An Alaska porn shop is becoming a bookstore; a California bookstore receives award for new business model; and ABA announces new board.
Art Show Marks Transition of Alaska Porn Store to General Indie: The building in Anchorage is being turned into an art exhibit before being demolished next month to make way for the construction of the Writer’s Block Bookstore and Café.
ABA Elects Four New Board Members: The transition in the ABA board of directors will take place at BEA in Chicago. Elected to three-year terms (2016–2019) are: Kris Kleindienst of Left Bank Books in St. Louis, Mo.; Chris Morrow of Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, Vt., and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Annie Philbrick of Bank Square Books in Mystic, Ct., and Savoy Bookshop in Westerly, R.I.; and Robert Sindelar of Third Place Books, with two locations in the Seattle.
Kepler’s Wins Sustainability Award: Kepler's Books in Menlo Park, Calif., won an environmental award from the nonprofit Sustainable San Mateo County. The bookstore was recognized as a “community champion” for reorganizing under a new business model for an independent bookstore.
The Secret Behind Alabama Booksmith’s Success: Jake Reiss’s decision to switch the inventory of the used bookstore he opened in Birmingham in 1990 to signed books only four years ago has made a significant difference for his business. Books are arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name, not by genre, and when hardcovers are no longer available for some titles, he will print them himself.
BookBuyers Closing in Mountain View, Calif.: Sunday will be the last day for the used bookstore in its current location. Although owner Hotranatha Ajaya was unable to find a new space downtown, he is hopeful that he will be able reopen in another city.
Brooklyn’s Community Bookstore Gets Ready to Close: After selling the Cobble hill building that has housed the bookstore for more than 30 years, owner John Scioli still has roughly 100,000 books to sell or donate by May 15.
