Our coverage of the first American Booksellers’ Association convention, held July 24, 1901, in New York City, was extensive—17 pages of text without any pictures. At the time, bookstores were trying to establish themselves as alternatives to department stores, which were key sales outlets at the turn of the century. To level the playing field, ABA representatives were asking for fairer discounts, which would give them a chance to “make a living.” Relationships with the expanding library sector were also a hotly debated topic.
For the complete article in the Publishers Weekly archive, go to publishersweekly.com/aug-03-1901.
From the Archive: August 03, 1901 by Publishers Weekly on Scribd
