The Next Generation in Bookselling

Here we are in May finally. It's time for another night out for the next generation of booksellers. We'll be gathering on Monday, May 21st at 8pm again at Middlesex Lounge. Meet other booksellers, learn about other stores, and find out what's coming up in the bookselling world (Book
Expo America, the Summer season, Khaled Hosseini's new book, etc). Please bring lots of bookselling friends (and I mean booksellers, publicists, publishers, etc.) and get ready to mingle!

Free food will be provided by NEIBA (New England Independent Booksellers Association)..... the bar accepts cash and credit cards.

What: Emerging Leaders (Again, we need a new name!)
Who: People who are new to the book industry and are still trying to figure it out.
When: Monday, May 21st, 8-10pm
Where: Middlesex Lounge, Central Square, 315 Massachusetts Ave,
Cambridge, MA

See you there,
Best,
Megan 

I had a great time on Monday night meeting everybody---hope y'all did as well. We met up at Middlesex Lounge in Central Square, where I'm hoping we can keep meeting. Tim Huggins gave an interesting talk about the challenges and joys of running a book store. He stressed the importance of having a solid business plan before opening up a store, which struck me as wise. It seems so romantic opening up a store, that you forget that it's still a business. Tim's point that when checking for spaces to rent, it's important to make sure the community supports local stores a good is a good one as well.

I was gratified by the large turnout and I hope the numbers increase next time we meet. Speaking of which, I've set the date as Monday May 21st, same time and place (8pm at Middlesex). We can discuss upcoming BEA, what is it, who goes etc, as well as anything else. If anyone has ideas about what they'd like to discuss, send me an email. Until then, spread the word and I'll see everyone in May.

Any person who works in the book industry in New England is free to join this community. To do so, you must register with Livejournal here and then once you're logged in, come back to this page and at the top of the page you can join. It sounds complicated, but it's pretty simple. I've left it open so that anyone can join and post.

Also, if you're a bookstore in New England that wants to be added to the sidebar, email me bookdwarf at bookdwarf dot com with your store's name and web address.

Bookpeople!
Have you been working in a bookstore and want to learn more about the book business? Do you secretly fantasize about owning your own bookstore, or working at a publisher, or publishing something yourself? Want to meet other young bookpeople and talk shop while eating free food?

Join us on Monday March 26th, for the first meeting of the Boston chapter of the Emerging Leaders. We'll be meeting at the Middlesex Lounge in Central Square (known for its modern design aesthetic and well-mixed drinks). Tim Huggins, former owner of Newtonville Books will talk about how he started, ran, and sold an independent bookstore that helped make Boston's literary scene hip again. Tim's talk and questions go from 8 - 9, and then stay afterwards to talk with him and other booksellers. We'll also be trying to come up with a name that doesn't sound like it originated from an MBA program.

You may be wondering: What is the Emerging Leaders? The Emerging Leaders Project is a nationwide program which started two years ago through the American Booksellers Association (ABA). The Emerging Leaders Project (ELP) is working toward developing programming and networking opportunities for booksellers and publishing professionals who do not normally have the opportunity to network within their communities. The ELP recognizes the need to retain, develop, and support the book industry's innovators and leaders.

Basically, the new generation of bookselling need to get together, introduce ourselves, and swap stories. Imagine how strong the bookselling community could  be if we simply meet one another. Need ideas or advice? You can turn to this group and get some answers.

In a very kind gesture of support, the New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA) will be providing food for this get-together, but (sadly) not drinks. So bring your wallet.

What: The first Boston-area Emerging Leaders Meeting
Who: People in the book business (bookselling & publishing) especially those who are
under the age of 40.
When: Monday, March 26, 8 - 10 p.m.
Where: The Middlesex Lounge, Central Square, 315 Massachusetts Ave (between
Central Square and MIT, two stores down from the Miracle of Science)

RSVP for the evening by emailing Megan Sullivan at msullivan at harvard dot com.
Let us know if you're coming, or if you can't come but want to learn more.
And let us know a little bit about who you are!

Also, we've started a community board online for anyone to post questions, comments or anything. Check it out here: http://community.livejournal.com/neibahoods/.

Finally, who are we? Megan Sullivan is a frontlist buyer at Harvard Book Store, a blogger named Bookdwarf, and is also a member of the national board of the Emerging Leaders Project. She's been in bookselling for seven years. Amanda Darling is the marketing manager at Harvard Book Store and she likes running events and drinking at Middlesex. John Hugo was born into the bookselling industry---his old man has been hocking books since 1965! He's been in the game seriously for 4 years and has been looking for any and all who want to keep the next generation of bookselling alive. Plus he likes to drink as well as read.

We look forward to seeing you on March 26th and at bookstores around town!

Megan & Amanda & John