The BookThinker Newsletter ISSN 1547-9501 #93, 23 April 2007

BookThink Update
16 April 2007>>>

Update Announcements

Why You Should Write for BookThink Interested in writing for BookThink? Write me today at editor@bookthink.com.

Storage Solutions for Booksellers Part I: The Options I knew this was going to happen sooner or later: There'd come a time when I'd have to write something for BookThink about woodworking. I spent many years designing and building furniture, and - a funny thing - as I look around me in my book cottage, I'm hard put to see anything that I haven't built or somehow retrofit from something that was otherwise headed for the curb, including storage units for books. If you're having book storage problems, our new series, "Storage Solutions for Booksellers," might be helpful. Part I addresses some of the general options and lays the groundwork for some more specific suggestions to follow.

"Scaffale per Libri (Bookshelves with Sculptured Books)" Photograph courtesy of artist Livio De Marchi and Mostly Glass Gallery

Building a Website for Successful Bookselling Part I: Is Your Bookstore Website a Ghost Town? Another series launches today as well. Website optimizer Kent Johnson has signed on to do a series of articles on website enhancement, "Building a Website for Successful Bookselling." As you might suspect (or know already), there's no instant solution that will turn your website into a moneymaker, but if you're willing to work and apply his suggestions, you'll be on your way.

From the Editor Important announcements for BookThinker readers.

It's Only a Matter of "Thyme" Before This Title Is on Everyone's Bookshelf UK Bookselling In her first article, BookThink columnist Claire Main profiles a potential hot title for your consideration - Panama Oxridge's Justin Thyme. Claire is the proprietor of UK-based Doodled Books, Ltd., a store specializing in books bearing author's doodles. She stops short of prophesying that Oxridge will reach Rowling heights but presents a solid case nonetheless for investing in limited, doodled first printings of this intriguing book - the first, by the way, in a planned 4-part Tartan of Thyme series.

Interview with Panama Oxridge UK Bookselling Claire also interviews the reclusive author of Justin Thyme - a personage so reclusive, in fact, that his or her name has yet to be revealed. Post-interview intrigue ensues, including the delivery of a plain brown package containing a chocolate high heel! Look for more UK Bookselling columns soon.

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Gold Edition #36 Bookselling on the Cutting Edge Part II: Personally, I Could Care Less about Britney Spears, but She's on My Watch List Anyway Issue #36 of the Gold Edition - Bookselling on the Cutting Edge - Part II: Personally, I Could Care Less about Britney Spears, but She's on My Watch List Anyway- is now available for purchase. Purchase now.

50/50 Issue #22
Chess Books and Related Items
Now Available
Issue #22 of 50/50 is now available for purchase;
its focus is "Chess Books and Related Items."
Subscribe today here.

Previous BookThinker update-

BookThink Update
16 April 2007>>>

Update Announcements

BookThink's Top 10 on eBay February 2007 As threatened, eBay eliminated all UK listing visibility on its US site at the beginning of March, and we may have seen the last of Fleming, Rowling and Tolkien - though this month (February), as you might suspect, all are well represented. Join Pamela Palmer today on her regular tour of eBay's best.

Letters to the Editor Two Viewpoints on Friends of the Library (FOL) Sales Given the number of emails I received after last week's special Friends of the Library (FOL) issue, I had originally planned to write a follow-up article this week, but two of the emails expressed different sides of the issue so well that I thought it would be best to simply publish them here with no explanation. Lots of food for thought.