 |
Book Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Jim Cox Reports / Jim Cox Report: November 2023 |
Jim Cox Report: November 2023
Dear Publisher Folk, Friends & Family:
Today (November 6, 2023) is my 81st birthday. I continue to be pleasantly surprised that I'm still here, doing what I like best -- being the editor-in-chief of the Midwest Book Review in my little office, helping out authors and publishers, librarians and booksellers, friends and fellow bibliophiles.
Back in 1976 the Midwest Book Review was founded with a 3 point mission statement to promote literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. I'm pleased to report that all these years (decades) later we still keep to that pledge.
As part of that mission statement having to do with promoting libraries comes our attempts to educate/inform authors and publishers (especially self-published authors and inexperienced publishers) with tips, tricks and techniques for marketing their books to community, K-12 school, college/university, governmental, and institutional libraries and library systems.
So once again 'Selling Books to Libraries' is the subject for this month's Jim Cox Report.
Here is a listing of resources specifically targeted to the selling of books to libraries:
A 7-Step Plan for Selling to Libraries: (IBPA)
https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/a-7-step-plan-for-selling-to-libraries
Marketing to Libraries: Basics (American Library Association)
https://libguides.ala.org/marketing-to-libraries
How to sell your book to libraries (Start Print Brokers)
https://www.starprintbrokers.com/libraries
6 Steps to Get Your Self-Published Book Into Libraries (Jane Friedman)
https://janefriedman.com/6-steps-to-get-into-libraries-self-pub
A Guide to Getting Your Self-Published Book Into Libraries (NY Book Editors)
https://nybookeditors.com/2022/02/a-guide-to-getting-your-self-published-book-into-libraries
How to Encourage 4,000 Libraries to Buy Your Book (The Publicity Hound)
https://publicityhound.com/blog/sell-your-book-to-libraries
How to Get Your Self-Published Books Into Bookstores and Libraries (TCK Publishing)
https://www.tckpublishing.com/self-published-books-bookstores-libraries
How to Get Your Books Into Bookstores and Libraries Amy Collins (Amy Collins)
https://www.tckpublishing.com/how-to-get-your-books-into-bookstores-and-libraries
In next month's issue of the Jim Cox Report I'll take up the subject of library budget based timelines and where libraries get their books from.
Now onto two new features of the Jim Cox Report:
Website of the Month: Roshani Chokshi
https://www.roshanichokshi.com
Quote of the Month: "Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation." - Walter Cronkite
Now here is a review of a book that is of special interest and relevance to writers, publishers, and dedicated bibliophiles:
Among Friends
Buz Teacher, editor
Janet Bukovinsky Teacher, editor
Two Tree Press
https://twotreepress.com
9780578325804, $200.00, HC, 576pp
https://www.amazon.com/Among-Friends-Illustrated-Publishing-Bookselling/dp/0578325802
Synopsis: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Buz and Janet Teacher, "Among Friends: An Illustrated Oral History of American Book Publishing and Bookselling in the 20th Century" is a 576-page deluxe, hand-numbered volume -- a collectible edition limited to a single printing of 1600--pays homage to the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of the book business in the 20th century.
In fond recollections of the book titles that have helped shape our culture, and the people and companies behind them including more than 100 prominent figures in publishing and bookselling who recall their careers from the postwar period through the independent publishing revolution of the 1960s and '70s to the new millennium.
Profusely illustrated throughout with original photography of vintage book jackets, archival photos and period graphics from Publishers Weekly, "Among Friends" reveals how the book business both reflected and responded to massive societal changes.
The contributors to "Among Friends" includes: Tom Borders, Carolan Workman, Peter Kindersley, Jane Friedman, Dick Snyder, Chip Gibson, Daniel Halpern, Clyde Anderson, Jim Chandler, David Cully, John Sargent, Betty Prashker, Bruce Harris, John Cassidy, Lloyd Kahn, Joni Evans, Nan Talese, Esther Margolis, Sally Richardson, Constance Sayre, Jean Feiwel, David Godine, Jack Romanos, Nigel Newton, Robert Haft and Gary Hoover.
Critique: This large format (10.1 x 3.2 x 12.4 inches, 8.6 pounds) hardcover edition of "Among Friends: An Illustrated Oral History of American Book Publishing and Bookselling in the 20th Century" is a unique, seminal, exceptional, and massively informative contribution to 20th Century publishing history. Extraordinarily informed and informative, "Among Friends" is highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university Writing/Publishing collections -- and an ideal pick for a community or academic library Memorial Fund acquisition.
Editorial Note #1: Buz Teacher (https://www.huffpost.com/author/buz-teacher) co-founded and was CEO of Running Press from 1972 to March 2003. During that time, the company had more than 100 employees, published 220 new titles each year under the Running Press, Miniature Editions, Courage, and Running Press Kids imprints, and distributed their books worldwide. Under his leadership, Running Press produced five New York Times hardcover bestsellers, including the photo-essay book Sisters, which was on the hardcover bestseller list for more than 63 weeks. Buz is currently a consultant in the publishing industry, and a Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania Press. He is a longtime active board member of the Children's Crisis Treatment Center in Philadelphia, as well as a member of the Solebury Township Historic Architecture Review Board. He has served as an expert witness for other publishers involved in various legal issues concerning book publishing.
Editorial Note #2: Janet Bukovinsky Teacher is a former magazine writer and editor. Her titles are listed at https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL3823440A/Janet_Bukovinsky_Teacher
"The Midwest Book Review Postage Stamp Hall Of Fame & Appreciation" is a monthly roster of well-wishers and supporters. These are the generous folk who decided to say 'thank you' and 'support the cause' that is the Midwest Book Review by donating to our postage stamp fund this past month:
Alan Bern
Joseph Everett
Ann Braithwaite
Martin S. Ott -- "Shadow Dance"
Claudine Wolk -- "Get Your Book Seen and Sold"
Elizabeth Haggblad -- "Writing Effective Sentences"
Tracy L. Smoak -- "Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place"
Diane Astimbay -- "My Life as a Cactus: Tales of a Rookie Reporter in Mexico"
Bryan Hong -- "Evolution to Purpose: Choosing a Life of Authenticity with Work"
Eric Gelb -- Career Advancement Center
Ann Braithwaite -- Braithwaite & Katz Communications
Elizabeth Frazier -- Waldmania! PR
In lieu of (or in addition to!) postage stamp donations, we also accept PayPal gifts of support to our postage stamp fund for what we try to accomplish in behalf of the small press community. Simply log onto your PayPal account and direct your kindness (in any amount and at your discretion) to the Midwest Book Review at:
SupportMBR [at] aol.com
(The @ is replaced by "[at]" in the above email address, in an attempt to avoid email-harvesting spambots.)
If you have postage stamps to donate, or if you have a book you'd like considered for review, then send those postage stamps (always appreciated, never required), or a published copy of that book (no galleys, uncorrected proofs, or Advance Reading Copies), accompanied by a cover letter and some form of publicity release to my attention at the address below.
All of the previous issues of the "Jim Cox Report" are archived on the Midwest Book Review website at www.midwestbookreview.com/bookbiz/jimcox.htm. If you'd like to receive the "Jim Cox Report" directly (and for free), just send me an email asking to be signed up for it.
So until next time -- goodbye, good luck, and good reading!
Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI, 53575
www.midwestbookreview.com
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
www.midwestbookreview.com
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design