ABA Shuts Down 'American Bookseller'
John Mutter -- 6/15/98
As part of a change in how it "disseminates information to bookstore members," the American Booksellers Association has ceased publication of American Bookseller, its monthly magazine that was founded in 1977, and is focusing editorial and communications efforts instead on its weekly newsletter, Bookselling This Week, and on its members' website.In a letter sent out last Friday, the ABA notified members of the changes, and announced that Dan Cullen, who has been head of publications at ABA, will become the head of ABA's "new information efforts." In the letter, the ABA emphasized that the changes were made in connection with the new strategic plan, which calls for the association "to provide independent professional booksellers with the timely information they need to compete successfully in a changing world." Given the pace of business today, the association decided, "a monthly magazine is just not the most efficient way" to deliver information. Revenues probably played a role in the decision to shut down AB as well; recent issues were quite thin in advertising. As a result of the changes, Bookselling This Week will include some features that have run in AB. The members' website is intended to be a "booksellers' virtual community" that includes a database of new stores, bulletin boards and an online version of the association's new publicity kit. Back To News---> |
