'LJ,' 'SLJ' Sold; 'PW' Changes
Reed Business Information has sold Library Journal, School Library Journal, and Library Hotline to Dublin, Ohio—based Media Source. Media Source is already involved in library services, having recently acquired Horn Book and Junior Library Guild. Ron Shank, who has been group publisher of the three properties, will move to the new company, as will Brian Kenney, editorial director. Shank and Kenney, who also had Publishers Weekly under their responsibilities, will shed those roles, effective immediately. At PW, Cevin Bryerman, formerly associate publisher, was named publisher, and Jim Milliot and Michael Coffey, formerly business and news director and executive managing editor, respectively, will now serve as co-editorial directors.
B&N to Try Bundling
Barnes & Noble will begin testing the sale of bundled print books and e-books in the next 60 to 90 days, said Barnes & Noble.com president William Lynch at the AAP annual meeting. Under the plan, B&N will offer customers who buy a print edition at one of its stores the opportunity to buy the e-book at a discount. Prices will be worked out in discussions with publishers, Lynch said.
Candlewick Starts Indie Program
Candlewick Press has launched a new marketing program aimed specifically at frontline independent booksellers. CHIRP is short for Candlewick's Hand-selling Indie Recognition Program, and the publisher has started sending out the first CHIRP white boxes to 265 independent accounts. The boxes include reps' picks for the coming spring season along with bookmark-size “handselling tip cards” with reviews and hand-selling ideas from other booksellers. Also included are blank shelf-talkers and booktalkers printed on card stock with the CHIRP logo. A candlewickchirp.com Web site is set to go up this week.
Wideman Will Use Lulu
National Book Award—finalist John Edgar Wideman is teaming up with the self-publishing and print-on-demand service Lulu.com to release Briefs, Stories for the Palm of the Mind, a new collection of his short stories. The new book will go on sale exclusively through Lulu.com beginning March 14 and will be launched at a series of live readings from the book that will be held in New York and Los Angeles. Wideman's books have been published almost exclusively by Houghton Mifflin for years. Wideman cited changes in the publishing business and a desire for more control over the publishing process for his move to Lulu.
BEA Speakers Picked
Jon Stewart will host BEA's adult author breakfast set for Thursday, May 27, when Condoleezza Rice will be one of the speakers. Other authors featured throughout BEA include John Grisham, Sara Gruen, Christopher Hitchens, and Patton Oswalt. The children's breakfast will feature Cory Doctorow, Mitali Perkins, and Richard Peck; Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, will emcee. The children's author breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, May 26, and the adult author lunch for Thursday, May 27.
iPad Ready
Apple's iPad will be available April 3. Customers can start ordering the device March 12 from the Apple online store or reserve for pickup at an Apple retail store. Prices for the iPad begin at $499.
