With increasing frequency, authors in academic and non-academic fields are releasing their books for free digital distribution. Anecdotal evidence suggests that exposure to both authors and books increases when books are available as free downloads, and that print sales are not negatively affected. For this study we interviewed ten authors to…

This study is a comparison of AUPress with three other traditional (non-open access) Canadian university presses. The analysis is based on the rankings that are correlated with book sales on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. Statistical methods include the sampling of the sales ranking of randomly selected books from each press. The results of one-way…

The conceptions and preparations for a successful author autographing party at the University of Virginia's bookstore are described. Suggestions for selecting authors, publicity, and planning are given. (MSE)

Recounts the activities that a number of bookstores have sponsored in order to generate children's interest in books, such as making valentines in February, having Santa Claus pay a visit in December, and having children tape record their favorite stories so that blind children can listen to them. (DF)

The problem of getting books to students in outlying areas was solved when the bookstore at Des Moines Area Community College began direct mail of textbooks. Course coordinators take return mail labels for students to complete along with an instruction form with them when they register their students. (MLW)

Discusses the renewed importance of retail sales in the children's book market and the emergence of three kinds of children's books: lavishly illustrated picture books, novels by brand name authors, and imaginative merchandise books. Discusses how children's books reach institutional and retail markets. (EL)

Discusses the role and functions of the library promotion director within a commercial publishing house, outlining in the process the responsibilities and activities of the library services director for a specific firm (Dial Press/Delacourte Press). The nature of book promotion for bookstores and libraries is described. (JL)

A microcomputer fair held during homecoming and in conjunction with the opening of the ISU Microcomputer Learning Facility resulted in an unprecedented explosion of interest and buying. The store was also selling computer books, supplies, and software. (Author/MLW)

A Credits-For-Resale program underwritten by the California Association of College Stores is described. A brief history of the program, guidelines on the mechanics involved, and suggestions on how selling credits could work for individual stores are presented. (MLW)

Recounts the experiences of a bookseller in dealing with children's books, including what strategies increase sales, how mothers and fathers choose children's books differently, and giving book talks at parents' nights at preschool schools. (NKA)

With the help of a professional consultant and the results of a questionnaire to determine faculty opinions and preferences, the University of Chicago Bookstore was able to evaluate its problems and revitalize its operation. Problems addressed included: physical environment, staff development, management and business practices, and special…

Local bookstore owners charge that the selling of best-sellers and trade books unrelated to coursework by community college bookstores violates California's education code. The decision was not based on free-speech grounds but on the language of the state code. (MSE)

Proposes that book series, geared to the general reader, can provide a readily available source of scientific information to the public. Portrays the possibilities for the effective marketing of such book series through the experience of the authors in editing and merchandising a science book series, which has been sold through direct marketing…