Hours after a lawsuit coordinated among four large AAP members was filed to block the Internet Archive’s broad scanning and online sharing of copyrighted books, the organization convened a virtual version of their annual meeting and marked the group’s 50th anniversary. Current AAP chair (and Macmillan ceo) John Sargent remarked, “It is remarkable how much we work together and how how very close we are in our view of the right way forward across this organization.” More broadly, on the AAP’s big anniversary, he noted, “It’s fair to say that without the AAP the United States copyright law would not […]
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Hachette Book Group Also Withdraws From Book Expo
Hachette has joined Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins in withdrawing from Book Expo and Book Con. They wrote in a statement on Thursday, “With the impact of the coronavirus still an unknown, Hachette Book Group has decided to withdraw our participation in Book Expo and BookCon 2020 in the interest of the health and well-being of our employees and authors. We’ll miss having the opportunity to engage with booksellers, librarians, and readers but are committed to finding new ways to connect these audiences with our books and authors.”
Ingram Deemed “Essential” and Operates As Nashville Gets Shelter In Place Order
On Sunday, March 22, the Metropolitan Nashville mayor issued a “shelter in place” order beginning at midnight, asking all non-essential businesses to close for 14 days. Ingram Content Group said in statement that their wholesale, distribution, print on demand, and digital services are all considered essential, and they “are encouraged to remain open.” Therefore, “Based on the guidance provided from the various authorities, Ingram Content Group’s global operations remain open at this time. ” ICG president and ceo Shawn Morin said in the release, “At this time, we can report that all our facilities and distribution centers around the world remain open. Ingram […]
Status Reports: Amazon Delays Replenishment of Non-Essentials, Indigo Closes Stores, French Publishers Postpone Releases, and More
Amazon told third-party sellers in the US and EU who use their distribution centers for Fulfillment by Amazon that the company is “temporarily prioritizing household staples, medical supplies and other high-demand products coming into our fulfillment centers so that we can more quickly receive, restock, and ship these products to customers.” They have disabled new shipments and replenishment to their warehouses of other products through April 5 . The notice said, “We are taking a similar approach with retail vendors,” and that is reinforced in a general press release. (In the case of retail vendors for non-prioritized goods, they are […]
Status Reports: HBG Supports Indie Home Delivery, Jeff Kinney Book Postponed, and More WFH and Cancellations
Hachette Book Group launched an indie home delivery initiative to provide extra margin to “any independent bookstore that offers local delivery of books to homes or businesses within their community done directly by a store staff member or other contracted local delivery service.” Between March 16 and May 15, bookstores will receive an additional discount of 5 percent off MSRP on any delivered HBG title once receipt of the credit request form is received with no minimum order to be eligible for the rebate. Abrams postponed the release of Jeff Kinney‘s ROWLEY JEFFERSON’S AWESOME FRIENDLY ADVENTURE, from April 7 to August […]
McNally Jackson Lays Off Employees “Facing Down A Massive…Loss In Revenue”
McNally Jackson laid off a significant portion of its staff on Monday, employees of the store reported, as the company closed its retail stores to visitors. Children’s and YA buyer Cristin Stickles posted a list of 33 employees who have been let go, writing, “Most @mcnallyjackson employees (anyone at the store less than 4 years) were (temporarily) laid off today, to be hired back at an indeterminate date. PTO through this week, health care through this month. Please support these incredible booksellers directly.” Multiple other accounts confirmed the details of the layoffs. The store then confirmed online, “We are paying […]