libraries and publishers – how it can work

During 2008 we tracked 255 author events, including the big name ones. They generated book sales of £36,229 and were attended by 14,433 readers. In addition more libraries are now tried and tested venues for author events.

The Reading Agency in the UK has been pioneering a new way for libraries and publishers to work together for the last four years. Helped significantly by The National Year of Reading 2008, last year shows a bumper year for Reading Partners. It is almost too obvious an idea isn’t it – strategically matching publishers and libraries but you would be surprised at how little is does happen. Libraries are a phenomenal literary infrastructure with committed staff, some extraordinary buildings and a regular audience but it isn’t always easy to get publishers and libraries to work together. CBI’s work during Childrens Book Festival is often spent brokering relationships and building partnerships for events and it s very rewarding when events come together and even more rewarding when long term relationships are built.

More about the scheme over on bookbrunch today

Snip Snip went the report

There has been so much written about An Bord Snip already that in some ways I am loathed to add more google hits but here goes…..

The McCarthy report makes some recommendations specifically in relation to the Department of Arts Sports and Tourism (DAST) that will have a direct impact on the sector. For arts and literature the three key alarm bells are

1. The Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism should also be critically examined in light of the extensive savings that are proposed in this area and scope for transferring its functions to other Departments.
   Adopting the above proposals would allow for the creation of up to two other Departments, whose creation could reflect emerging priorities for the Government.
2. Reduction of allocation for Arts Council €6.1m
3. Discontinuation of allocation for Culture Ireland €4.6m

For children’s books there are other key areas of concern specifically within Education and these added to the cuts to the school library budgets already discussed are terrifying, how and ever that is for another post. Back to DAST.

The first thing that seems clear to me at least, is that DAST might not have the guts to fight for their own survival. There is a sense of inevitability about this recommendation and nothing since or before (when the rumours about the future of the department were rife) has shown me that there is a plan or a notion to oppose this from within the department or specifically the Minister’s office. Maybe I’m wrong and maybe behind closed doors there is a helluva barney going on. But if it is, its a very very quiet one. Taking away the department and its specific remit will be counterproductive in the long run.

A reduction in allocation to the Arts Council is probably no great surprise to anyone, least of all the Council themselves. What remains to be seen is how Council will react. Early signs indicate they are prepared to come out fighting. Of Course, as a state body they won’t comment about specifics but this week’s release of the long awaited Touring Experiment report might be an indication that they are intent on moving forwards instead of retrenching. Likewise the strong words from Galway at the weekend might be a sign of stronger words to come. What size of Merrion’s Square pie will be allocated to Literature is anybody’s guess. About 5% of Arts Council budget went specifically to Literature in 2009. There is other support through festivals, bursaries and the cnuas etc no where near enough to challenge theatre’s current 28%.

A €6mn reduction the Council’s budget is about a 10% decrease overall. Add to this the cuts rolled over from 2009 and it  is unlikely that literature’s allocation will do anything but fall. One very serious implication is where this leaves Dublin’s application for designation as UNESCO city of literature. In a time where cultural tourism is the happiest story that the arts sector can share, an under resourced literature sector won’t be able to fully support, celebrate and define a new designation.

And what is to happen to Culture Ireland- the body charged with promoting Irish Arts abroad. Its modest budget goes towards Irish arts and artists participating in international projects and events, helping to build our reputation and our cultural profile. For literature, Culture Ireland supported Irish publishers and organisations attending bookfairs and making international contacts. International rights deals are hugely important to irish publishing, offering a vital supplement to retail income. And while CI’s support to literature was lower than other artforms, taking away an organisation charged promoting arts abroad will have a detrimental effect on the sector as a whole. Similar to disbanding DAST, if Culture Ireland goes, it will be very hard to get it back.

So far, so gloomy. I’m sure there are so bright sparks out there its just that the fog has fallen now and its hard to lift it. Hopefully more cheery posts to follow later in the week!

Ebooks, digital publishing and children

Publishing, But Not As We Know It

For the first time, we have a generation of children who are reading more off screens than they are off paper. With developments such as eBook readers, writers producing novels and comics for mobile phones, online fan-fiction, digital book piracy and the panic-inducing Google Book Settlement, the book industry is in turmoil. Text is evolving and the traditional methods of production, marketing and even education are being left behind. This is nothing short of a revolution, and everyone involved in the book industry is faced with embracing it or losing touch with young readers.

CBI brings a panel of speakers together to discuss how to carry children’s books forward into this new age of publishing.

The Irish Writers Centre, Parnell Square, Dublin 1 Thursday June 11th 6.30-8.30pm

Chair Oisín McGann

Panel - Georgina Byrne, County Librarian, South Dublin Libraries; Sam Holman, Director, Irish Copyright Licensing Agency ; John McNamee, President European Booksellers Federation ; Peadar Ó’Guilín, Author

More information on www.childrensbooksireland.ie | 01 872 7475 info@childrensbooksireland.ie

PS – Eoin Purcell has some terrific links and thoughts  related to e books

Events Epidemic

Lots of events happening in the next week……..

First up is Pj Lynch, in St Patrick’s College on Thursday 23rd April at 6.30pm. In celebration of UNESCO World Book Day, Cregan Library, St Patrick’s College Drumcondra, Dublin, will present a special event with P.J. Room E201, St Patrick’s College Drumcondra.To RSVP, email info.library@spd.dcu.ie

Also on Thursday, in Cork city library- French graphic artist Stéphane Heuet will be in town not only to launch a new graphic novel by teenagers with author John Sexton and illustrator Alan Barrett but he will also be participating in a public event on Thursday afternoon. For more information please contact cork libraries 021 4924900- libraries@corkcity.ie

On Saturday Walker Books and Church of Ireland College of Education in Rathmines are presenting ‘The Story in the Picture’ on 25th April 2009 in the College in Rathmines. Featuring illustrators Patrick Benson, Bruce Ingman and Niamh Sharkey along with Deirdre McDermott and Lizzie Spratt from Walker Books.Cost €35 (students €20) to include coffee/tea and lunch. For further information contact vcoghlan@cice.ie or telephone 01 4970033.

On Saturday April 25th from 2.30pm, Derek Landy will be celebrating in the National Gallery of Ireland as part of Family Fun day. Derek will be in The Shaw Room from 3pm and will be signing books as well- more info from the National Gallery of Ireland – www.nationalgallery.ie or info@ngi.ie

On Monday 27th at 7pm, US academic Jack Zipes will be addressing the theme of The Reconfiguration of Children and Children’s Literature in a Globalised World. St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. More information from celia.keena@spd.dcu.ie or janeohanlon@poetryireland.ie

Toddling round the bookshops

I’m a big fan of Shelftalker, a booksellers blog from the US.  A recent post about toddler book choice is a fascinating read.

It is strange habit but I do often find myself lurking in bookshops watching parents and kids make book choices. Over the past wee while there are a couple of things I’ve spotted -

Cover design is the most important factor in kids choosing books. Let me say that again, cover design is the most important thing in kids choosing books. You’d think that as a result good design would be everywhere – it’s not. Often it seems rush, poorly conceived and slapped together. The poorest element is usually the typography. It’s daft because without a decent cover, kids won’t even flick to the blurb. Adults buy based on the blurb, kids buy based on the cover.

The other most important factor in book choice is the adults in the room. Parents so often get in the way. Lots of times I’ve seen kids spot Book A, pick it up, dive in and turn round expectantly to parent. In an ideal world, parent drops down to shelf height has a read of Book A too and they decide together if it will be their choice that day. Alas normally Book A is quickly dismissed as parent shows them Book B which they think they will enjoy. I’m not saying the parents are wrong in their choice, it would just be nice in Book A was given a fair chance.

Bookshop layout and atmosphere  is also key. The best spaces are bright, big and welcoming. Kids don’t mind if its untidy as long as they can reach the books and as long as they are welcomed. The kids from Trim put it best last year when they said

We appreciate helpful staff but don’t stalk us around the shop

A couple of things they also said which didn’t make it to final poster –

Don’t put the sticker over something important, Make the price clear, Display staff recommendation posters and signs, and Don’t over promote one title

Lastly for a treat – direct from Shelftaker – do you see a rabbit or a duck or both?

just because

more here

Monstrous Marketing Machines begin march for Colfer and Adams

The marketing machine for Eoin Colfer’s sequel to the Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is swinging into action. Cover has been released and Penguin and Pan Macmillan are vowing to work together to promote both Colfer’s new title and the backlist.

Here’s what Eoin had to say at the launch-

All this hitching and adventuring went on for five books and then Douglas Adams passed away before he could write book six. Hitchhiker has been heard on radio, seen on tv and enjoyed on the cinema screen, there was even a musical version. But the story could never end, until now. I am going to continue on where Douglas left off. Unfortunately for me, he left off on rather a large cliffhanger. Everyone was dead. Which means I have rather a large challenge ahead of me, but it is one I am looking forward to.

The book will be out later this year. It will be called And Another Thing. And I really hope you will board the spaceship with me so we can travel through Douglas Adams’ hilarious galaxy together, which will save me having to hang around in your driveway.

And here’s some eye popping sales stats from the Bookseller -

Global sales for the Hitchhiker books are 16 million, with Eoin Colfer’s global sales standing at 18 million.

CBI Conference – full line up released

The full timetable for the CBI conference has been announced over on CBI’s Homepage. Its a cracker of a line up – ok so I am a little biased but even if I wasn’t, it’s a great great line up. AND we get to enjoy the National Gallery as the conference venue this year -

Direct from the blurbs

On the home front, Ireland is well represented by the talents of Celine Kiernan (The Poison Throne), Andrew Whitson and Caitríona Hastings (An tSnáthaid Mhór), Orla Kenny & Mary Branley (Kids’ Own) and Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl, Airman), who will close proceedings on Sunday in conversation with Robert Dunbar.

Making perhaps the longest commute ever in the history of CBI conference speakers will be the celebrated Australian author and illustrator Shaun Tan (The Arrival, Tales from Outer Suburbia) who makes his first visit to Ireland especially for the conference.

From the UK, CBI is delighted to welcome illustration expert Martin Salisbury (Play Pen), award-winning authors Patrick Ness (The Knife of Never Letting Go) and David Almond (Skellig, Jackdaw Summer), as well as writer and publisher Verna Wilkins (Tamarind Books), who will present this year’s Ibby Ireland session.

You can see full details including speaker biogs and timetables here.

See you there (I’ll be the frazzled one, desperately hunting for bottled water and microphone connections!!)

Irish Independent looks at the business of publishing

Article in the indo about what faces the book industry here. Bit bizarre that they only talked  to one agent, one publisher and one bookseller so I’m not sure how representative it can be…. Worth a look anyway though-

Reading Between the lines during these hard times

Scott Mc Cloud- making me understand comics

I was never a big comic fan as a kid, mostly I think because one of my brothers was Asterix mad and I was determined to avoid anything he liked…..

So it’s left me with a huge gap in knowledge – Recently, the  DFC among other things has made me go and do a bit of research. Luckily Scott McCloud has been writing books for people like me… Understanding Comics is an extraordinary way in to comics. Laid out as a comic big it introduces all the main concepts with plenty of humour and skill.

Scott McCloud has been a previous visitor to TED – worth a watch here.

More Comic Stuff over on The Independent (UK) to mark the arrival of ComicCon in New York.