The BookSense.com free trial may have ended, but many trial participants are continuing with the BookSense.com [6] program. Since September 30, over 20 bookstores that participated in the free trial have officially joined the BookSense.com program, and "we're expecting more than double that number to ultimately convert from the free trial to the official product," Len Vlahos, BookSense.com director, told BTW. These bookstores join an ever-growing BookSense.com family, which currently numbers more than 230 bookstores.

"We're delighted that so many stores participated in the free trial," Vlahos continued, "and are really pleased that such a large number of them have decided to continue with the program now that the trial period has ended."

The BookSense.com free trial, which began on February 15, 2002, was designed to encourage booksellers who may not have evaluated the program since its commercial launch in November 2000 to look again. Initially the trial was slated to end June 30, but interest in the program was so high that the trial was extended until September 30.

Winchester Book Gallery, a small, independent bookstore in historic Winchester, Virginia, participated in the free trial and recently became a BookSense.com member. "I felt that BookSense.com will help us get exposure and the promotions [BookSense.com] offers will help us," said Allison Major, the store's co-owner. Another attractive feature of the program was its ease-of-use, she explained. "I'm not Web savvy, and [BookSense.com] told us step-by-step how to get set up."

Another free trial participant continuing with the BookSense.com program is Barrington Books in Barrington, Rhode Island. "The idea of [BookSense.com] keeping my Web site fresh was very attractive," said Tony Allen, who owns Barrington Books with his wife, Irene.

For a list of BookSense.com stores, go to http://news.bookweb.org/home/914.html [7].