Breaking news on authors, publishers, and book-related topics

Ebook sales up 200%, now 20% of total sales

Apr 15 2011: Net book sales in February fell 10.6%, to $442.2 million, as reported by 84 publishers to the Association of American Publishers. For the year, net book sales are down 5% Sales of e-books rose 202% to $90.3 million and represented 20.4% of total sales (even though ...

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Senate introducing sales tax legislation

Apr 13 2011: Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois is preparing to introduce legislation that aims to rewrite the ground rules for Internet and mail order sales by eliminating the ability of Americans to shop at Web sites like Amazon.com and Overstock.com without paying state sales taxes....

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Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2010

Apr 12 2011: The American Library Association has released its list of the top 10 most frequently challenged books of 2010. This year's top 10 are:

1. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Reasons
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian ...

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Harper Collins wavering on ebook lending limit

Apr 07 2011: A little over 6 weeks ago the Big 6 publisher HarperCollins announced that it would no longer allow library eBooks to be checked out indefinitely. Today it looks like HC might have changed its mind.

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Publishers doubt Borders' restructuring plans

Apr 07 2011: Borders presented a restructuring plan to its creditors on Wednesday that promised publishers and landlords a sleeker, more efficient company poised to emerge successfully from bankruptcy through increased online sales and revamped stores. But publishers characterized ...

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Arkansas 5th state to pass internet tax legislation

Apr 07 2011: Arkansas has just become the fifth state to enact a state law that requires Internet retailers to collect sales tax if they do business with in-state affiliate web sites. The law imposes sales tax-collection responsibilities on Internet retailers that are referred ...

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Harry Potter: The Exhibition opens in New York

Apr 06 2011: Harry Potter: The Exhibition opened yesterday at the Discovery Times Square building in New York City. Additional locations are apparently also in the works.

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Borders Leaving Ann Arbor for Detroit Metro Area

Apr 06 2011: Borders Group plans to move its headquarters from its hometown of Ann Arbor, Mich., to the cheaper Detroit metro area. About 50 of the planned 226 superstores that are due to close by end of May are now closed and the company has negotiated $30 million in rent ...

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