April 23, 2020
THREE LEADERS IN PUBLISHING CELEBRATE WORLD BOOK DAY 2020 BY URGING READERS TO HELP SAVE AMERICA’S BOOKSTORES
In a joint post honoring World Book Day, three leaders in the publishing industry – Maria Pallante, President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers (AAP); Mary Rasenberger, Executive Director of The Authors Guild (AG); and Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association (ABA) – have come together to issue a rallying cry to readers, asking that they help America’s bookstores survive the COVID-19 crisis.
“Sadly, after a decade of recovery and growth that affirmed the importance of reading, writing, and publishing, bookstores are suddenly facing a moment of monumental crisis at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the three women write. “In some instances, these beloved institutions, which mean so much to so many communities, face the very real possibility that they will never open their doors again.
“We cannot let this happen because we need bookstores now more than ever. As award-winning poet and writer Jen Campbell wrote in her book The Bookshop Book, ‘Bookshops are dreams built of wood and paper. They are time travel and escape and knowledge and power. They are, simply put, the best of places.’”
The leaders end with a call to action, asking readers to buy books online through their local shop or donate to the Book Industry Charitable (BINC) Foundation.
Read the full post here.
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Media Contacts:
AAP
John McKay / jmckay@publishers.org
Cara Duckworth / cduckworth@publishers.org
Authors Guild
Sandy Long / slong@authorsguild.org
ABA
Dan Cullen / dan@bookweb.org
About AAP
AAP | The Association of American Publishers represents the leading book, journal, and education publishers in the United States on matters of law and policy, advocating for outcomes that incentivize the publication of creative expression, professional content, and learning solutions. As essential participants in local markets and the global economy, our members invest in and inspire the exchange of ideas, transforming the world we live in one word at a time. Find us online at www.publishers.org or on Twitter and Instagram at @AmericanPublish.
About The Authors Guild
The Authors Guild is the nation’s oldest and largest professional organization for writers. Its mission is to empower working writers by advocating for the rights of authors and journalists. The Guild protects free speech and authors’ copyrights, fights for fair contracts and a living wage and provides an engaged and welcoming community for all published authors. For more, visit www.authorsguild.org.
About ABA
The American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization, works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.
Independent bookstores act as community anchors; they serve a unique role in promoting the open exchange of ideas, enriching the cultural life of communities, and creating economically vibrant neighborhoods.