A clarion call from Exclusive Books

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Managing Director of Exclusive Books, Benjamin Trisk was a guest speaker at the SA Booksellers AGM in KwaZulu Natal. We reproduce here a small excerpt of his highly engaging and encouraging speech. He has put the support of Exclusive Books firmly behind the SA Booksellers Association and the future of the book in South Africa.

.”..We are summoned by all books to a moveable feast. It was this reason, primus inter pares, that drew me back to books and bookselling. All the while, during the long, arduous months of due diligence, we were told that the book represented an old technology, that sales of the physical were in decline (which they were), that the digital world offered immediacy, mobility, pricing benefits, convenience, storage, technical conversion and text-interaction: all true.
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Draft LTSM Policy – Make your voice heard

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The South African Department of Basic Education just released a draft policy document, open for public comment, explaining how the department plans to handle textbooks in the future. This is an important document for Booksellers and publishers to comprehend, because the situation is serious.

Arthur Atwell, the co-founder and director of Electric Book Works (and also the founder of Paperight POD bookstores) warned in his blog www.arthurattwell.com that, “It’s rare that a national industry is confronted with a single threat to its future. That just happened to South African publishing.” This piece is worth a read as it sums up the issue very well.
The document does contain many important ideals, with an emphasis on making sure that each child has textbooks, however their plan to buy a single textbook in each subject for the entire country, is one with dire consequences.

Please download the full document here and comment on it.

Draft LTSM Policy for Public Comment 2014

Open Book ticket deal

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As you may know, there have been a few glitches with regards to ticket purchases for Open Book Festival this year, which has (thankfully) since been resolved. The team would like to apologise for any inconveniences and by way of apology we’re offering a “buy one get one free ticket special” which is running till Friday 5th September. This is valid for all standard R40 events at the festival.

More information about the ticket special can be viewed here: Ticket Deal

Download the full programme of events here: Programme

The Real Meal Revolution wins

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At the annual Sefika Awards dinner held on Tuesday 26th of August, outstanding service to the publishing and bookselling industry was celebrated in style, with this year’s theme: “Black and white”. Publishers, booksellers and authors congregated at the Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel and Convention Centre in KwaZulu Natal to applaud and be applauded for the roles they play in promoting literacy and a culture of reading by writing, producing and selling quality books in South Africa.

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Why We Need Independent Bookstores More Than Ever

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Reflecting on the Amazon/Hachette battle, Tom Roberge of New Directions notes  in an excellent editorial on publishing perspectives that “publishers simply cannot function without independent bookstores.” Read it here.

The book as art

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The Center For Book Arts in New York offers a matrix for re-envisioned book-making as fine art.  Read current exhibitors, author David Unger and artist Anne Gilman’s, explanation on publishingperspectives.com. It is an interesting diversion.

Rome’s Colosseum Hosts Ancient Library Exhibition

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In the place where gladiators once fought, the city of Rome is hosting a summer exhibition of the public and private libraries of the Ancient World. Read this post by Roger Tagholm on Publishingperspectives.com

PASA / SABA AGM

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The Annual General Meeting is scheduled to take place from 25-27 August 2014 at the Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel and Convention Centre in Durban.

Accommodation – The SA Booksellers Association has arranged for a block booking and members are encouraged to make their booking directly with the hotel as soon as possible. Booking details are:
Single rooms at R1,200 and sharing at R1,350 per room (including breakfast)
Please contact: Hloni Fattein on (031) 514 6515 or reservations1@coastlandsumhlanga.co.za

Herewith please find the conference agenda and registration form to be completed and sent to saba@sabooksellers.com

Conference Agenda

Registration Form 2014

SABC Education African EduWeek 2014

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The African EduWeek pre-conference took place yesterday with apparent great success and the doors to the official event opened this morning in Sandton. The African EduWeek expo 2014 is free-to-attend for all visitors and hosts over 90 of the world’s leading suppliers to the education sector.

The event, running at the Sandton Convention Centre from the 10th – 11th July offers: Read more

The Nielsen Booksellers Choice Awards Short List

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The short list for the Nielsen Booksellers Choice Award is in.

The booksellers have voted and it is now up to the public to decide on which book they most enjoyed reading this year.
The SA Booksellers association is asking all readers to take the time to send in their vote. Entries must be in by 22nd August and the winner will be announced on 26th August. All readers that send in their vote will be illegible to win a copy of each of the 6 short-listed titles so don’t dilly dally, send an email with the book you most loved reading this year to samantha@sabooksellers.com and win.

NIELSEN BOOKSELLERS CHOICE AWARD SHORT LIST:

The Real Meal Revolution, Prof Tim Noakes
Kobra, Deon Meyer
My Second Initiation: The Memoir of Vusi Pikoli, Vusi Pikoli
The Shining Girls, Lauren Beukes
Kokkedoor, Errieda Du Toit
Field Guides to the Battlefields of Southern Africa, Nicki von der Heyde