BTW News Briefs

New Diesel-Powered Bookstore to Open in Malibu

Alison Reid and John Evans, owners of the Oakland, California's Diesel, A Bookstore, are heading to the beach in Malibu. The two have been camping in and visiting the coastal outpost for over a dozen years, but this time they are bringing books. By the end of April, Evans expects to open Diesel, a Bookstore, Malibu, a 1,800-square-foot space in one of the area's oldest shopping centers.

"The City of Malibu carefully controls its growth," Evans told BTW, "so we were very lucky to find an available space." For the past five years, after the closing of a Super Crown store and an independent, Malibu has been without a bookstore. Based on their affinity to the area and the overwhelming enthusiasm of residents, Evans and Reid decided the time was right for a second store. As the new store is built, the owners are in talks with the two final candidates, selected from the original 20 parties, responding to Diesel's call for new partners. (For more about Diesel's quest for a partner, click here.)

Newtonville Books to Expand

Tim Huggins is expanding his Newton, Massachusetts' Newtonville Books and adding The Lizard's Tale -- A Bookstore for Children, Parents, and Young Readers. Newtonville Books will be taking over the space on the corner next door to the existing store, acquiring an additional 1,400 square feet that will be used to create The Lizard's Tale.

The store's current children's book area will become a Nonfiction Room, featuring New in Nonfiction and housing expanded sections for Reference & Writing, Current Events, Business, Nature & Adventure Writing, Science & Math, and Sports. This area will also feature the store's Staff Recommendations and Bestsellers. Huggins hopes to open the new space by early April.

Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops Honored

Publishers Weekly recently named Milwaukee's Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops the 2004 PW Bookseller of the Year. The bookstore was chosen by a panel of judges from the industry in part for its history of opposing censorship and giving back to the community. The award will be presented in June at ABA's Celebration of Bookselling at BookExpo America in Chicago.

In addition, the Schwartz Bookshops were awarded the Milwaukee Magazine and The Business Journal's Ovation Award for Corporate Participation. This is a quarterly award that recognizes companies that have created long-term partnerships in a variety of ways, including board participation, financial or in-kind contributions, and/or encouragement of employee volunteerism.

To read more about Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops in this week's BTW, click here.

Small Press Book Fair -- March 27 & 28

The Small Press Book Fair, one of the leading book fairs for independent publishing, will take place from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, and from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 28, in New York City. On hand for the fair will be representatives of 200 small presses from across the country. SPBF, now in its 16th year, will have a special literary focus this year and will feature distinctive books on all topics. Last year, over 2,000 people attended the fair. Admission to the Book Fair and all special events is free. SPBF and all events take place at the Small Press Center, 20 W. 44th St. For more information, go to www.smallpress.org or call (212) 764-7021.

AJL Announces Book Award Winners

The Association of Jewish Libraries has announced the winners of the 2003 Sydney Taylor Book Award, which honors the best in Jewish children's literature. In the Younger Reader's category, the winner is Bagels From Benny by Aubrey Davis (Kids Can Press), about a child who wants to thank God for his bounty, with bagels. In the Older Reader's category, the winner is Who Was the Woman Who Wore the Hat? by Nancy Patz (Dutton), a meditation on a hat left behind by an anonymous victim of the Holocaust. To learn more about these winners, AJL's Honor books, or AJL's extensive list of Notable Books, go to www.jewishlibraries.org.