Svetlana Alexievich Wins the Nobel In Literature
Alexievich, a Belarusian journalist and author of the 2005 nonfiction work Voices from Chernobyl (Dalkey Archive), was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature. In its announcement, made by permanent secretary Sara Danius, the Swedish Academy praised the author for her “polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time.”
Disney to Launch New Imprint
Freeform will focus on young adult and crossover fiction and nonfiction aimed at readers ages 14–34 and will publish original book properties, as well as material that spans formats—from books to television—and tie in with TV programming.
Graphic Novel Sales Hit $460 Million in 2014
According to Milton Griepp’s annual ICv2 white paper, graphic novels had their biggest year ever in 2014 with an estimated $460 million in sales, via comics shops and traditional retailers. Bookstore sales hit an all-time high at $285 million.
3M Sells Library Business; ProQuest Buys Ex Libris
3M has sold its North American and global library businesses—including 3M Cloud Library, 3M’s upstart e-book lending service—to global library solutions company Bibliotheca.
Separately, ProQuest signed an agreement to acquire Ex Libris Group, a leading global provider of library automation solutions.
