BTW News Briefs

SIBA Video Highlights Print Books and Indies

Nearly three dozen authors joined together earlier this fall to create a video in support of indie bookstores and print books. The video, which features the authors reading aloud from It’s a Book by Lane Smith, was coordinated by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance with support from Smith’s publisher, Macmillan.

Scores of authors have agreed to promote the video and its mission via social media and their own websites, and SIBA is hoping even more authors, bloggers, booksellers, and book lovers will join in by sharing the video. See the video here.

California Tax on Out-of-State Retailers Brings in $260M

California has collected $263.4 million this year through sales tax on purchases from out-of-state retailers, including Amazon, reported the San Francisco Business Times. Assembly Bill 155, which went into effect on September 15, 2012, was opposed by Amazon, which later opened a warehouse in the state.

California’s Board of Equalization noted that there may still be upwards of $1 billion in use tax from out-of-state retailers that is not making its way to the state each year.

Chandler Arnold Appointed COO of First Book

First Book, a nonprofit organization that brings books to children in need, has named Chandler Arnold as its new chief operating officer. Arnold, who has been with First Book since 1999, is currently First Book’s executive vice president. In his new role, he will help lead First Book in its global expansion efforts and will oversee daily domestic operations.

As executive vice president, Arnold created The Stories for All Project, adding 500 books that feature characters under-represented in children’s literature to First Book’s title list.

Arnold earned his MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, focusing on using the private sector to influence social change. At Harvard University, he founded the Harvard Emergent Literacy Project.

Ingram Publisher Services Welcomes Seven New Clients

Ingram Publisher Services Inc., which includes U.S. and Canadian sales and distribution services, Lightning Source® for book manufacturing, and the CoreSource® platform for digital distribution, has added seven new publisher clients: Arcas Publishing, Cardinal, The Do Book Company, Le French Book, Post Hill Press, Spring House Press, and Third World Press.