BTW News Briefs

Ingram Content Group Announces Organizational Structure

On June 17, David "Skip" Prichard, president and CEO of the Ingram Content Group, unveiled the new company's organizational structure. The creation of Ingram Content Group was announced three weeks ago by Chairman John R. Ingram, who said the change would "fully integrate" Ingram's content companies -- Ingram Book Group, Lightning Source, and Ingram Digital.

"Rather than different organizations designed around products and services, we will now be organized around our mission statement of helping content reach its destination," Prichard said. "All of our services for publishers and content creators will be in our content organization. Our commercial organization will serve any 'destination' where we take that content -- whether libraries or retailers."

Services to publishers include Lightning Source print-on-demand, Ingram Digital's CoreSource, Ingram Marketing Group, Ingram Publisher Services, and Ingram Book's buying department. This new publisher-focused organization will be led by Chief Content Officer Phil Ollila. All of Ingram's customers in the library and retail channels will be served by one organization, led by Chief Commercial Officer Shawn Everson.

In the Commercial organization, Rich Rosy will head up all of Ingram's library businesses including Ingram Library Services, MyiLibrary, and Coutts. Dan Sheehan, vice president of sales for Ingram Book Field Sales, will also take on responsibility as general manager of Ingram Periodicals.

In the Content organization, David Taylor, president of Lightning Source, will be responsible for all publisher content acquisition activities. Mark Ouimet will become general manager of Ingram Publisher Services.

Booksellers to Keep Eyes Open for 2020 Vision USA

2020 Vision USA, a Sarasota, Florida, direct importer of reading glasses and sunglasses, has agreed to contribute $1 to the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression for every pair of glasses it sells to independent bookstores. Details are on their way to stores in the IndieBound movement in a flier in the July Red Box.

"We are very excited to have the support of 2020 Vision USA," ABFFE President Chris Finan said. Response from the 2020 Vision USA's partnering with ABFFE has sent sales skyrocketing for the father/daughter team.

A family business founded in 1996, 2020 Vision offers a huge inventory of high fashion Italian designs. Its customers include bookstores across the country, including Books & Books in Miami, which sells several thousand pairs of 2020 Vision's designs annually.

To see the entire collection of 2020 Vision USA, visit www.2020visionusa.com.

Cooperative Bookstore Planned for Milwaukee

This week, BizTimes Daily reported that a group of Milwaukee community activists plans to open and operate a cooperative bookstore in Shorewood, the neighborhood of one of the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops that closed in March. "It will be a bookstore for the community, created by the community," said organizer Keith Schmitz, who added that the closing of the Schwartz bookstore "created a big void in the community."

The Open Book will be structured on a cooperative model, giving members discounts, an annual dividend when feasible, and invitations to special events. So far, nearly 400 people have indicated interest in becoming members of the co-op, which plans to open this fall. Former store manager of the Schwartz store, Lisa Zupke, will manage Open Book.

S&S Children's Publishing Creates Online Community for Teen Readers

On June 18, Simon & Schuster Digital announced the launch of the Pulse It a free, dedicated social networking site for teens ages 14 - 18 where members can read new S&S teen titles online, communicate with fellow members of the site and with authors, and use a wide variety of digital tools to express themselves.

Pulse It members can read one book per month from a selection of two titles, which they can preview before making a choice. Books in the program will be just-released or soon-to-be-released titles, and members will have 60 days in which to read their selection.

In addition to allowing members to read entire books online, Pulse It members can create their own customized personal profile (including uploading a photo, adding their areas of interest and posting links to other media); write reviews and rank books; friend other members and track their activities; create blog posts and participate in message board discussions: vote on polls; watch video book trailers and author interviews, share reviews with Facebook friends, and set up RSS feeds.

Penguin Launches Network of Online Programming

On June 16, Penguin Group (USA) launched the online network "From the Publisher's Office," with three channels featuring nine series of book entertainment for adults, young adults, and children. The network will feature several episodic online series, including "YA Central," "Project Paranormal," "Penguin Storytime" and "Tarcher Talks," and audio series such as "Penguin Classics On Air," "Penguin Business Thought Leaders" and "A Cup of Poetry." Penguin said that all of the programming is original and customized for a wide range of audiences, and new episodes will be produced each publishing season. The network is now live on the Penguin Group (USA) website at www.penguin.com/thepublishersoffice.

The "From the Publisher's Office" network also enables viewers to e-mail and share episodes within each series via a number of online and social networking applications, including Digg, Twitter, Delicious, and Technorati, among others. Most of the content for "From the Publisher's Office" will be created, written, shot, edited, and produced by more than 30 Penguin Group (USA) executives and department team members.

Redesigned BookTV.org More User-Friendly

On June 16, Book TV announced the launch of its "more user-friendly and intuitively organized" website, www.BookTV.org. Book TV noted that the new design makes it easier to search for and watch videos; provides users with a "Share" menu; and streams Book TV programming live.