Just two months after acquiring Union Square and Co. from Barnes & Noble, Hachette Book Group has notified the unit’s staff that it will eliminate a substantial number of positions. HBG employees report and believe the layoffs to affect approximately 60 jobs, or roughly half of the Union Square personnel. The company tells PL, “We do not disclose personnel information; however, it is inaccurate and false that 60 employees are being let go. Additionally, some of the impacted employees have been offered other roles within the company and are working with human resources to remain at Hachette Book Group.” When the acquisition […]
Archives for January 2025
Dark Horse Becomes the First Publisher to Drop Neil Gaiman
Dark Horse announced on social media on Friday that it “takes seriously the allegations against Neil Gaiman and we are no longer publishing his works.” They are the first of Gaiman’s publishers to publicly acknowledge those allegations and cancel or remove work under contract as a result. The publisher said it was, “Confirming that the Anansi Boys comic series and collected volume have been cancelled.” They had published seven of a planned eight installments in the comic book series. The writer of the series Marc Bernardin said on Instagram recently, “Last Wednesday, issue 7 of Anansi Boys hit the stands. […]
Under the New Administration, DOE Says There Are No Book Bans In Schools
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has quickly dropped 11 complaints “related to so-called ‘book bans'” and “rescinded all department guidance issued under the theory that a school district’s removal of age-inappropriate books from its libraries may violate civil rights laws.” Additionally, the OCR “will no longer employ a ‘book ban coordinator’ to investigate local school districts and parents working to protect students from obscene content.” The release claims it is overturning a “book ban hoax.” Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor says in the announcement that “the department is beginning the process of restoring the […]
Amazon and Bloomsbury Reach an Agreement After Brief Standoff
Bloomsbury has reached a new supply agreement with Amazon, after Amazon announced on Thursday that its contract with the publisher was expiring, and it would stop selling Bloomsbury print books in the UK, Europe, and Australia, and Bloomsbury Kindle books worldwide at midnight on January 23. Amazon posted an update late Thursday evening, writing, “As of 10.30 p.m. on 23 January, an agreement in principle has been reached between Amazon and Bloomsbury, and Bloomsbury books continue to be available for our customers.” Bloomsbury confirmed on their corporate site that they have “reached a new long term supply agreement with Amazon.” […]
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Distribution: Four University Presses
Paradigm Publishing Services will distribute Utah State University Press, University of Wyoming Press, and University of Alaska Press, which are all managed by the University Press of Colorado.