Libraries are a $5 billion market for the publishing industry that has managed to weather every storm so far to be the most consistent and reliable place to sell new books.  Evolving technology has allowed for new ways to market to anyone, and libraries are no different—no matter the method, they’re always looking to find new books.  And while Combined Book Exhibit has always been happy to provide a bridge from publishers to libraries, they’re even happier to find new ways to help make that connection.  Which is why, in celebration for our 75 Year Anniversary, and in time for the ALA annual conference, we are excited to tell you about the launch of The Book Checkout!!

The Book Checkout, located at www.TheBookCheckout.com, is more than just a renaming and redesigning of the CBE Database—it’s a completely new website that’s even more than just a virtual Combined Book Exhibit.  At The Book Checkout, librarians can not only find new books, they can also rate and review them, find industry news, purchase books with one click to Amazon or Barnes and Noble (where available of course), and more.  In addition, The Book Checkout will be sending out a free monthly e-newsletter to librarians, keeping them informed of what’s new on the site, at the trade shows, and in the industry.

For publishers, The Book Checkout represents an opportunity to market new books specifically to the library market, because unlike other websites, The Book Checkout provides its visitors with the exact information needed by the library market, including distributor information, reviews and of course Dewy Decimal Category. 

We’ll be constantly working behind the scenes to add more and more features to The Book Checkout to ensure it’s the best way to market books to libraries on the Internet.  Listing on The Book Checkout is free with participation in any Combined Book Exhibit show (including if you have participated in any show within the last two years!), or if you don’t wish to participate in any of the CBE shows, there are several cost-effective packages to list your titles on TBC. 

Other advertising opportunities are also available to publishers on The Book Checkout.  If you have any questions at all about anything related to The Book Checkout, send an email to info@thebookcheckout.com. And be sure to check your book’s listing and email The Book Checkout to update it.

If ALA is the largest gathering dedicated to the library industry, then it stands to assume that Bookexpo America’s audience isn’t necessarily completely versed in the art of said library market.  In an effort to educate, BEA had a great schedule of library-related events aimed at publishers.  New for 2008, a panel called “What Librarians Wish Publishers Knew” was able to live up to its name, and we were on hand to pass the information along to you!

The panel, moderated by Nora Rawlinson (creator of earlword.com, and former editor-in-chief of Publishers Weekly and Library Journal), played host to four librarians representing different areas:  Angelina Beneditti of the King County Library System in Washington, Barbara Jenco of the Brooklyn Public Library, Megan McArdle from the Chicago Public Library, and Julia Gelvin of the University of California in Irvine.  Each had plenty to add, and plenty to tell publishers what librarians want them to know.

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For the second time in about a month, the publishing industry’s focus will be on southern California, as the American Library Association will be holding its Annual conference in Anaheim from June 28-July 1.  ALA Annual is the world’s largest gathering specifically for the library market, and received record attendance in 2007.

Even though Anaheim may not be expecting record attendance, ALA has a full conference of great programming, exhibits and special events for attendees, exhibitors and staff.  James Frey, Dean Koontz and Khaled Hosseini are a few of the authors speaking at the various special events, and the sessions held during the show deal with every aspect of the library industry, from children’s books to legislation issues.  Of course, no really successful book fair would be complete without what ALA has dubbed “The Stacks,” an exhibit hall full of exhibitors displaying the newest technologies, trends and titles.

All this and more will be going down at the Anaheim Convention Center June 28-July 1.  Full details can be found here.  To begin your planning, you can go here  and download the pre-conference and conference programs in any of nine different accessible formats, courtesy of ReadHowYouWant! And, if you are attending, be sure to come by and visit Combined Book Exhibit at booth 1224 to help us celebrate our 75th year anniversary!

Our friends at Publishers Weekly wanted to pass on some information to all of you regarding some of their new features and announcements.  Here goes:

Over at PW’s website, you can find their newest addition: a video player!  PW added this video player “to help you entertain, educate and share exciting news through your own creative video presentations.”  In addition to creating your own video (contact your PW rep to get started), you can visit their current library, which includes videos of Lewis Black and coverage from the Abu Dhabi Book Fair, here. (http://www.publishersweekly.com/flashVideo/element_id/ 2140221769/taxid/33791.html)

Also, mark your calendars for these important dates regarding when to submit your material by for these editorial features:

***June 16: SPECIAL EDITORIAL HIGHLIGHT ON POLITICAL BOOKS not before featured on the editorial calendar***

Ad reservations: June 5

July 7: Comics

Ad reservations: June 23

July 14: Humor

Ad reservations: July 2

July 21: University Presses

Ad reservations: July 10

July 28: Fall Indie Press Sleepers

Ad reservations: July 17

If you have any questions, or want further information on any of the above, contact Cevin Bryerman at cbryerman@reedbusiness.com