You read that right, folks. I’ve been too busy to think up some witty nonsense for a title, so I’m putting the burden on you. Go ahead and think up a good one. Got it? Just imagine it up at the top of the screen right now. Please note that those of you who thought of “Editor Too Lazy to Think of a Title” will have to try again: I’m not using that one.
What have I been busy editing? A comprehensive list and detailed comparison of book listing sites, an extensive article on genealogical ephemera, bookselling lessons learned by the founder of Alibris, interviews with developers of bookselling software and an online bookselling site, and a write-up on the only print magazine devoted to fine books. When you add two bookseller biographies, a book care article, our informative Q&A, and an article on why our President belongs to the IOBA, the total is an informative issue that benefits our members and friends.
Our redesigned http://www.ioba.org is now online in its new incarnation and IOBA members may list their books online at what is possibly the lowest rate charged in the trade. Considering that there is no commission on sales, it’s a tangible benefit that is available only to members of the Independent Online Booksellers Association. We’re fine-tuning and fixing the site as we go, but pleased with our progress and sales. More information will be in the next issue, so watch for it.
We mourn one of our own, as Martha Kelly lost her fight with serious illness. Martha was a long-time IOBA member, author of three wonderful articles on womens’ sufferage (1, 2, 3), and owner of Gutenberg Books in Rochester NY, USA.
IOBA members and friends are encouraged to donate directly to the American Red Cross to support relief for the victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Other charitable institutions supporting this cause may be found at Charity Navigator
A note from Ken Lopez, President Emeritus of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA): The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Benevolent Fund is a nonprofit charitable organization established to help booksellers who have faced catastrophic circumstances whether as a result of natural disaster, sickness or some other unforeseen and uncontrollable series of events. We are appealing for information about booksellers who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina, and are also appealing for funds to support those booksellers. The ABBF was established and is administered by the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (ABAA) but the funds are available to all booksellers, whether ABAA members or not. In recent years, the majority of grants given out by the ABBF have gone to non-ABAA booksellers. Most recipients of grants from the Benevolent Fund do not even know of the fund’s existence, and have not applied for grants; in general, the ABBF is informed of their circumstances by their colleagues, and is able to provide modest grants, no strings attached, in a time of great hardship. Donations to the fund may be made by check, payable to “Antiquarian Booksellers Benevolent Fund” and addressed to:
Antiquarian Booksellers Benevolent Fund c/o Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America 20 West 44th St. New York, NY 10036-6604
You may also call the Headquarters of the ABAA at 212-944-8291 or email at hq@abaa.org to contribute via credit card.
As always, if you find this issue of the Standard useful, tell another bookseller: they might benefit. If you feel something is missing from this issue, suggest it for the next issue: an e-mail to editor@ioba.org will get things started. If you want to promote the stability of our trade through higher bookselling standards, then visit us at http://www.ioba.org or join us today at http://www.ioba.org/app.html
Best regards. -Michael Watson, Editor, editor@ioba.org