You Can't Compete With the World Series ...

... but you can capture an outstanding program on the Common Core and publishing just before the Red Sox clinch game six at Fenway.

Turnout was small last night, but honestly, anyone who chickened out can be forgiven. President Obama was at Faneuil Hall, Drake was at the Boston Garden, and an audience of about fifteen at Pearson watched and listened to a fantastic panel discussion on the Common Core and its effect on publishing. And, oh yeah: 37,000 people watched the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals, with the first pitch thrown minutes after our panel ended. Drake got a poor review, but I think the rest of us did pretty well!

Our panelists and moderator are shown at left: Amy Pattee from Simmons College, Roger Sutton from Horn Book, Stephen Pekich from Victory Productions, and moderator Christopher Kenneally from Copyright Clearance Center. The evening's sponsor was Edwards Brothers Malloy.

There is no easy way to summarize a Common Core discussion, since there are so many facets to the topic. The biggest takeaway for me was that the Common Core aims to diminish the potential of "teaching to the test" by emphasizing skills such as critical thinking over memorization. As such, it will be challenging to assess results of the Common Core, and much is in flux.

A question on "Common Core Plus" from HMH.

For a more detailed observations, take a look at some of the live tweets from this event (thank you, Kate Elwell and others). Or, better yet, listen to the panel and Q&A on SoundCloud. David Stirling made these recordings and did a great job without ideal technology available. You will need to use earbuds and turn the sound up, but after my mumbly introduction you will be able to hear well. Please listen and send us your feedback.

SoundCloud Audio Links
Part 1: 40 minutes, panel
Part 2: 20 minutes, Q&A

Friendly panelists at the conclusion of our program.

Top-Quality Educational Offerings: All Free of Charge

I want to encourage members and nonmembers alike to attend our upcoming educational workshops--the topics are timely, and several of the speakers are NEW to Bookbuilders education.

July Casual Networking
On Boston Common.

Roger Sutton from Horn Book is new this coming Wednesday (October 30), speaking on the topic of Common Core. Whether you deal with the US Common Core on a daily basis or not, rest assured that it affects the work we do in Boston educational and children's trade publishing. In November, we welcome companies who help publishers manage their metadata, with Scope eKnowledge Center sending a speaker from New York. 

Venue for October casual networking:
Park in Harvard Square.

Again, whether you think this topic affects your career or not, it absolutely does. We have entered a new age in all sectors of book-buying--there are fewer bookstores in which to browse, and more format options, even for students buying required textbooks. The increased choice and unmediated access to books mean that publishers need to supply reliable, timely information on their complete title list. Without good data, the potential for lost sales is extremely high.

Winners Circle speakers From
Harvard University Press and Chelsea Green.

All of this is not to say that this season's first educational offering was lacking in any way: for the first time, we held a New England Book Show Winners Circle to showcase some winning covers and interiors. As a non-designer, this discussion is really necessary for me to understand trends, considerations, and processes in the variety of industry environments we have in Boston. I am grateful to the members and others who participated in this discussion for so freely sharing their thoughts.

Register now to attend upcoming educational sessions, and remember to bring a photo ID for the security desk at Pearson (501 Boylston Street, 6:00 pm start). On October 30, I recommend the commuter rail to avoid Fenway Park traffic. We WILL announce the score during the break on Wednesday, and we'll also forgive you for checking your phone!

New Board Convenes for Fiscal Year 2014

The new slate of Bookbuilders of Boston board members and officers met at Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) on July 11, 2014. Here is our new roster:

Officers

Right Side (L-R): Bob Bethune,
Scott Meyers, James Taylor
Left Side (L-R): Tom Delano,
 John Rodzvilla, Chris Hartman.

Jamie Carter, CCC, President
Chris Hartman, Pearson Learning, First Vice President
Tom Delano, Vista Higher Learning, Second Vice President
Scott Payne, Edwards Bros. Malloy, Treasurer
Laura Wind, Bedford St. Martin's, Clerk

Board Members and Committees

Bob Bethune, Maple Press, Education
Michele Brennan, Bridgeport National Bindery, Membership
Tom Campbell, King Printing, Finance
Melissa Cerebi, VitalSource, Communications
Kate Elwell, MIT Press, Education
Scott Meyers, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), Finance
Abby Mumford, Harvard University Press, Communications
Josh Read, Pearson Education, Membership
John Rodzvilla, Emerson College, Education
Sean Stanford, Quad/Graphics, Membership
David Stirling, Heinemann, Communications
James Taylor, Williams Lea, Finance


We also have a new office manager as of August 1, 2014: Becky Specht. Details will follow.

On screen, participating by Skype, is Laura Wind.
In the plaid shirt is David Stirling.

Among the topics discussed were maintaining relevancy in a changing industry landscape, and serving a constituency beyond Boston city limits. If YOU have ideas that the board should discuss, please submit them here.

The 56th Annual New England Book Show

Now that I think of it, I am a little stunned to be part of a 56-year tradition. This year's book show was held at Boston Symphony Hall, and it was as big an honor as any before for the winners.

This year's event also included the presentation of our "lifetime achievement" Dwiggins Award, as well as acknowledgment of scholarship recipients. Board member David Stirling of Heinemann took the outstanding pictures that are in this post. I will do my best to identify the subjects of each ... please do use the comments section to notify me of any errors. (It's not ink-on-paper, and I am happy to fix!)


Meredith White of the Dwiggins Award Committee introduces the Dwiggins winner in a speech with the traditional element of suspense.



Dwiggins winner Nancy Fenton delivers her acceptance speech.

 

Outgoing president Tom Plain of IBT/Hamilton introduces incoming president Jamie Carter from Copyright Clearance Center (that's me!)

In the purple tie is board member John Rodzvilla. I believe that he is flanked by two Emerson scholarship winners, with Iris Amelia Febres at right.

Northeastern scholarship winner Ingrid Villatta shows her work to Nancy Fenton.

Checking out the winners are two members of the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University design team (right).

Stephen Pekich of Victory Productions (and a Dwiggins alumnus) with Breaking the Spanish Barrier.

At left, text and cover designer Ellen Maxwell. The winning books are from Cheng & Tsui.

The two men on the left are board member Tom Campbell (King Printing) and president Tom Plain (IBT/Hamilton).

Very nice picture. I am sorry that I cannot read the name tags!

At left is Stephanie Rineman.

Board member Joanne Sweeney of Candlewick is in red on the right.

Board member Michele Brennan of Bridgeport National Bindery gets a pat on the back from board member Mike Mozina of Brill.

Incoming board officer Laura Wind (left) organized the book show with Michele Brennan (above). At right is Stephanie Grey, professor from Framingham State and art director for the 2011 catalog. 
.

Incoming officer Tom Delano (left) appears here with two colleagues from Vista Higher Learning.

A second winning title from Vista Higher Learning.

Pearson is the publisher of the second set of covers displayed on this board.

Glenn Castle of Cengage.

An award-winning title from David R. Godine.

Two 2013 Boston College scholarship recipients.

Incoming board member Bob Bethune (Maple Press) is on the right.

John Corkery and Mike Edson.

Compositor and cover designer Fritz Klaetke with an award-winning title from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Scholarship winner Ingrid Villatta with her husband Jeff Holmes of Harvard University.

Former board member Lisa Diercks (Emerson) is at left with John Rodzvilla. On the right are Bob Kosturko and Gabi Anderson of Beacon Press.

Almost all of the design crew from the Art Institute, with George Restrepo (Rest Design) in black.

For a complete list of winners, visit the Bookbuilders website.

April Casual Networking Bowls Us Away

(Cut us some slack on the headline. It really was a great response from members and others at Sacco's Bowl Haven.)

I am a self-proclaimed non-bowler, and I still enjoyed this one. There was flatbread pizza, after all. And doesn't this look like fun?



I met colleagues from Jones & Bartlett, EBSCO, Pearson, Brill, Christian Science Press, Bedford St. Martin's, and Focus/Pullins. And, as I look at the happy faces in these pictures, I see how many people were there that I didn't have a chance to meet.

 

I am sure we'll repeat this venue, and next time I'll see about renting some bowling shoes. How can I fail with the mini bowling balls used for candlepin?

I have to say that I was a little worried about this one ... being in Somerville and all. Bookbuilders events held outside the city have been a little dicey. But this was a sellout.

 

It would be hard to find a better way to learn as much about Boston publishing--jobs, trends, projects, etc.--and enjoy great company at the same time. Thank you to everyone who contributes to this friendly professional community.

March Networking Hosted by Back Bay Social Club

Spring is coming (despite the weather in Massachusetts today!), and Bookbuilders welcomes everyone looking for a fresh start in building a professional network.

Our March Casual Networking Event, held at the Back Bay Social Club, included participants from VitalSource, Pearson Learning, Copyright Clearance Center, Symmetry, Brill, and Hamilton Printing. This time around, I learned a bit about some new types of electronic products being produced, as well as an emphasis on "content creation." We have a lot of educational publishing in Boston, and content creation often prevails over the traditional royalty author model. If I were starting new and in Boston, it's something I would explore.

Join us next month for bowling in Davis Square. Details are on the Bookbuilders website!

New Cambridge Venue for Bookbuilders Casual Networking

This past week's casual networking event was held at UpStairs on the Square in Cambridge.

We had a warm welcome and a good turnout. Excellent drink service. And what a cute logo!

There were about 25 people gathered, and -sniff- I think I was the oldest among them. For a fresh perspective, I'll quote from one of our new prospective members, who sent me this after the event:
 

I walked away from the event with a MUCH better sense of what the publishing world is looking for in terms of qualifications, skills, etc. and where I may fit in. I also picked up on some key terms and the language of the industry.

 

I made a couple of good contacts ... and look forward to connecting and continuing my exploration.

 

We also have an unrelated DEAL to share in this post. Last week I received an email advertisement of a course being held by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) in New York. The event caught my attention because of the title: Book Metadata & ONIX: Practical Guidance and Best Practice. Since working for a book wholesaler and attending subsquent conferences, I came to feel that the importance of metadata has been understated in the Boston publishing community. The topic may have a different impact on textbooks, which have their own means of discoverability, but on the whole, metadata is critical for sales.

 

I am pleased to say that BISG will extend its member discount to all Bookbuilders members for this course (members: $449; nonmembers: $799). Please request a coupon code from info@bisg.org for this offer, and be sure to mention your membership in Bookbuilders of Boston. The original March 4 date is sold out, but there are still seats available for March 5. The course takes place at Random House in New York. Check it out--your career will thank you.

Bookbuilders 2012 Holiday Party

Switching things up this year, Bookbuilders held a holiday cocktail party at Petit Robert Central in Downtown Crossing.


Carolers in Downtown Crossing


The change to a smaller venue and scaled-down event was appropriate for the times. Appetizers were hot and plentiful, and the service was terrific.

A $30 ticket price made it possible for many to attend on December 12, and the most notable feature of the party for me was the range of attendees. I spoke with several "newbies"--two of whom received Bookbuilders scholarships in the spring, and all of whom landed their first jobs in publishing just months ago. Founded in 1937, Bookbuilders continues to attract new members!

I also spoke with a former president of one of Boston's biggest publishing houses who later established several successful start-ups. Another Bookbuilders board member introduced us, and we are always happy to do this.

It was also very nice to see several printer representatives visiting from out of town. The Wednesday timing made this convenient, since New England trips can be scheduled for the business week around the party.

We are always working to make events accessible, fun, and productive. If you have comments on this or any Bookbuilders function, please feel free to comment below.

Bookbuilders Summer Networking on the Common

On the last Wednesday in July, Bookbuilders gathered on sunny Boston Common for a potluck casual networking event. Shakespeare in the Park followed for those who could attend.

At the various times that I have been on the hunt for a new job, I've adhered to a self-imposed rule: every day, try something new. A new job board, a new alumni group, a new resume, etc. If networking on the Common had been an option, it would have been a no-brainer in that strategy. Happy faces, good food, and Vitamin D followed by free entertainment! 

Spring 2012 Bookbuilders Events

The 55^th Annual New England Book Show will be held on May 2, 2012, and we encourage members and nonmembers to attend. Join us at Boston Symphony Hall for this signature Bookbuilders event—free viewing of award winners from 4:00-5:30, followed by a dinner and celebration from 6:00-9:00 with networking and edibles. Members: be sure to take advantage of the early-bird member discount, which ends tomorrow, April 25^th ($55 versus $65 after the deadline). This promises to be an elegant and memorable show.

If you missed the March 29^th forum on DRM and e-piracy, we’re happy to pass along some of the Internet buzz that followed. From Chirpstory, read notes taken live as the presentation unfolded. From Appazoogle, read one audience member’s thoughtful take on this exciting topic.  Join us again for educational events in the fall, when basic seminars resume. These are all free events—open to the public and sure to inform!

I have a friend who says that I remind her of Jackie O, because I work in publishing. 

Jackie worked at Viking and Doubleday, but the connection is still a HUGE reach. I allow my friend to maintain this glamorous fiction, however, because I like to think that if Jackie O worked in Boston publishing today, she would attend our networking events. (Plus, I do have a pair of oversized sunglasses.)

My husband, on the other hand, imagines that the networking events resemble the scenes in Moneyball when player trades are discussed: I have two freelance recommendations and some information about ePub in exchange for your full-timer referral. This is also a reach, but local professionals looking for work or services know that CNEs are the place to be. The discussions are not always so serious or direct (no player recommendations from Jonah Hill), but they are meaningful.

We welcome you to attend the next CNE event on Weds., February 8, at OM Restaurant in Cambridge. It would be hard to find a more supportive and friendly group, and it's important to engage no matter what the stage of your career. Visit http://bbboston.org/ to register ... see you soon!

 

Four Webinars from Copyright Clearance Center (CCC)

CCC is a new Bookbuilders of Boston member. To learn about this copyright resource on the North Shore, why not check out one of their upcoming webinars for rightsholders? The hosts are my colleagues, so please be sure to let them know where you learned about these events.

Automate Your Online Permissions, Reprints and Author Programs

• 2/21/2012, 11:00am – 12:00pm ET:  Hosted by Chuck Hemenway https://copyright.webex.com/copyright/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=657167090
• 4/10/2012, 11:00am – 12:00pm ET:  Hosted by Dave Daniels  https://copyright.webex.com/copyright/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=655243576

Monetizing Content in a Sophisticated Digital World

• 3/13/2012, 11:00am – 12:00pm ET: Hosted by Matt Pedersen https://copyright.webex.com/copyright/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=659635492
• 5/8/2012, 10:00am – 11:00am ET: Hosted by Gail Chaplick https://copyright.webex.com/copyright/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=658497541

Follow the links for more information on each presentation, or simply comment on this blog post.

Sales, Publicity, and Marketing Rounds Out Workshop Series

Friesens was the sponsor for the last workshop in Bookbuilders' fall session, and about thirty people attended. Speakers were Gina Choe from Charlesbridge, Beth Ineson from Houghton Mifflin-Harcourt, and Roxanne McCarley from Pearson Educational.

The speakers provided a well-rounded view of the sales landscape across different segments of the industry. While trade publishers judge the impact of Borders store closings, higher ed companies increasingly rely on reps' relationships with professors and bookstore managers.

Gina Choe represented the special sales area, where printed catalogs and bound books are still necessary to make the sale. On the flip side, Roxanne McCarley discussed enhanced features of e-textbooks, including videos, apps, assessment, and course management systems. Many such add-ons are more suited to the iPad (tablets) as opposed to e-readers. Competition among the reader devices is closely watched by Beth Ineson, director of field sales and distribution clients at HMH.

One of the more timely questions from the audience had to do with direct-to-consumer sales. Direct engagement with customers (readers) is a buzzworthy topic at industry events: while some publishers consider it a growth area, the need to tread lightly and nurture reseller relationships is still strong.

Production, Manufacturing, and Inventory Workshop Confronts Smaller Print Runs and New Formats

Sean Stanford, Wednesday night's second speaker, spoke about the promise of ink-jet web technology to advance goals in short-run color printing. P.J. Tierney later described a need to continue with offset printing for casebound books because of a lack of on-demand hardcover options.

The big news, though, is that print probably isn't going anywhere just yet. Larry Mallach discussed a strategy to support print costs with e-book sales, ensuring that print copies are available for the markets that need them.

Not that publishers want to take on inventory for any length of time, however ... some may be printing for as little as two months' worth of sales. Returns are still a factor in inventory models, though smaller up-front orders from customers like Amazon are changing the return cycle.

Beacon Press, according to P.J. Tierney, publishes e-books simultaneously with print. In academic markets, this may not yet be the case. In trade calculations, while e-sales eat into print sales, the result is not a zero-sum game. More copies are being sold overall.

Thank you to Quad Graphics, sponsor of this workshop.

Be sure to join us this week for the final Bookbuilders workshop of the season: Sales, Marketing, and Publicity, sponsored by Friesens. Advance registration is required.