The show was so popular that MPBA had to turn down several vendors after the trade show floor filled up, and the show's first Book Sense seminar was standing room only. In an unusual initiative, the MPBA is focusing some of that enthusiasm on a national level. The board increased its budget for next year's educational programs to $25,000 from $10,000 because of last year's successful community outreach efforts.
Executive director Lisa Knudsen was proud that the MPBA had initially signed up more members to Book Sense than any other regional association. But when the organization decided to try for 100% participation, she was shocked to discover that 46% of MPBA members did not belong to the ABA. "Book Sense will only succeed to the degree that member stores sign up," said Knudsen. "We need every independent bookstore in the country to sign up for this free program." Knudsen talked the ABA into underwriting a $50 rebate to all new MPBA members who joined the ABA and her own organization threw in another $50 rebate, which lowered the cost of joining the ABA from $175 to $75. The rebates were contingent on stores signing up as Book Sense members.
"We're spending more money on educational programs because the environment is changing and it changes so quickly," Knudsen told PW. "We all need to be up to speed and beyond. After the ABA discontinued its bookseller school, regional heads have gotten together to try to find broader educational seminars that can be fine-tuned to bookselling. We want to be able to take some of our successful seminars to other regions."
Two such seminars that have the potential for traveling were showcased at this year's convention. Michael Weiss, author of The Clustered World: How We Live, What We Buy, and What It All Means About Who We Are (Little, Brown, Jan.), spoke about how local businesses influence opinions and choices, and David C. Korten, author of The Post-Corporate World (Berrett-K hler), reminded attendees about the potentially disastrous consequences of economic globalization and the expansion of corporate power.
At the opening meeting, president Gayle Shanks highlighted the organization's growth by reading off a list of 29 stores (both new and previously existing) that had joined the association this year. She also mourned seven bookstores that closed, including Ward Albright's Southwest Storyteller in Ph nix, Ariz., and the 41-year-old Book Mark in Tucson, Ariz.
After 11 years at the Denver Tech Marriott (where the show is booked through 2002), Knudsen has long since mastered the mechanics of putting on the show, as noted by booksellers and vendors alike. "I've been to most of the other regional associations but MPBA is the most active and has the most energy," said Diane Howie, general manager at Fulcrum Publishing. Cathy Langer, buyer at Tattered Cover in Denver, found the show invigorating: "There's a lot of excitement about Book Sense and the mood of booksellers is very positive."
Dave Barry hosted Saturday evening's Author Banquet, promoting his first novel, Big Trouble (Penguin Putnam). The emotional highlight of the evening was Gayle Shanks's presentation of the Gordon Saull awards for rep and bookseller of the year. Lou Haggerty was honored for her 20 years at Tattered Cover, and Randy Hinckernell, of Thomas McFadden & Associates, was singled out for his many years as a rep and MPBA board member.
There was a personal twist to the suggested $1 donation per autographed book that usually is collected at shows and donated to literacy groups. This year, that money was donated to a fund for Dan and Kathy Westover, owners of The Bookworm in Edwards, Colo. On May 20, Dan awoke to find himself paralyzed from the chin down, the result of a tumor on his spinal column. He currently requires a respirator and 24-hour nursing care. It will still take a year before doctors know whether he will recover to any degree.
