In another blaring act of AbeBooks.com's systematic neglect of the booksellers who put the company on the map they announced today the release of BookHints. A book recommendation feature that utilizes their current hot property LibraryThing.Basically it is the Amazon recommends technology with better visuals and instead of using an algorithm it uses the books in their users library to come up with suggestions.With only 10% of the listings on Abebooks having been fitted with the BookHint technology why the press release now? Can you say Shelfari. It wasn't more than a few days ago when the news of Amazon's...
Think Small: March is Small Press Month
"As Water to Flowers, Independent Publishing to Democracy" Alice WalkerIn 2005 about 80% of all books released were published by a small press. Unfortunately, the publishers that produced the other 20% make all the noise and leave little room for the others.James Joyce's Ulysses was first published by a small press, a bookshop no less.Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard ran the seminal Hogarth Press.Sherman Alexie's first book was published by a small press, Hanging Loose Press.Samuel Johnson's Dictionary was originally published by his small press.William Burroughs "Naked Lunch" was first published by a small press in ParisThe list goes...
Powell’s Goes to the Movies
On the heels of their successful author blogs and podcasts Powell's Books is getting into the movie business. Welcome to "Out of the Book."The plan:To produce short films of up to 23 minutes by accomplished directors "about a frontlist title and giving a broad sense of the author"The films will be distributed free to other booksellers around the countryThe inaugural film will be the centerpiece of events at nearly 40 bookstores.They will produce "as few as one a quarter to as many as one or two a month."The premier event will take place at the Bagdad Theater in Portland, were...
When a University Bookstore Sells Out: The Battle at Sonoma State
This one has all the makings of a David and Goliath biblio thriller. Corporate giant infiltrates university campus.Book spies, stolen textbook lists, divided communities and tons of money at stake.In one corner is North Light Books & Cafe and Coppefield's, two independent bookstores, in the other the Barnes & Noble run Sonoma State University Bookstore.When the University was looking for new manager for the bookstore they sent out an RFP (request for proposal) directly to three national bookstore chains. There was no public announcement. The RFP also stated that the bookstore was "seeking to establish a business partnership with a...
Rent or Exchange: The Next Wave For Books Online
There has been lots of talk of late about the new rental model for audiobooks. The model which is basically the Netflix web-based, subscription format is being embraced by audiobooksonline in the UK and BooksFree in the U.S.In addition to the audiobooks, Booksfree also is an online book exchange.The deal:-80,000 paperbacks in stock- The number of titles you rent depends on your membership plan and how quickly you return each order.-Plans range from 2 books for $8.49 a month to 12 at a time for $35. Why they call themselves Booksfree is a little baffling.-Paperback books are shipped 2-3 books...