Usage of Online ABA Book Buyer's Handbook Jumps in October -- More Booksellers Accessing Key Information

November 21, 2002

In recent weeks, usage of the new online ABA Book Buyer's Handbook has continued to increase dramatically. The number of successful requests for information in October increased 61 percent over the previous month, and usage has grown over 140 percent since the online launch in May.

The online Handbook offers booksellers the most up-to-date and accurate information on the thousands of companies included in the Handbook -- and, importantly, ABA is now updating and correcting the data on an ongoing basis. In addition, the Handbook now provides publishers’ special offers and dated offers; information very often not available to independents in the past. [To view current special offers, click here.]

Jean MacKenzie of the Brewster Book Store in Brewster, Massachusetts, said, "[The online Handbook] has really been very helpful," especially in obtaining information for processing store returns and in learning more about the terms of smaller publishers. MacKenzie noted, too, that the learning curve for the online Handbook was not as steep as she had anticipated. "At first I was sort of resistant because I'm not a big computer user," she said. "But we've all come around to using it."

The online Handbook is a service for ABA Regular, Provisional, and Associate members, and all staff in the bookstore can access the Handbook online by using their current log-in name and password for BookWeb.org. To create a log-in name and password, booksellers need only click the "Register for BookWeb" icon at www.Bookweb.org, and fill in the requested information, including your store’s ABA ID number. Any number of staff can use the same log-in and password.

Changes to the Handbook are noted regularly in Bookselling This Week, and updated listings are noted on the Handbook as well [click here].

Many booksellers have already begun alerting ABA of changes in company policies and key contact information, alerts that are immediately followed up on by ABA staff. Booksellers can report updated terms online by going to http://handbook.bookweb.org/form.jsp.

Recognizing that some booksellers often refer to the Handbook for contact information, ABA has made available -- free upon request -- a booklet containing key contact information, including the main office address and phone numbers for all companies currently in the Handbook database. Booksellers can also order a copy of the print book for $50 per copy.

To order your free copy of the booklet containing key contact information and/or to order a print Handbook for $50, go to http://handbook.bookweb.org/orderform.jsp, or contact Pete Reynolds at peter@bookweb.org.

Publishers, wholesalers, and distributors with questions about accessing and updating their information in the Handbook should send an e-mail to handbook@bookweb.org or call Tory Chiaramida at (800) 637-0037, ext. 1263.

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