Booksellers Deal with E-books

Booksellers Deal with E-books

Independent bookstores are finding new competition
everywhere they turn. Amazon.com, used books online,
national retailers, and e-books have all contributed to
the decline of the independents.

The American Booksellers Association Board of Directors,
meeting earlier in March, heard a report detailing the
"Opportunities in the Digital Arena for Independent
Bookstores". This interesting report sees bookstores
as potential outlets for e-books and other digital media.

Find it at: http://news.bookweb.org//news/6662.html

"Ordinary Books" Excluded From CPSIA Enforcement

On February 6th, the Consumer Product Safety Commission released its enforcement policy for children’s products under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (details on CPSIA below).

The CPSC announcement stated “Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers should… be aware that CPSC will not impose penalties against anyone for making, importing, distributing, or selling … an ordinary children’s book printed after 1985”

This announcement came after the January 30 ruling that the requirement for third-party testing of children’s products would be suspended until February 2010. Manufacturers of products that combine books with non-paper items, like toys or games, are still required to have those items meet the lead and phthalate levels as mandated by the law.


SPAN's CPSIA Page

CPSIA information and updates can be found at www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML

CPSIA Requirement for Testing and Certification of Children's Books Delayed

February 2, 2009

News broke Friday, January 30, that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted to delay implementation until February, 2010 of the third-party testing and the certification of children's products as instructed by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

The CPSC January 30 news release stated the commission was issuing a, "a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers
of regulated products, including products intended for children 12 years old and younger."

Also included in the announcement was an additional piece of information about implementation of the CPSIA that shows the Orwellian/Catch 22 nature of the legislative and regulatory world. The news release said that: "Manufacturers and importers – large and small – of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements."

What this seems to be saying is that manufacturers don't have to test and certify, but the agency will enforce the the lead and phthalate levels outlined in the law after February 10, 2009. Since all data on "ordinary books" coming from the printers and their associations show that books are already at safe levels, I would say publishers of paper books don't have to worry about this "catch". If a book is accompanied by a toy or other non-paper item or if the book is printed on plastic, parts of the product might not meet the new standards and there may be cause for
concern.

This is good news for publishers. At the same time we need to keep working to have books excluced from the requirements of the CPSIA.

Read the CPSC news release here:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09115.html

Learn more at SPANnet:
http://www.spannet.org/cpsia-info-2009.htm

SBJ 8/08, The Economics of Self Publishing

Small Publishers Journal

August
2008

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In this issue:

• A Note from the Blogger
  
• Executive Director's Letter
  
• Articles
  
• Short Links

A note From the Blogger:

Well,

It would appear that the optimism I mentioned in my last post was slightly over extended. The recovery from my elbow dislocation is coming along smoothly, however, I was caught off guard by the amount of energy needed to sustain the healing process.

Nonetheless, here is the August edition of the SBJ, far from timely, yet unfortunately still relevant. Use the articles mentioned below as a rudder to help navigation through these troubled times.

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Executive Director's Letter

---

Hello
Everyone,

The recession and
high energy prices are affecting almost
everyone. SPAN is also feeling the
pinch with reduced


membership levels and higher expenses.

What is a publisher
and a nonprofit to do? I have included
two articles in this e-zine that
address how to approach an
economic downturn. There are three themes that
run through
the articles: watch your expenses, aggressively continue to implement your marketing plan, and keep your
quality high.

Here at SPAN we
have kept these principles in mind as we work to increase membership and stay in the
black.

1. Watch Expenses

Over the last year
we have found a new, lower cost newsletter
printer. We are now printing on
recycled paper and still paying
less. We bought a copier at a big box store
rather than lease
a fancier one with a service contract. There may be
expenses you can trim
that save money and don't affect quality and day-to-day operations.

2. Implement

the Marketing Plan

Our marketing plan
includes membership specials and
premiums. We are working hard to let both members and nonmembers know about our offerings through the print
and electronic
newsletters.

Right now membership with SPAN will get you six free Webinars featuring one of our expert speakers, including Brian Jud, Penny Sansevieri, and Eric Kampmann. Learn from the pros how to market your products effectively. Learn more at :spannet.org/join.htm .

3. Maintain High
Quality

We are also working
to keep our member benefits at a
high level of quality. Members can see complete benefits
information on the benefits in the Members Only section
of the SPAN Web
site. Nonmembers can find a summary
atspannet.org/benefits.htm .

The latest benefit is a discounted registration to the
terrific PubWest conference. SPAN is an
official
Industry Partner of the
conference (Portland, OR,
November 11-13) and SPAN members pay the PubWest
member price. Find out more atspannet.org/pubwest-conf.htm.

Keep your economic
downturn brief by watching expenses, sticking with your marketing plan, and committing to high
quality. Finally, help SPAN minimize the effects of the recession by renewing or joining SPAN. You'll
benefit at the same time with SPAN's valuable resources and bookselling tips and trends.

Thanks,

Scott Flora
Executive Director

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Articles

---

Top 13 Ways an Author Can
Survive a Recession:
Things You Can Do Today

by Michelle Dunn

Authors are sometimes already struggling to make ends meet, so
when the threat of a recession starts to become something to worry
about, authors can panic. There are some things authors can do to survive a
recession with a positive outlook and some specific actions.

Click here for
more: www.spannet.org/article-recession-dunn.htm
___________________________

7 Myths About Marketing in Economic
Downturns

by David
Poulos

In an ideal world, marketing activity would be self supporting, always pay back
multi-fold what it costs to execute, and be effective in reaching every potential buyer in the appropriate sector all the time. In the real world, economic forces that drive consumer behavior are often beyond your control.

Read on: www.spannet.org/article-downturn-poulos.htm

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Short Links

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Going Global?
Beyond the Book
Interview with the
U.S. Department of Commerce�s Global Publishing
Team

If you
dream of taking your book business to the world, it helps
to pack plenty of
market research and some international
diplomatic savvy. On September 8,
Beyond the Book will
release an interview with Dawn Bruno of the U.S.
Department
of
Commerce�s Global Publishing Team (www. export.gov/industry/paper/).

You can subscribe to the Beyond the
Book RSS feed at
beyondthebookcast.com/subscribe-for-free/.
You can also go
to Beyond the Book at beyondthebookcast.com/ and listen

on streaming audio.

______________________________________

Independent Booksellers 'Disheartened'
with Chelsea Green

By Lynn Andriani -- Publishers Weekly, August
18

Lynn Andriani writes in PW Daily, "Many independent
booksellers are outraged with Chelsea Green's decision
to sell Robert Kuttner's new book, Obama's
Challenge, by offering a discount coupon at the Democratic National
Convention redeemable exclusively on Amazon.com via
POD until the regular print run is available for national
distribution.



Read on here:



www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6588165.html.

In more breaking news, in a recent PW
Daily, Andriani writes,
"Barnes & Noble has cancelled its 10,000-copy
order of

Obama's Challenge, a book by Robert
Kuttner that Chelsea Green is making
available early exclusively through Amazon.com.
Chelsea Green president and publisher Margo
Baldwin said the chain will make
the book available on BN.com
and will special order it, but that it will not
stock it in its stores.
In effect, they have made a decision to boycott this book in
order to punish Chelsea Green,' said Baldwin."

Click for more:

www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6588537.html

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Small Publishers Journal


is a service of SPAN, the Small Publishers Association

of North America. SPAN is a nonprofit professional trade
association
dedicated to enhancing the image and profits
of authors and independent
presses in the U.S. and
Canada. You'll find SPAN info and a membership
form at www.SPANnet.org. Click
on "Join/Renew".

Small Publishers Association of North America
1618 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80904
Phone: 719-475-1726 Fax: 719-471-2182

---

Copyright 2008

Small Publishers Journal

July
2008

---

In this issue:

• Note from the blogger
  
• Letter to the Editor
  
• Article
  
• Short Links

---

Note from the blogger

---

Hello Everyone,

I have been away on medical leave, thanks to a momentary dislocation of my elbow, but I am now back and proud to present an abridged version of the Small Publisher's Journal, July 2008 edition. I've removed everything that was time sensitive, leaving only helpful tidbits and chunky thoughts to help you on your publishing way. I will also be posting additional Web links and diversions previously published in the SPAN Connection in as timely a manner as the Blog gods will allow. Look for the August edition of the SPJ to be posted soon, and as I am now back on my feet and able to pull my share, expect a post with September's edition to arrive on schedule. Thanks to everyone along the way for their kind words, and stay tuned as we're just getting warmed up!

Sincerely,
Brad Flora
SPANnet.org
Webmaster

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Letter to the
editor

---

Scott,

Another great newsletter (Small Publishers
Journal, June 2008).

Just one point you might want to make sometime in the
future about subscribing to RSS feeds. People might want
to check their e-mail software first.

I use Mozilla Thunderbird
and it includes support for RSS feeds (under the heading
"News & Blogs"). I just add the RSS link and the program
starts tracking it. I currently subscribe to 13 feeds using
Thunderbird and it checks it with the same frequency as it
checks my e-mail.

And the new postings show up just like
new e-mails in the "News & Blogs" directory. No need to
run any additional software.

I don't know how many other e-mail programs can also handle
RSS feeds but
wouldn't be surprised if most of them can.

Just thought I'd mention it!

Walt Shiel
Slipdown Mountain Publications,
LLC


Editor's note: Microsoft Outlook 2007 can handle RSS.
Outlook 2003 cannot.

_______________________________________

A Call for Articles and Company
Profiles

We are looking for articles on publishing and business
topics
and company profiles for the SPAN
Connection print newsletter.

1,000 words works well for our format, give or take a few
hundred. We
don't pay for articles, but we do provide a 50 word
bio at the end with
contact information.

Company profiles about your publishing
business are also needed.

The profile is a great way to tell the story of your publishing
company and share something special about your work. These

company profiles are for SPAN members only. Send your articles
and
questions to lisa@spannet.org.

____________________________________________________

Renew
or Join SPAN Today!!!


Renew or join SPAN the easy way by signing up
online.
Go to www.spannet.org/join.htm .

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Article

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The Six Simple Principles of Viral Marketing

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

I admit it. The term "viral
marketing" is offensive. Call yourself
a Viral Marketer and people will take
two steps back. I would.

"Do
they have a vaccine for that yet?" you wonder.

Click here for the full article:
www.spannet.org/article-wilson-viral.htm

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Short Links

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ABFFE Urges Booksellers & Publishers
to
Celebrate Banned Books Week

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression
(ABFFE),

the bookseller's voice in the fight against censorship, is urging
booksellers to join in the only national celebration of the freedom
to read Banned Books Week which
will be held Sept. 27-Oct. 4.

"Book censorship remains a serious problem in
the United States,
and Banned Books Week is the way that most Americans hear
about it,"

ABFFE President
Chris Finan said.

Learn more about Banned Books Week at:
www.abffe.com/banned2007.htm

________________________________________________

NFIB: A Great
Free Resource for Businesses

The National Federation of Independent Business
has an
extensive collection of free information for businesses of

all sizes. Got a business problem? Chances are the NFIB
has an article
outlining a course of action.

Favorites include:

Insurance
http://www.nfib.com/page/insurance.html

Taxes
http://www.nfib.com/page/taxesTools.html

Finance
http://www.nfib.com/page/finance.html

Find it all at www.nfib.com.

---

Small Publishers Journal

is a service of SPAN,
the Small Publishers Association of North America.
SPAN is a nonprofit professional trade association
dedicated to enhancing the image and profits
of authors and independent presses in the U.S. and
Canada. You'll find SPAN info and a membership
form at www.SPANnet.org. Click
on "Join/Renew".

---

Copyright 2008

Amazon/BookSurge Antitrust Lawsuit Campaign

Small Publishers Association of North America

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Campaign Letter
Go to Campaign Home Page

July 7, 2008

Hello Everyone,

Recently, the SPAN Board voted to support the class action
antitrust lawsuit, BookLocker.com, Inc. vs. Amazon.com, Inc.
As most of you know, in late March, the news broke that
Amazon had begun a new policy requiring print on demand
(POD) publishers using Amazonís distribution services to print
their books using Amazonís subsidiary BookSurge.

In April, SPAN announced it opposed the policy and I wrote a
letter to Amazonís CEO Jeff Bezos. I said, in short, the new
policy was not in the best interest of either Amazon or SPAN
members. Despite public outcry, Amazon has stuck to its new
POD policy. This led BookLocker.com, Inc., a POD publisher,
to initiate a class action antitrust lawsuit challenging the
legality of the policy.

The lawsuit says that Amazon is illegally tying the BookSurge
printing to Amazonís distribution services. According to
antitrust law, companies generally cannot require a customer
to buy one product or service in order to have access to
another distinct product or service.

To help determine the validity of the case, I read the legal
Complaint submitted to U.S. District Court and conducted
additional research. I was quickly convinced that, based
on my reading, BookLocker has a reasonable antitrust
case against Amazon. Therefore, it seemed clear that
SPANís next step should be to support the lawsuit.

The Amazon/BookSurge Antitrust Lawsuit Campaign

What does supporting the lawsuit mean? SPANís goal is
to initiate the Amazon/BookSurge Antitrust Lawsuit
Campaign to generate public pressure to compel Amazon
to reverse its policy. Our plan is to get as many authors,
publishers, and organizations as possible to let Amazon
know they support the lawsuit and object to the new policy.

Our objective is to get 10,000 signatures on the campaign
petition and 100 writer's and publisher's organizations to
join the campaign.

The Antitrust Lawsuit

According to the complaint, BookLocker is seeking to
represent a class of ìall POD publishers and publishing
companies in the United States who either had books
listed for sale in the [Amazon] Bookstore, or who had or
have an application to have books listed for sale in the
[Amazon] Bookstore, at any time from February 10, 2008
through the conclusion of trial of this matter.î

Should the judge approve this class definition, many SPAN
members likely will be members of the class (although they
will have the opportunity to opt-out if they so choose).
However, it is important to note that SPAN itself is not a
member of the ìclassî and is not a party to the lawsuit.

What can you do to help?

Here are five steps that will let Amazon know that publishers
and writers want a change:

1. Sign the Petition óWe have initiated an online petition
individuals and organizations can sign indicating they
support the lawsuit. The petition will be sent to Jeff Bezos
and the Amazon Board.

You can sign the petition by clicking here:
www.spannet.org/amazonantitrust-petition.htm



2. Write Letters óWe have written to Amazon again and
encourage everyone to do so. Let them know you support
the lawsuit and you want them to reverse this new policy.

Send your letter to Jeff Bezos at Amazon
jeff @ amazon.com .

Send us copies of your letters to
classaction @ spannet.org .

3. Spread the word óOur power comes from you
telling people about this campaign. It is just that simple.
Tell your friends and contacts through e-mail, newsletters,
blogs, social media sites, etc.

Advertise the link for:

• Campaign home page
  www.spannet.org/amazonantitrust-home.htm
  
  
• Petition
  www.spannet.org/amazonantitrust-petition.htm
  

4. Request the Support of Your Organizations óSPAN is
compiling a list of writer and publisher organizations that
also support the lawsuit. You can help us add to this list
by contacting organizations you belong to and encouraging
them to support the lawsuit. Organizations can let SPAN
know of your support by contacting kaye @ spannet.org.

5. Contact the Media óWe have sent a news release
announcing SPANís support of the lawsuit. If you have
media contacts, send them the news release.

Click here for a copy of the news release:
www.spannet.org/amazonantitrust-newsrelease.htm

Note: Feel free to use the news release, Scott Flora's
letters and articles, and Web site copy to spread the word.

Join this Campaign

I believe Amazon is a good company that has done many
beneficial things for independent publishers over the years.
SPAN is not calling for a boycott of Amazon. We are
supporting the class action lawsuit against Amazon and
asking others to also lend their support in order to persuade
Amazon to reverse its policy of requiring publishers using its
POD distribution services to print with BookSurge.

I am asking you to join SPAN in supporting the lawsuit by
signing the petition, writing Amazon, contacting the media,
and telling your colleagues.

If we work together, we can make a difference.

Thanks,

Scott Flora
SPAN Executive Director

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Small Publishers Association
SPAN is a nonprofit professional trade
association dedicated to enhancing the image and profits
of authors and independent presses in the U.S. and
Canada. You'll find SPAN info & a membership
form at www.SPANnet.org. Click on "Join/Renew".

---

Copyright 2008

Write for an Internet audience

Learn how to write better Internet marketing copy at www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/. It is a white paper archive that features plenty of information on how to increase the readability of a Web site, e-zine, or e-mail. You’ll find advice on how to cater your content to teenagers, low-literacy users, the literate, and even the impatient. The site features enough good tips, tricks, and tidbits for better Web sites that the SPANnet staff is using it as research material. If you use a Web site to market your book, this place is worth a look.