The latest NYT bestseller lists, released last Wednesday, were dominated by anti-racism books and books by Black authors. That demand was widely celebrated, but so unprecedented that many booksellers were left without stock to sell. On June 12, roughly half of the anti-racist books on the NYT hardcover and paperback nonfiction bestseller lists were out…
How Publishing Works
Summer Plans: PRH Will Work at Home at Least Through Labor Day, HBG to Reopen in Phases, and NYU Goes Online
In a May 26 letter to employees, PRH US ceo Madeline McIntosh officially announced that work from home will continue at least through the summer: “For those of us who ‘usually’ work in offices, we will continue to work in our remote status at least until after Labor Day.” The company is surveying employees about…
Denver’s Publishing Institute Will Go Online This Summer
The University of Denver’s Publishing Institute (DPI) summer program is going online for the 2020 session, the institute announced Tuesday, “in order to balance student health with the need to preserve the DPI student experience.” The program itself is “mostly unchanged,” with the same instructors, curriculum, and assignments. Most classes will be taught live, but…
Kobo Extends Work From Home Through End of Year
CEO of Kobo Michael Tamblyn shared via Twitter on Thursday the company’s plan to let employees in its Toronto headquarters, as well as in its Dublin, Darmstadt, and Taipei offices, work from home for the rest of 2020. The move is in line with other major technology companies, and perhaps provides a glimpse toward what…
Corporate: Scholastic Closes DCs in Cost Cutting, Bloomsbury Acquires Zed, and More
Scholastic reported results for the third quarter ending February 29, and announced cost and service cuts due to the pandemic: “We are taking aggressive actions to reduce operating expenses throughout the company, including the temporary closing of warehousing and distribution centers, and a freeze on hiring, travel and other discretionary spending not directly tied to…
Many Less Happy Returns, and A Light Forecast for Spring, As Barnes & Noble Prepares Inventory Shift
This time a year ago publishers were worried about printing and restocking the books customers wanted before the holidays, but now the concern that a number of publishers and agents have been expressing in recent weeks is somewhat of the inverse. They’re focused on leftover stock at Barnes & Noble that will be sold under…