Macmillan ceo John Sargent wrote to librarians, authors, illustrators and agents on Tuesday to announce that the publisher will abandon their controversial eight-week window on making new release ebooks available to libraries. They will revert to their previous pricing model conditions. At the same time, they will also have promotional prices on some titles to help fulfill library’s needs during the coronavirus crisis. “There are times in life when differences should be put aside,” Sargent said. “Effective on Friday (or whenever thereafter our wholesalers can effect the change), Macmillan will return to the library ebook pricing model that was in […]
Powell’s and McNally Jackson Have Substantial Layoffs
After closing their physical stores due to the spread of COVID-19, Powell’s Books reportedly announced temporary layoffs that dismissed roughly 85 percent of the 400 workers represented by ILWU Local 5, according to the union. Citing “the rapid, significant downturn in sales in the recent weeks and days,” human resources director Michelle Afroso wrote to employees that the store “needs to take to immediate steps to scale back the company.” She said, “If sales continue to decrease in the future, we will need to take further action. We will try to avoid additional layoffs by reducing the size of the […]
Status Reports: Barnes & Noble Watchful, Ingram Stands By, S&S and Cengage Work From Home
With most of the nation’s major library systems closing and a wave of independent booksellers closing to the public, at least, we checked in with Barnes & Noble to see how they are approaching the situation. “We have reduced store hours in all of our stores, and are prepared to close stores promptly along with guidance from local and national officials,” a spokesperson told PL. “We have also enhanced cleaning in all of our stores, and have alerted all employees who are not feeling well, or need to care for family members, to stay home.” As physical outlets for obtaining […]
Status Reports: Bookstore Closings, Support Efforts
Along with the significant shutdown of the nation’s public libraries, independent booksellers are joining the call for social distancing and closing on a temporary basis, at least to the public, with many stores continuing to process shipments and/or make deliveries. Powell’s Books is among the most prominent to close so far, at least through the end of March, shuttering all five retail locations while continuing to operate online. New York area stores announcing closures include Astoria Bookshop, Three Lives & Company, Inquiring Minds (New Paltz), and Words Bookstore (Maplewood, NJ). Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, MI was among the first […]
Public Library Systems Close Across the Country
As the nation scrambles to implement social distancing and control the spread of COVID-19, major library systems around the country have announced plans to close. And in the few large population centers where libraries are still remaining open, there is controversy. Among the 20 most populous cities in America, only the Chicago and Boston public libraries had yet to announce temporary closures by Monday morning. In Boston that led to an online petition asking the city to close the libraries and make the employees whole. In New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio had publicly resisted library closures. When the New […]
Simon & Schuster Also Formalizes Work from Home Instructions; New York and Seattle Libraries to Close
ViacomCBS and its Simon & Schuster division moved from testing remote work on Friday to a formal, “company-wide, mandatory work-from-home policy until further notice.” S&S ceo Carolyn Reidy asked staff in a memo, “Please continue to treat today and Monday as days to test your capabilities and note issues and obstacles you encounter in fulfilling your day to day responsibilities. We encourage you to communicate these issues to your manager over the next few days.” Given the suddenness of the policy, Reidy notes that “our buildings remain open and you may go there to retrieve any important items you may […]