ABC Selects New Executive Director

Anne Irish, longtime bookseller and the interim executive director of the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC), has now been named the association's executive director, following the work of a search committee headed by Dennis Ronberg of Linden Tree Children's Recordings and Books in Los Altos, California.

In the mid-1970s, Irish founded Pooh Corner in Madison, Wisconsin; 20 years later she sold the business but continued working for the new owners. In January 2001, she left the company.

Irish had been active in ABC for many years and, as she told BTW, she was pleased to be selected for "a job that would keep me in the world of children's bookselling. I brought a lot of experience with ABC to the job."

ABC has been fine-tuning some of its activities and procedures, always aware of changing membership needs and preferences. At the association's annual meeting last year, the new ABC logo was introduced. At this year's board meeting, held in Dallas, ABC decided to launch a new publication, ABC Choices for Children.

According to Irish, the publication will include member favorites from 2001 as well as a selection of frontlist titles from 2002. Irish said that ABC Choices for Children was scheduled to be in the stores by fall for use by the holidays. In addition, in a change of the association's bylaws, the vice president will automatically move to the presidency and the past president's post will be phased out.

Irish is enthusiastic about ABC's future. To expand the association's base, general bookstores with strong children's departments will be included in the association's ongoing marketing efforts.

ABC can be reached at (800) 421-1665.