stocks about 50,000 titles in a space that looks like an old barn on the outside, and inside features hardwood floors and carpeted areas and fixtures built from a mixture of cherry and oak. A cafe and free WiFi are also big draws.
The Mystery Bestseller List
March 26, 2008 - For the eight-week period ending March 25, 2008, and based on sales in independent bookstores throughout the U.S.
Bestsellers Bookstore & Coffee Co. Thrives on Courthouse Square
March 18, 2008 - In 1997, Jamie and Scott Robinson launched the 800-square-foot Bestsellers Bookstore & Coffee Co. in Mason, Michigan. Since then, the business has more than tripled in size, and further expansions are in the works. The couple recently bought a building on either side of the bookstore's current space. In one, they plan to open a high-end deli, wine, and cheese shop, and in the other they'll expand the bookstore another 1,200 to 1,400 square feet.
The 2008 Book Sense Poetry Top Ten Now Available
March 13, 2008 - This week, Book Sense releases the 2008 Poetry Top Ten. The list is compiled from titles nominated by independent booksellers nationwide, and is available as a full-color, downloadable PDF file at BookWeb.org.
Chapters Books & Gifts Finds Timing Is Everything
March 12, 2008 - For Carla Ketner, an offhand comment from a friend started it all. Ketner, owner of Chapters Books & Gifts in Seward, Nebraska, never intended to own a business. That changed a few years ago, on a shopping excursion to Nebraska City, when a friend suggested she open a bookstore. The idea stuck, and thus grew Chapters, a general bookstore with an emphasis on children's books, plus gifts: science kits, wooden puzzles, classic toys, and book tie-ins.
The April 2008 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
March 06, 2008 - Here is the full listing of April Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their April Picks fliers in the March Red Box.
Reading Group Nominations Needed
March 05, 2008 - The deadline for nominations for the 2008 Book Sense Reading Group Picks list is Friday, March 7. The list is one of the most-requested by booksellers.
The Presidents & Presidential Election Bestseller List
March 05, 2008 - Based on sales in independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending Wednesday, March 5, 2008.
The Book and Cranny Fills a Void
March 05, 2008 - A year after opening The Book and Cranny on Main Street in Statesboro, Georgia, Deborah Campbell loves the autonomy of being a business owner, and her new neighbors love having a general bookstore. With about 10,000 titles in 1,425 square feet of selling space, the store has the feel of a home library, albeit one where shelving Wiccan, Pagan, and Buddhist titles near Christian books sometimes affords Campbell a chance to give a refresher course on the First Amendment.
March Book Sense Notables Fliers & Shelf-Talkers Now Available
February 28, 2008 - The March 2008 Book Sense Notables flier is now available in a downloadable PDF on BookWeb.org. The flier includes jacket images, bibliographic information, and bookseller quotes. In addition, all 20 Notables titles are featured in an electronic file of shelf-talkers for in-store use.
Think Spring: Nominations Needed for May and Reading Group Picks Lists
February 27, 2008 - This Friday, February 29, and next Friday, March 7, are deadlines for nominations to two important Picks lists: the May Book Sense Picks and the Spring Reading Group list, respectively. Picks Editor-in-Chief Dan Cullen is encouraging all booksellers, but especially first-timers, to nominate now. It's easy to do, and every bookseller's participation helps to ensure broad and engaging title lists.
Down the Stairs and Between the Covers
February 26, 2008 - Seven years ago, Jeanne Regentin began her career in bookselling at Between the Covers, a general independent bookstore, which has been serving readers in Harbor Springs, Michigan, for close to 25 years. "I did what everyone who wants to work at a bookstore does," Regentin explained about her entree to the book industry. "I thought someone would pay me to read. It doesn't really work out that way, but the reality has proved to be much more fun than I ever could have imagined." So much fun that Regentin went from part-time staff member to owner within two years.
The Spring 2008 Book Sense Children's Picks Preview
February 21, 2008 - The Spring 2008 Book Sense Children's Picks List is available now for preview. The list will be arriving at independent bookstores with Book Sense by the end of this month.
A Novel Idea at Home Among Other Independents in Chattanooga Hot Spot
February 20, 2008 - A Novel Idea opened in 2000 in a 2,400-square-foot space, which housed the original post office for the North Shore area of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The location features exposed brick walls and hardwood oak floors. "It's a beautiful building," said store co-owner Karen Poole. "And the area businesses around us are all independently owned." After seven good years, Poole believes things are about to take an even better turn for the bookstore, as the area welcomes a lot of new condo and business development.
The Book Sense Bestseller Lists in Honor of Valentine's Day
February 20, 2008 - For the eight-week period ending February 19, 2008, and based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide.
New California Law Spurs Change to Book Sense Gift Card Program
February 14, 2008 - Last month, California passed a new law requiring retailers to redeem for cash store gift cards or certificates with a cash value of $10 or less. To enable Book Sense gift card stores to comply with any law that requires cash redemption, ABA has worked with Givex and the integrated POS vendors to provide a solution. A new transaction called Forced Cash Back will be made available to gift card stores in the coming weeks.
The Bookworm's Attic: An Urban Planner's Vision
February 14, 2008 - Sara Loftus, a former urban planner, opened the 1,000-square-foot Bookworm's Attic in Huntington, West Virginia, a year ago. Transitioning from urban planning to bookselling made sense, said Loftus. "As an urban planner, I've always been interested in neighborhoods and communities. I saw that if I opened a bookstore, it was another way I could make a real difference." The bookstore, located in a 1940s-era brick building, stocks an eclectic mix of about 6,000 new and used titles.
The March 2008 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
February 07, 2008 - Here is the full listing of March Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their March Picks fliers in the February Red Box.
The Book Sense Healthy Living Bestseller List
February 06, 2008 - Based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide for the eight-week period ending February 5, 2008.
Indie Makes Its Mark in Anacortes, Washington
February 06, 2008 - The island city of Anacortes, Washington, is a lovely spot -- mountain peaks are visible across the water, and commuters travel by ferry just as often as they travel by bus or car. It's not surprising, then, that the area is popular not only with vacationers, but retirees as well. Barbara Hoenselaar of Watermark Book Company said, "In downtown Anacortes, our community is mostly older and retired people. It's a really interesting group of people -- many have had their careers, and are very well-rounded in their interests."
Book Sense Gift Cards Prize for Spiderwick Sweepstakes
February 06, 2008 - In conjunction with the February 14 release of the film The Spiderwick Chronicles, the Cartoon Network, Inc. and Paramount Pictures Corporation are partnering to sponsor a Spiderwick Chronicles Sweepstakes. Book Sense will be a retail partner of the promotion and will provide 50 $15 Book Sense gift cards as part of the sweepstakes prizes, and Simon & Schuster will be contributing prizes as well. The gift cards will be featured on the CN website throughout the promotion, which runs from February 11 to February 14.
Are You Receiving the Weekly Bestseller Lists?
February 06, 2008 - Booksellers should note that the Book Sense National Bestseller and Regional Bestseller Lists, sent out weekly via e-mail, now come from ABA's Pete Reynolds. Please keep an eye out for the weekly e-mails to ensure that they are not being inadvertently directed into your SPAM folder.
A Grand Opening for Clear Creek Books
January 31, 2008 - With very little retail experience, and no bookselling experience, Craig Morgan opened Clear Creek Books in Golden, Colorado, on December 6. Although he was armed with knowledge from a Paz & Associates new booksellers workshop, opening a few weeks before Christmas was pure baptism by fire. This week, Morgan held a full-scale grand opening for Clear Creek Books.
The Book Sense Travel Guide Books Bestseller List
January 30, 2008 - Based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide for the eight-week period ending January 29, 2008.
New Owner at The Fountain Bookstore
January 24, 2008 - After managing the Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia, for eight years, Kelly Justice is now its new owner. The plan that had been "batted around" for the past year and a half was finalized with former owners Louise "Boo" Smythe and Jim Smythe in the first week of January. Justice, who has been busy managing "major disasters and victories" since becoming an owner, considers herself "very lucky."
The Avid Reader Takes to the Tower
January 17, 2008 - Before getting into bookselling, Stan Forbes had an unusual career combo: corporate litigator and farmer. He still tends his family's 100-year-old almond orchard, a low maintenance crop that leaves him time to run the nearly 5,000-square-foot Avid Reader at the Tower in Sacramento, California. Forbes opened the store this past April with co-owner Alzada Knickerbocker.
New Hampshire Bookstore "Third Place" in Primary Race
January 10, 2008 - The presidential primary votes have been tallied and the winners declared, and now life returns to normal in the Granite State. But in the weeks and months leading up to this week's much-watched primary vote, MainStreet BookEnds of Warner, New Hampshire, played host to events for several of the Democratic hopefuls, and had some, including Sen. Hillary Clinton, visit the store.
The Book Sense Mind Body Spirit Bestseller List
January 09, 2008 - For the eight-week period ending January 8, 2008, and based on sales in independent bookstores nationwide.
The February 2008 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
January 03, 2008 - Here is the full listing of February Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables.
Children's & Adult Titles Needed for Upcoming Picks Lists
January 02, 2008 - Nominations are needed for the March Book Sense Picks and for the Spring Children's list.
Bestseller Reporting Extended for the Holidays
December 20, 2007 - Although BTW will be on hiatus next week, Book Sense will be producing a weekly Bestseller List, reflecting sales during the all-important week leading up to Christmas. To enable the maximum number of booksellers to submit their sales data, bestseller reporting hours will be extended to Wednesday, December 26.
Did You Miss the Year-End Bestsellers?
December 19, 2007 - For booksellers looking for a way to highlight the top-selling titles of 2007 at Book Sense stores nationwide, last week ABA unveiled the 2007 Book Sense Bestsellers.
Book Crossing: Small Town, Big Service
December 19, 2007 - When an early 1900s-era, brick building in Brunswick, Maryland, became available for lease in June 2004, Sherri White worked fast: She secured the space, remodeled, and opened Book Crossing, a general bookstore and café, with her sister, Traci Giganti, just three months later. There wasn't much in historic downtown Brunswick at the time, but in the past three years, seven businesses have launched and residents are now reconsidering the viability of their downtown.
The Book Sense Holiday Cookbook Bestseller List
December 18, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending December 17, 2007, and based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores across the U.S.
Announcing the Book Sense Bestsellers of 2007
December 13, 2007 - This week, the American Booksellers Association unveils the 2007 Book Sense Bestsellers, the year's top-selling titles at independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide. The list, featuring the 15 bestselling books in Hardcover Fiction, Hardcover Nonfiction, Paperback Fiction, Paperback Nonfiction, Children's Fiction, and Children's Illustrated, is a great marketing tool for spurring holiday and year-end sales.
Nonprofit Market Street Books Turns Five
December 12, 2007 - Kathryn Henderson bought a travel bookstore, World Traveler Books and Maps, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 2002. In the five years since, she has changed the business' location twice, given it a new name, and transformed its mission. On Friday, December 21, Henderson's Market Street Books, now a nonprofit, will celebrate its fifth anniversary by awarding door prizes and serving refreshments. The schedule of events includes a string quartet, readings by local authors, face painting, and a children's improv session.
The January 2008 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
December 06, 2007 - Here is the full listing of January Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their January Picks fliers in the December Red Box.
A Winter Institute Destination
December 05, 2007 - Participants in this January's Winter Institute in Louisville, Kentucky, who want to visit one of the area's local independent bookstores need only cross the Ohio River to find Destinations Booksellers in New Albany, Indiana. Though it's in a neighboring state, the store is 10 minutes from the Wi3 hotel, and that's "if the traffic is really bad," said Destinations' co-owner Randy Smith. The bookstore is housed in a one-story brick building with about 2,500-square-feet of selling space in the ArtWalk district, a conglomeration of historic sites, museums, and galleries.
Hold That Space: Year-End Bestsellers Publishing Next Week
December 04, 2007 - The 2007 Book Sense Bestsellers, a special listing of the year's 15 bestselling titles in six categories will be published next Thursday, December 13, as downloadable PDFs that can be displayed individually or together to create one large, eye-catching Book Sense Bestsellers poster.
What-the-Dickens? Fans Chat With Gregory Maguire
November 29, 2007 - On the Monday before Thanksgiving, Candlewick Press and BookSense.com partnered to host an online chat with bestselling author Gregory Maguire. The chat gave fans an opportunity to ask Maguire about his newest title, What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy, in stores now. A full transcript of the chat with Maguire is available on BookSense.com.
The Book Sense Mystery Bestseller List
November 28, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending November 27, 2007, and based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
Tips for Promoting Gift Card Sales This Holiday Season
November 21, 2007 - According to the National Retail Federation, gift card sales this holiday season will total $26.3 billion, compared to $24.8 billion in 2006, with the average consumer spending $122.59 on gift cards versus $116.51 last year. NRF attributes the projected increase, in part, to gift cards' convenience; however, it's warning shoppers to be smart when buying gift cards and to be aware of hidden fees and the important differences between gift cards purchased in the store and those that come from credit card companies and banks. Here are tips to help staff at Book Sense gift card stores promote sales and answer questions from consumers.
Coming Soon: The 2007 Book Sense Bestsellers
November 20, 2007 - The 2007 Book Sense Bestsellers, a special listing of the year's 15 bestselling titles in six categories -- Hardcover Fiction, Hardcover Nonfiction, Paperback Fiction, Paperback Nonfiction, Children's Fiction, and Children's Illustrated -- will be published in BTW on Thursday, December 13. The lists will be produced in six downloadable 8-1/2" x 11" PDFs that can be displayed individually or together to create one large 2007 Book Sense Bestsellers poster.
Holiday Reminders From BookSense.com
November 20, 2007 - To prepare for the increased exposure store websites are likely to experience during the holiday season, BookSense.com offers a few simple reminders to help create an optimal shopping environment for customers.
The Winter 2007 - 2008 Book Sense Children's Picks Preview
November 15, 2007 - The Winter 2007 - 2008 Book Sense Children's Picks List is available now for preview. The list will be coming to independent bookstores with Book Sense in the Children's White Box, which will arrive in stores this month.
What the Dickens? BookSense.com to Host Chat With Gregory Maguire
November 15, 2007 - Candlewick Press and BookSense.com are partnering to host an online chat with bestselling author Gregory Maguire on Monday, November 19, at 11:00 a.m. EST. The chat will present fans with an opportunity to ask Maguire about his latest bestseller, What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy, as well as his other top-selling titles.
A Growing Concern: Paulina Springs Books
November 15, 2007 - After managing a food co-op that grew from four employees into a 100-person operation, Brad Smith was looking for a business where he could once again know most of his customers personally. He found that in Paulina Springs Books in Sisters, Oregon, population 2,000. Smith is now in the midst of preparing to open a second location in nearby Redmond with the help of his sister, and store co-owner, Cynthia Claridge, a former teacher, who has a 30-year relationship with local schools and teachers.
Gotham Books' "You're Great!" Book Sense Gift Card Available November 21
November 15, 2007 - On Wednesday, November 21, at noon EST, the "You're Great!" Book Sense gift card and matching presenter sponsored by Gotham Books (Penguin USA) will be available via the reorder website. The "You're Great!" gift card, featuring art from Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss (Gotham), is perfect for teachers, students, or anyone who deserves recognition for a job well done.
The Book Sense Politics & Current Events Bestseller List
November 14, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending November 13, 2007, and based on sales in independent bookstores nationwide.
Year-End Picks List Showcases 2007 Highlights
November 08, 2007 - Based on the thousands of nominations received from independent booksellers nationwide, Book Sense has again compiled a year-end Book Sense Picks Highlights list featuring 60 titles, as well as an additional eight Book Sense hardcover selections that will be available in paperback in early 2008.
"You're Great!" New Publisher-Sponsored Gift Card Coming Soon
November 08, 2007 - On Wednesday, November 21, at noon Eastern Time, the "You're Great!" Book Sense gift card and matching presenter featuring art from Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss will be available via the reorder website. Gotham Books (Penguin USA), the book's publisher, is covering the cost of the card, the transaction fee, and the presenter.
East Village Iconoclast Celebrates Healthy Middle Age
November 07, 2007 - Counterculture pioneers of Manhattan's East Village in the 1960s and '70s warned young people not to trust anyone over 30. If that admonition applies to bookstores, the illustrious St. Mark's Bookshop, now located on Third Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets, may soon attract wary glances from youthful customers. On November 13, the store, located in 2,700 square feet on the ground floor of a Cooper Union college dormitory, celebrates three decades of purveying reading materials to neighborhood intellectuals, students, professors, aesthetes, and tourists.
The December 2007 Book Sense Picks & Notable Preview
November 01, 2007 - Here is the full listing of December Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their December Picks fliers in the November Red Box.
Making the Deadline for January 2008
October 31, 2007 - The deadline for nominations for the January 2008 Book Sense Picks list is Friday, November 2. There are a number of intriguing titles set for publication in January, and this list has the potential of beginning the new year with a strong selection of titles.
Greetings & Readings: Books Plus an Array of Specialty Merchandise
October 31, 2007 - In 1969, the Baum family opened Greetings & Readings book and card shop in a 1,800-square-foot space in a Towson, Maryland, strip mall. Over the years, the business has grown to fill a 30,000-square-foot space with books and cards, sports memorabilia, shoes, custom ballons, tableware, porcelain, crystal, fashions, plush toys, teapots, and more.
Above the Treeline Adds Book Sense Bestsellers
October 25, 2007 - This month, Above the Treeline began adding Book Sense Bestseller data to its new interface. Bookstores using Treeline software to optimize their inventory selections can now scan weekly Book Sense Bestseller Lists and find which of those titles they have in stock and which they may need to order, among other features. The lists are available in ATL's new beta version under the "Watch List" feature.
A Double Celebration for Steve's Sundry, Books & Magazines
October 25, 2007 - This November will be a big month for Tulsa's Steve's Sundry, Books & Magazines and for Steve himself. The bookstore will turn 60 and its co-owner and founder, Steve Stephenson, will celebrate his 90th birthday. Stephenson's daughter-in-law and store co-owner, Joanie Stephenson, said an all-day affair is planned. Steve's began as a general store, selling everything from lawn mowers to rods and reels. Today, the business is 90 percent books and magazines, but it still carries some unusual items in a 1950s retro-style environment, complete with the original soda fountain.
Knock Knock -- Who's There: A New Book Sense Publisher Partner
October 25, 2007 - Knock Knock, a five-year-old gift and stationery company, has created its own genre of witty, whimsical, and fun products. Founded and headed by Jen Bilik, Knock Knock, a division of Who's There, has earned kudos and an enthusiastic base of retailers who are charmed by the contemporary wit in vintage design. Launched in 2002, with 13 products, Knock Knock now offers several hundred items, including a new line of books.
New Gift Card Celebrates Main Street
October 25, 2007 - There is still time for stores participating in the Book Sense Gift Card program to place orders for the new Main Street gift card, sponsored by Scholastic, Inc. The card and matching presenters, which capture the beauty of Camden Falls, the setting of Ann M. Martin's Main Street series, are available via the reorder website. Scholastic is covering the cost of the card, the transaction fee, and the presenter.
The Book Sense "Play Ball" Bestseller List
October 24, 2007 - Just in time for the World Series... Book Sense presents the "Play Ball" Bestseller List, based on sales at independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide for the eight-week period ending October 23, 2007.
Books & Books: 25 Years of Making a Difference
October 18, 2007 - Mitchell Kaplan, the owner of South Florida's Books & Books, which marks its silver anniversary this Saturday, has invited customers and friends to "Save the Month" for a flood of celebrations. The store, currently with three locations and a fourth to open soon, has been honored with tributes from some of today's best-known authors. Kaplan, a past ABA president and current ABFFE board member, as well as a co-founder of Miami Book Fair International, was motivated to start his career in bookselling after "discovering what a bookstore could do for and mean to a community."
"Main Street" Gift Cards Available October 17
October 11, 2007 - The beauty of Camden Falls, the setting of Ann M. Martin's Main Street series, is captured on a new gift card sponsored by Scholastic, Inc. Stores participating in the Book Sense Gift Card Program can begin placing orders for cards, via the reorder site, beginning noon ET on Wednesday, October 17. Scholastic is covering the cost of the card, the transaction fee, and the presenter.
A Greenwich Village Landmark Turns 40
October 10, 2007 - Over the course of its four decades, Oscar Wilde Bookshop has played a key, though shifting, role in the LGBT literary world. The store opened for business when there were few, if any, venues where gays and lesbians could find books reflecting their lives. It grew into a meeting place, and today is a destination bookstore with an international reputation. On November 27, Oscar Wilde celebrates its 40th anniversary.
The Book Sense Mind/Body/Spirit Bestseller List
October 10, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending October 7, 2007, and based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
Correction
October 08, 2007 - The Book Sense 2007 - 2008 Reading Group Picks list incorrectly attributed the bookstore in the quotes recommending Restless by William Boyd and The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, by Sandy Tolan. It should have noted that Islandtime Books and More is located in Washington Island, Wisconsin. Book Sense apologizes for the error.
The November Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
October 04, 2007 - Here is the full listing of November Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables.
Welcome to Zagat Survey, A New Publisher Partner
October 03, 2007 - Zagat Survey, launched nearly 30 years ago as the hobby of two New York lawyers and dedicated diners, Tim and Nina Zagat (rhymes with "the cat"), is one of the Book Sense program's newest Publisher Partners. Zagat offers guides to dining for more than 70 major markets, as well as guides for hotels, resorts and spas, family travel, entertaining, shopping, nightlife, movies, music, theater, and golf. The company is also expanding into travel with a "Best of" guides series.
Prince Books Celebrates a Reign of 25 Years
October 03, 2007 - The silver anniversary celebration of downtown Norfolk, Virginia's Prince Books may be understated, but the community it has served since 1982 has been enthusiastically showing its support. Owner and co-founder Sarah Pishko said the store plans a 25 percent-off sale with refreshments on Wednesday, October 10. The tasteful and low-key commemoration is characteristic of the downtown fixture, which caters to readers of all ages and interests, and offers sandwiches, coffee, wines, and gifts through a partnership of five years with Taste Unlimited.
October Notables Fliers & Shelf-talkers Now Available
September 26, 2007 - The October Book Sense Notables are now featured on a flier and shelf-talkers that can be downloaded in PDF format from BookWeb.org.
Barrett Bookstore -- Serving Southern Connecticut Since 1939
September 26, 2007 - Barrett Bookstore, a presence in the Stamford, Connecticut, area since 1939, has been owned by Sheila and Tom Daley for the past 10 years. To celebrate their decade of ownership, on September 22, the Daleys served refreshments and offered a 20 percent discount on all books. The store, now located in the Noroton Heights Shopping Center, is in the town of Darien, a 10-minute drive from its original location in downtown Stamford.
Announcing the Autumn - Winter Book Sense Reading Group Picks
September 20, 2007 - Stores with Book Sense will be receiving the Autumn - Winter 2007/2008 Book Sense Reading Group Picks list in the October Red Box mailing; however, the full list, with bookseller quotes, can be previewed online now.
BookSense.com Upgrade to Cause Brief Interruption
September 20, 2007 - BookSense.com is scheduled to be down for about an hour very early Sunday morning to allow staff to upgrade software.
Mary Engelbreit Gift Cards Now Available
September 20, 2007 - The popular Mary Engelbreit design "A Book Is a Present You Can Open Again and Again" is now available on Book Sense gift cards and presenters. The design also continues to be featured on a traditional paper card that can be used as either a gift certificate or as a greeting card, with space for a gift card.
Park Road Books: Maintaining a Winning Tradition
September 19, 2007 - Five years ago, when Sally Brewster was employed at Little Professor Bookstore in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Frazer Dobson worked at Chapter 11 Books in Atlanta, they met at a dinner sponsored by the then Southeast Booksellers Association. In the intervening years, the two booksellers married, bought the Little Professor and renamed it Park Road Books. The Southeast Booksellers Association became the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, and Brewster was elected to serve as its current president. The store, which marked its 30th anniversary in August, has won readers' awards for best local bookstore for the past 20 years.
The Book Sense Sci/Fi & Fantasy Bestseller List
September 19, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending September 18, 2007, and based on sales at independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
Gift Card Program Lowers Increment Fees
September 13, 2007 - With more than $20 million in sales, the Book Sense Gift Card program is beginning its fifth holiday season. And, for the 380-plus participating ABA-member bookstore locations, there is more good news: the fee for incrementing cards is being lowered.
Hue-Man Bookstore & Cafe: 360 Degrees of Humanity
September 12, 2007 - When Hue-Man Bookstore & Cafe in New York City turned five years old last month, the owners and staff of the Harlem cultural landmark were busy doing what they always do: finding creative ways to meet the reading needs of one of the nation's best known and largest African-American communities. Since its beginnings in August 2002, Hue-Man has developed a roster of community projects and collaborations with other organizations that could fill one of the books in the airy, 4,000-square-foot store.
The Book Sense All About Music Bestseller List
September 12, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending September 11, 2007, and based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
The October 2007 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
September 06, 2007 - Here is the full listing of October Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their October Picks fliers in the September Red Box.
Skippyjon Jones & Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Debut on Book Sense Gift Cards
September 05, 2007 - Beginning Wednesday, September 12, at noon EDT, new gift cards featuring Judy Schachner's Skippyjon Jones or Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka will be available to stores participating in the Book Sense Gift Card Program. Penguin Young Readers Group, the cards' sponsor, is covering the cost of the cards, transaction fees, and presenters. Supplies are limited, and orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
The King's English: Spoken in Utah for 30 Years
September 04, 2007 - The King's English, a center of book culture and local business activism in Salt Lake City, Utah, is celebrating its 30th anniversary on September 10. The 2,000-square-foot store, with retail space divided among eight cozy, book-filled rooms, started anniversary festivities in January 2007 with updated store decor and the beginning of its 30-30-30 sale. Co-owners Betsy Burton and Barbara Hoagland describe the store as in its prime: "Old enough to have acquired some wisdom, but still vibrant, attractive, and vital enough ... to match all of [their customers], young and old alike, with the perfect book."
September Notables Fliers & Shelf-Talkers
August 29, 2007 - The September Book Sense Notables flier is now available in a downloadable PDF on BookWeb.org. The flier includes jacket images, bibliographic information, and bookseller quotes.
Bestseller Reporting Deadline Remains Unchanged
August 29, 2007 - Booksellers should report their sales for next week's Book Sense Bestseller List as they usually do; there will be no extension of the deadline for the Labor Day holiday.
The Book Sense Three-Part Illustration Bestseller List
August 29, 2007 - For sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide during the eight-week period ending August 28, 2007.
BookSense.com Upgrade to Result in Sporadic Interruptions
August 23, 2007 - On Tuesday, August 28, BookSense.com websites will experience a few hours of sporadic connectivity.
Strong Staff, Proactive Marketing Lead to a Happy 2nd Anniversary for Woodstock Bookstore
August 22, 2007 - Read Between the Lynes, a general bookstore in the charming town of Woodstock, Illinois, quietly celebrated its second anniversary in July. Arlene Lynes, who opened the 1,700-square-foot store on the town square in July 2005, credits the staff for helping the store experience substantial growth in the past year. She also attributes success to her proactive marketing strategy.
The Book Sense Travel Literature Bestseller List
August 22, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending August 21, 2007, and based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
The Fall 2007 Book Sense Children's Picks List Preview
August 16, 2007 - The Fall 2007 Book Sense Children's Picks List is now available for preview. The list is developed with the input of independent booksellers nationwide, and it features their selections of notable titles for babies and preschoolers, young children, and teens.
Swimming, Sailing, and Reading: A Cape Cod Bookstore
August 15, 2007 - Since Memorial Day 2005, Where The Sidewalk Ends bookstore in Chatham, Massachusetts, has become a choice destination for Cape Cod visitors and residents. Like its namesake -- the legendary book of poetry by the late Shel Silverstein -- the store has tremendous appeal to children, as well as plenty of content of interest to adults.
Popular Reading Group List Needs Nominations Now
August 08, 2007 - This Friday, August 10, is the deadline for the Fall Reading Group Book Sense Picks list and the Halloween Top Ten. Since its debut four years ago, the Book Sense Reading Group list has been an enormous success with book-buying consumers; the fall list is a new addition to the Picks roster.
Fact & Fiction: An Integral Part of Life in Missoula
August 08, 2007 - Since 1986, Fact & Fiction in Missoula, Montana, and its owner, Barbara Theroux, have been fixtures in the city's cultural and literary life. The popular general bookstore, originally located on the town's Main Street, relocated in 1998 to North Higgins, a street filled with coffee shops, galleries, and clothing and shoe stores. It's long, narrow configuration in the historic Bluebird Building, a former vaudeville theater, provides a cozy atmosphere, and the store has use of an architectural firm's conference room, which adjoins the store through movable, wooden walls, for events, including signings and workshops.
The September 2007 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
August 02, 2007 - Here is the full listing of September Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their September Picks fliers in the August Red Box.
OLIVIA Book Sense Gift Cards Available Next Week
August 01, 2007 - Booksellers participating in the Book Sense Gift Card Program will be able to order a new gift card featuring Ian Falconer's OLIVIA, starting Wednesday, August 8, at noon EDT. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, the card's sponsor, is covering the cost of the card, the transaction fee, and the presenter. Supplies are limited, and orders will be filled on a first-come first-served basis.
Reading Group, Halloween & October Nominations Needed
August 01, 2007 - Nominations are needed by Friday, August 3, for the October Book Sense Picks list and by Friday, August 10, for the Reading Group list and for the Halloween Top Ten.
Prairie Lights: Exceptional Author Venue Approaches 30
August 01, 2007 - In May 2008, Iowa's Prairie Lights Bookstore will be celebrating 30 years of bookselling. "In the beginning, we were running on energy and love and no knowledge," said owner Jim Harris. "Prairie Lights, as with other stores -- Hungry Mind, Tattered Cover, and Powell's -- were all growing at about the same time. We were running on adrenaline, and it was lots of fun."
The Book Sense Gardening & Nature Bestseller List
August 01, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending July 31, 2007, and based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
Campaigning for International Literacy
August 01, 2007 - One Shared World, a campaign to raise awareness of global poverty and generate dialogue about solutions, is reaching out to booksellers in the Book Sense marketing program. The August Red Box includes a flier encouraging booksellers to mark International Literacy Day, on September 8, as the start of an effort to help customers learn more and do more about literacy, "a path out of poverty."
August Notables Fliers & Shelf-Talkers Now Available
July 26, 2007 - The August Book Sense Notables flier is now available in a downloadable PDF on BookWeb.org. The flier includes jacket images, bibliographic information, and bookseller quotes. All 20 Notables titles are also featured in an electronic file of shelf-talkers for in-store use.
Award-Winning Bookstore Knows Where to Find the Answers
July 26, 2007 - Former high school history teacher Robin Allen is a quick study: Within two years of opening Forever Books in 1999 in St. Joseph, Michigan, the bookstore was a finalist for the Pannell Award for Excellence in Children's Bookselling. It was a finalist again the following year and has since racked up numerous other notices, including the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and six Reader's Choice Awards for "Best Place to Buy Books" from the South Bend Tribune. This winter Midwest Living Magazine will include the bookstore in a "Places Not to Be Missed" feature.
Full Sails at Front Street Book Shop
July 18, 2007 - Front Street Book Shop of Scituate Harbor, Massachusetts, is sailing smoothly after a recent change at the helm. Pam Giovannini, who had owned the general bookstore since 1986, retired in June and handed the ropes to Peg Patten, a store employee for more than three years. Previously the store's event, publicity, and website coordinator, Patten was a natural to succeed Giovannini, who had created a strong sense of community and a loyal following at the store.
The Vaults Are Full at Oskaloosa Bookstore
July 12, 2007 - Oskaloosa, Iowa's Book Vault, which recently benefited from Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's July 4 campaign stop in the city, is hoping that all of the presidential hopefuls visit the area prior to the Iowa caucuses. The 18-month-old bookstore, housed in a completely refurbished former bank, features 2,300 square feet of retail space, three vaults, and a full test kitchen.
The Book Sense Mind/Body/Spirit Bestseller List
July 11, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending July 8, 2007, and based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
The August Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
July 03, 2007 - Here is the full listing of August Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables.
Elm Street Books Marks Successful Year in New Location
July 02, 2007 - This August, Elm Street Books in New Canaan, Connecticut, will mark the first anniversary of its move to its current location. The 1,700-square-foot general bookstore occupied a larger space in a less convenient Elm Street spot for three years before the relocation. Store manager Kathleen Millard is very pleased with the current venue and the way customers have responded.
Three Important Deadlines in July
June 28, 2007 - Nominations are needed for three Book Sense Picks lists: the September Picks, the Banned Books Top Ten, and the Fall Children's list. The September Picks, in stores at the beginning of the fall publishing season, is an important source of title information for consumers faced with a surfeit of new titles.
Delaware Booksellers: Small State, Big Ideas
June 27, 2007 - Jack and Gemma Buckley, the owners of Ninth Street Book Shop in Wilmington, share a lot of big ideas with the residents of the tiny state of Delaware. The two former teachers, who opened the store in 1977, have been busy dealing with erosion -- both in their city's downtown business environment and in the federal government's protection of the First Amendment rights of its citizens. But, as they have for the past 30 years, the Buckleys are facing the new challenges, and when necessary, adapting.
The Book Sense Parenting Bestseller List
June 27, 2007 - Based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide for the eight-week period ending June 24, 2007.
July Notables Flier & Shelf-Talkers Now Available
June 21, 2007 - The July Book Sense Notables flier is now available in a downloadable PDF on BookWeb.org. The flier includes jacket images, bibliographic information, and bookseller quotes.
Harvard Book Store Celebrates 75 Years in a League of Its Own
June 20, 2007 - In Cambridge, Massachusetts, a community that values books and tradition highly, Harvard Book Store has been an essential part of life for 75 years. The store was founded in 1932 by Mark Kramer, with $300 borrowed from his parents. Upon Mark Kramer's untimely death in 1962, his 20-year-old son, Frank, took over the business. In May of this year, Frank Kramer announced the promotion of Carole Horne, a Harvard Book Store staff member since 1974, to the new position of store general manager.
June Red Box Includes Harry Potter Decals
June 14, 2007 - Booksellers planning special events for the July 21 release of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows should be on the lookout for a quantity of exclusive "Independent Muggles for Harry Potter" decals in the June Red Box mailing.
A Happy Beginning at Once Upon a Story
June 13, 2007 - Once Upon a Story, an 11-year-old children's specialty bookshop in Long Beach, California, is hot for Harry and keen on Nancy Drew. Both are featured prominently on the store's new BookSense.com website. The website is one of the innovations that new owner Cyndie Kalina has brought to the store since taking over last November.
The Book Sense Cooking, Nothing But Cooking, Bestseller List
June 12, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending June 13, 2007, and based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
The July 2007 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
June 07, 2007 - Here is the full listing of July Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their July Picks fliers in the June Red Box.
FREADOM and OLIVIA Coming to Book Sense Gift Cards
June 06, 2007 - Two new Book Sense gift card designs that are sure to appeal to a wide range of independent bookstore customers will soon be available: ABFFE is sponsoring the FREADOM gift card and presenter featuring an illustration by Roger Roth from The American Story: 100 True Tales From American History, courtesy of Random House Children's Books, and this summer, children's favorite pig, OLIVIA, from the bestselling books by Ian Falconer, will be featured on a gift card and presenter sponsored by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
The "Next Big Thing" for BookSense.com
June 06, 2007 - At the meeting of the BookSense.com Users Group on Friday, June 1, at BookExpo America, BookSense.com Director Len Vlahos and other members of the BookSense.com team discussed some of the e-commerce site's newest features, as well as several planned enhancements. These include the site's eventual migration to an open source software that will make booksellers' sites more nimble and dynamic.
June Notables Flier & Shelf-Talkers Now Available
May 24, 2007 - The June Book Sense Notables flier is now available in a downloadable PDF on BookWeb.org. The flier includes jacket images, bibliographic information, and bookseller quotes. All 20 Notables titles are also featured in an electronic file of shelf-talkers for in-store use.
Crucial Time for Bestseller Reporting
May 24, 2007 - The deadlines for reporting sales to the Book Sense Bestseller List next week remain unchanged; the deadlines will not be extended for the Memorial Day holiday.
The Summer 2007 Book Sense Children's Picks Preview
May 17, 2007 - The Summer 2007 Book Sense Children's Picks List is now available for preview. The list is the result of active participation of independent booksellers nationwide and features great titles for babies and preschoolers, young children, and teens.
Brownstone Books: A Cornerstone of Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy Neighborhood
May 16, 2007 - Brownstone Books, in Brooklyn's diverse Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, was founded in July of 2000, by Crystal Bobb-Semple, a trained urban planner. It was that training and memories of living in Bed-Stuy as a child that drove Bobb-Semple's desire to create a gathering place where residents could get together to talk, bring their children, and make plans -- all of which she recognized as essential to creating a successful, cohesive community.
The Book Sense Bestseller List for Holocaust Remembrance Month
May 16, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending May 15, 2007, and based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
WORD Up
May 08, 2007 - Christine Onorati had to move from Northport, Long Island (population fewer than 8,000) to Brooklyn, New York (population more than two million) to get that small-town feeling. Onorati, who opened WORD in the Greenpoint neighborhood in March, has received a warm welcome from her neighbors in the revitalized area. WORD's approximately 900-square-foot space had been empty for 40 years, but the landmark building was renovated by new landlords -- all to the aesthetic benefit of the bookstore.
The Book Sense Poetry Bestseller List
May 08, 2007 - For the eight week-period -- including Poetry Month -- ending May 1, 2007, and based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
Announcing the Latest Book Sense Reading Group Picks Titles
May 03, 2007 - The Book Sense Reading Group list -- launched at the suggestion of independent booksellers in the Book Sense program -- remains one of the most popular lists of the year. The selected titles on the Spring - Summer 2007 list can be previewed online. Recognizing the importance of the Reading Group list, Book Sense will be producing a second yearly list, which booksellers will receive in the fall.
The June 2007 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
May 03, 2007 - Here's a look at the full listing of June Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. The May Book Sense Notables fliers and shelf-talkers are now available for download via BookWeb.org.
Stop the Presses: Only One Book Sense Picks Deadline in May!
May 02, 2007 - Believe it or not, there's only one Book Sense Picks deadline this month. The deadline for the July Picks list is Friday, May 4.
This Bookworm Turns Up in High Places
May 02, 2007 - For some, Omaha, Nebraska, may seem far removed from the world's major financial markets, but others, such as the owners of the city's 21-year-old independent bookstore, The Bookworm, know quite the opposite is true. This weekend about 20,000 Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, representing about $108 billion in holdings, will attend the company's annual meeting in Omaha, a gathering that has been called "Woodstock for Capitalism." During the event, The Bookworm's Beth and Phil Black will operate the 3,000-square-foot Berky Books, the exclusive bookseller on the enormous exhibit floor of Qwest Convention Center.
E-mail to Explain Improvements to Gift Card Administration
April 25, 2007 - Stores participating in the Book Sense Gift Card Program should be on the lookout for an e-mail regarding enhancements to security and other features coming from Givex within the next few weeks. The e-mail will explain specific steps required to avoid a disruption of service.
Builders Booksource -- 25 Years of Inspiration and Technical Know-How
April 25, 2007 - George and Sally Kiskaddon, owners of Berkeley, California's Builders Booksource, haven't decided precisely how they will be celebrating their store's silver anniversary, but they plan to "make a big deal of it," said George Kiskaddon. "We're going to have a yearlong exclamation of joy." The 2,000-square-foot store -- which sells books, reference material, and software for contractors, designers, architects, do-it-yourselfers, and others -- opened on April 3, 1982, as a direct result of George Kiskaddon's own building projects, successful and otherwise.
Carmichael's Bookstore Poised to Turn Thirty
April 19, 2007 - Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky, has been a partnership of Carol Besse and Michael Boggs since they founded it 29 years ago. The two are joined in matrimony and their names are linked to create the bookstore's name.
The Book Sense Personal Money and Investing Bestseller List
April 18, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending April 17, 2007, and based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
Friday the 13th Deadlines Loom
April 12, 2007 - This Friday, April 13, is the deadline for both the Summer Book Sense Children's Picks and the Summer Paperback Picks list.
Brooklyn Bookstore Outgrows Former Location
April 11, 2007 - When booksellers Christine Freglette and Bina Valenzano first opened The BookMark Shoppe in Brooklyn, New York, they had no idea they'd be quite so ... popular.
Correction
April 10, 2007 - The price listed in the 2007 May Book Sense Picks flier for the title The Various Haunts Of Men, by Susan Hill (Overlook,9781585678761 / 1585678767), was incorrect. The correct price is $24.95.

The May 2007 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
April 05, 2007 - Here is the full listing of May Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables.
Five Important Picks Deadlines Imminent
April 05, 2007 - In addition to nominations for the June Picks, this month nominations are needed for two Top Ten lists -- Audiobooks and LGBT -- and for two great summer selling tools --Summer Children's Picks and Summer Paperback Picks. The deadline for three of these lists is tomorrow, Friday, April 6.
McLean & Eakin Shines in Petoskey for 15 Years
April 04, 2007 - Award-winning McLean & Eakin, Booksellers has brightened Petoskey, Michigan's downtown Gaslight District for the past 15 years. Founded and owned by Julie Norcross, the 5,000-square-foot, two-story general bookstore, named in honor of the grandmothers of Norcross and her husband, resembles an inviting cottage, with knotty pine paneling and a fireplace.
Where's My Book Sense Marketing Newsletter?
April 04, 2007 - On Wednesday, April 4, the 13th issue of the Book Sense Marketing Newsletter was sent to all booksellers with Book Sense. If you didn't receive a copy, it could be that at some point your email address was flagged as unsubscribed or you opted out.
April Notables Fliers & Shelf-Talkers Now Available
March 28, 2007 - The April Book Sense Notables flier is now available in a downloadable PDF on BookWeb.org. The flier includes jacket images, bibliographic information, and bookseller quotes. These additional 20 titles are also featured in an electronic file of shelf-talkers for in-store use.
A March White Box Update
March 28, 2007 - A change in plans has ARCs of Khaled Hosseini's forthcoming novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, shipping directly from the publisher, Riverhead Books (Penguin Group USA).
Readers Gain at Food for Thought
March 28, 2007 - Food for Thought Books in Amherst, Massachusetts, is a nonprofit bookstore, collectively owned and operated since the mid-1970s. The collective's five members lean distinctly to the left, stocking much of the 4,000-square-foot store with the latest in progressive politics -- global, domestic, multicultural, and radical; queer studies and women's issues; critical and avant-garde writings; 'zines; comix; and multicultural children's books. Textbook sales, both new and used, are a very significant portion of Food for Thought's business -- particularly during the first week of the school term.
Off The Beaten Path Is Right on Track
March 22, 2007 - In the late 1980s, while living in Los Angeles and working at a corporate job, Dick Ryan noticed a classified ad in the Wall Street Journal for a tiny bookstore located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Neither he nor his wife, Leslie, had ever been to the small ski town but within months Dick had negotiated an early retirement package, and the couple had packed up and moved to Steamboat Springs. In 1988, the Ryans became owners of the 760-square-foot Boomtown Bookstore, which they would eventually move, expand, and rename Off The Beaten Path.
The Book Sense Mysteries & Thrillers Bestseller List
March 21, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending March 20, 2007, and based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
Georgia Bookstore Celebrates Its 115th Anniversary
March 15, 2007 - Opened in 1892, Horton's Books & Gifts in Carrollton, Georgia, has sold invitations, bibles, men's wear, tables, office supplies, organs, pianos, sewing machines, rugs, coffins -- and books. The 115-year-old store has phased out the coffins and pianos, kept the bibles and invitations, added a cafe, and, of course, it still sells books. "We've always sold books," said owner Dorothy Pittman. "And we've always evolved to try to take advantage of the changing market."
The Book Sense Travel Literature Bestseller List
March 14, 2007 - Based on sales at independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide for the eight-week period ending March 12, 2007.
Announcing the Spring 2007 Book Sense Picks Poetry Top Ten
March 08, 2007 - Here is the Spring 2007 Book Sense Picks Poetry Top Ten, based on the nominations of independent booksellers nationwide. The list features a notable selection, including titles from a former U.S. poet laureate, a Nobel Prize winner, a Yale Series of Younger Poets winner, and comprehensive collections of two contemporary masters.
The Book Bin: Personalized Service for More Than Three Decades
March 07, 2007 - Janis and Lex Irvine's The Book Bin in Northbrook, Illinois, hosts in-store book sales to benefit local schools and offers book pick nights, where customers come to learn about the latest titles, several times a year. Special children's events, complete with costumed characters, are held a few times a year. The Book Bin is also known for its artfully presented book baskets for baby showers and hospital visits.
The April 2007 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
March 01, 2007 - Here is the full listing of April Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their April Picks fliers in the March Red Box.
Nominations Needed for Key Picks Lists
February 27, 2007 - Friday, March 2, is the deadline for the May Book Sense Picks list. In addition, Friday, March 9, is the deadline for the 2007 Book Sense Reading Group Picks List.
Watchung Booksellers Celebrates Community
February 27, 2007 - Watchung Booksellers, which opened in 1991 and was bought by Margot Sage-EL in 1996, is in Montclair, New Jersey, 12 miles from downtown Manhattan. This scenic town of 38,000, located on Orange Mountain in the Watchung Mountain range, is home to several bookshelves featuring local notable authors and celebrities from all fields. In its 1,100-square-foot space, Sage-EL has created "a hometown bookstore," offering weekly readings, regular poetry nights, and a host of book clubs.
Reading Group and May Picks Nominations Needed
February 22, 2007 - Booksellers will have two opportunities in March to help create Book Sense Picks lists, the May Picks list and the Book Sense Reading Group list. The Reading Group list was begun at the suggestions of booksellers in the Book Sense program, and ABA receives the most requests for additional copies for this list throughout the year. It's a great marketing tool for in-store use and for outreach to book buyers in reading groups, and it showcases a wide range of paperback titles, which extends the Book Sense program into a store's backlist inventory.
Norwich Bookstore's Roots Go Deep
February 21, 2007 - Penny McConnel and Liza Bernard's The Norwich Bookstore is a 2,000-square-foot general bookstore occupying two stories in Vermont's Norwich Square downtown shopping area. Since its founding almost 13 years ago, the store has become a town institution, offering the latest titles, monthly author events, and customized help for book clubs through new "book-talk" meetings with staff members. McConnel and Bernard also use every opportunity to stress to customers the importance of supporting local businesses.
The Cat in the Hat and pat the bunny Grace New Gift Cards
February 14, 2007 - Book Sense gift cards featuring Random House Children's Book characters The Cat in the Hat and pat the bunny are now available for purchase through the end of the year.
Rediscovered: A New Career, A Welcomed Bookshop
February 14, 2007 - Leaving careers in the disparate fields of high-energy physics and elementary music education, Bruce and Laura DeLaney opened Rediscovered Bookshop in Boise, Idaho. The store, which features 4,000 square feet of new and barely used books, opened on September 6, 2006. The store's aisles are wide enough to accommodate wheel chairs and strollers; the colors are bright, the ambiance welcoming. Coffee from several carafes of a locally distributed, fair trade brew is offered free to morning customers.
The Spring 2007 Book Sense Children's Picks Preview
February 08, 2007 - The Spring 2007 Book Sense Children's Picks, offering great titles for babies and pre-schoolers, young children, and teens, as well as great reading group suggestions, is now online.
Apple Blossom Books Brightens Oshkosh
February 08, 2007 - Apple Blossom Books in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has only been open since August 2005, but it has already hosted a legion of kids' reading programs, author signings and readings, and collaborative community events. Owner Candy Pearson has not only won over residents by bringing a much-needed family bookstore to the downtown area, but she was also eligible for grants and better loan rates. "It really helped on opening costs," she said.
The Book Sense Health & Fitness Bestseller List
February 07, 2007 - Based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide for the eight-week period ending February 6, 2007.
The March 2007 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
February 01, 2007 - Here is the full listing of March Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their March Picks fliers in the February Red Box.
Fireside Books in Alaska: Good Books, Good Coffee
January 30, 2007 - Whatever the weather outside in Palmer, Alaska, the coffee is always hot inside the five-year-old Fireside Books. And, despite the bookstore's web address --www.goodbooksbadcoffee.com -- Fireside Books sells both good books and good coffee, roasted locally.
Former Pizzeria Serves Up Books and Crafts With a Side of Merit Badges
January 24, 2007 - Fireside Bookstore occupies a two-story, A-frame building in Forest City, a town in the foothills of Western North Carolina. Formerly a pizza restaurant, the site has been home to a bookstore since 1990. In July 2005, the bookstore was purchased by Suzanne Ledford, a former store employee, and her mother, Sheila. The unusual building provides a spacious 2,500 square feet of retail space. Last year, the Ledfords transformed a balcony into an attractive children's area, featuring a colorful mural and room for a reading area and crafts.
The Book Sense Memoir & Biography Bestseller List
January 24, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending January 23, 2007, and based on sales at independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
Book Sense Display: "An Explosion of Books"
January 18, 2007 - When Book Sense announced the Book Sense 2006 Bestsellers, a special listing of last year's top-selling books at independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide, staff at Nomad Bookhouse in Jackson, Michigan, recognized a great marketing opportunity. Store Marketing Manager Brent Blank and bookseller Kelley Shirkey took advantage of the entire series of ready-made marketing materials and created their own wall display of 25 to 30 of the Book Sense 2006 Bestsellers. "People are drawn right to it," said Blank. "It's one of the most interesting displays we have."
BookSense.com On the Move...
January 17, 2007 - In this first On the Move of the New Year, BookSense.com presents a report on website sales during the holiday season, improvements to inventory upload features, ISBN-13 compatibility, digital content, a new content management system, and more.
Nominations Needed for New Spring Kids' List
January 11, 2007 - This Friday, January 12, is the deadline for nominations for the Spring Book Sense Children's Picks, the debut of the fourth kids' list. The additional Children's Picks list is being produced in conjunction with the first quarterly Children's-specific White Box mailing, to be sent to stores in February.
Taking Note of the January Notables
January 11, 2007 - For booksellers who are looking for ways to keep holiday sales momentum going, Book Sense sends a reminder that a flier and shelf-talkers for the January Book Sense Notables are available in PDF format on BookWeb.org.
Looking Good: 2006 Book Sense Gift Card Sales
January 10, 2007 - Since the inception of the Book Sense Gift Card program in fall 2003 through December 31, 2006, participating stores have sold 700,100 cards, with a total value of more than $18 million and an average sale per card of $25.96. For the 2006 holiday season, Book Sense Gift Card sales grew nine percent over last year.
Lavender Inkwell Fills Niche in Syracuse Neighborhood
January 10, 2007 - In October, central New York State became home to a new bookstore with a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender focus, when Lavender Inkwell Bookshoppe opened in Syracuse. Co-owners Scott Henni and John Besau started the barely 700-square-foot store in the city's Near Northeast historic district of Hawley-Green, home to a growing artistic community and a GLBT-friendly neighborhood.
The Book Sense Mind / Body / Spirit Bestseller List
January 10, 2007 - For the eight-week period ending Tuesday, January 9, 2007, and based on sales at hundreds of independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide.
The February 2007 Book Sense Picks & Notables Preview
January 04, 2007 - Here is the full listing of February Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables.
Book Sense Bestseller List ISBN-13 Support Now Live
January 03, 2007 - Booksellers with Book Sense should note that the new Book Sense Bestseller system has been upgraded so that ISBN-13 support is now live.
Facing Deadline, Greedy Picks Editor Exhorts Booksellers to Nominate
January 03, 2007 - This Friday, January 5, is the deadline for the March 2007 Book Sense Picks list. There's still time to make your voice heard.
Sincere Thanks for Another Great Year!
December 21, 2006 - ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz and the entire Book Sense team extend a very appreciative thanks to all the booksellers who have participated in the program's initiatives -- from nominating titles for the Picks lists and creating great in-store displays, to reporting to the bestseller list, promoting Book Sense in newsletters and on websites, selling Book Sense gift cards, and participating in BookSense.com.
Problems Processing a Gift Card? -- Here's Contact Info
December 21, 2006 - If a bookseller encounte