Last month, California passed a new law that affects the redemption of gift cards sold by businesses within the state. California Senate Bill 250, Chapter 640, requires retailers to redeem for cash store gift cards or certificates with a cash value of $10 or less. The bill makes an exception for mall cards and donated gift cards and certificates, and it only applies to those sold in California.

Sara Loftus, a former urban planner, opened the 1,000-square-foot Bookworm's Attic in Huntington, West Virginia, a year ago. Transitioning from urban planning to bookselling made sense, said Loftus. "As an urban planner, I've always been interested in neighborhoods and communities. I saw that if I opened a bookstore, it was another way I could make a real difference."

Here is the full listing of March Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their March Picks fliers in the February Red Box.

Based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide for the eight-week period ending February 5, 2008.

In conjunction with the February 14 release of the film The Spiderwick Chronicles, the Cartoon Network, Inc. (CN) and Paramount Pictures Corporation are partnering to sponsor a Spiderwick Chronicles Sweepstakes. Book Sense will be a retail partner of the promotion and will provide 50 $15 Book Sense gift cards as part of the sweepstakes prizes, and Simon & Schuster will be contributing prizes as well.

Booksellers should note that the Book Sense National Bestseller and Regional Bestseller Lists, sent out weekly via e-mail, now come from ABA's Pete Reynolds, who works with Meg Smith, ABA Chief Marketing Officer.

Based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide for the eight-week period ending January 29, 2008.

After managing the Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia, for eight years, Kelly Justice is now its new owner. The plan that had been "batted around" for the past year and a half was finalized with former owners Louise "Boo" Smythe and Jim Smythe in the first week of January.

Voting for the 2008 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards is now open to the owners and staff of all American Booksellers Association member bookstores. The awards honor independent booksellers' handselling favorites in the categories of Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, Children's Literature, and Children's Illustrated.

The presidential primary votes have been tallied and the winners declared, and now life returns to normal in the Granite State. But in the weeks and months leading up to this week's much-watched primary vote, MainStreet BookEnds of Warner, New Hampshire, played host to events for several of the Democratic hopefuls, and had some, including Sen. Hillary Clinton, visit the store. Since MainStreet opened in 1998, it has been through three presidential campaign cycles.