Solid State Books in Washington D.C., which unionized in April with UFCW Local 400, has ratified their contract with the store after 17 days of negotiations. Solid State is the second bookstore in D.C. to unionize, after Politics & Prose. The three-year contract includes cost of living raises tied to the D.C. minimum wage, Juneteenth as a holiday (with overtime pay), provisions for additional vacation time, better hours, and more. The contract was modeled on the one ratified by Politics & Prose last September. Bookseller Kiara Martinez, who served on the negotiated committee said in a release, “We got here […]
People 7/27
Xoxopublishing Shuts Down for the “Indefinite Future”
Publishing gossip Instagram account xoxopublishing, that began by posting memes but evolved into an anonymous industry tip-line about layoffs, labor issues and more, writes today that it will “be going on a hiatus with stories” for the “indefinite future.” The account used the stories function to post tips and internal memos from management with names redacted. The person who runs the account works at a major New York publishing house. The account writes on Instagram, “In the meantime, we hope you’ll keep building community with each other, online but especially irl. We need unions and gossip networks and spaces for […]
August Library Reads
Barnes & Noble National Book Club
Initiatives: Binc Incubator Pilot Program
The Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc) is launching a three-year pilot program called BincTank to support people from historically underrepresented communities who want to open a bookstore. The organization writes in a release that the program will focus on “capital, education, mentorship, peer-to-peer networking and resource material.” Ken White will lead the initiative as program manager; White has previously served on Binc’s board as well as the board of the ABA. Applications will open in early 2024, with the program initially seeking “entrepreneurs in communities impacted by systemic racism.” Binc plans to open the program up to all marginalized individuals […]