CBC Diversity Presents “Strategies for Selling Diverse Books” at BEA 2016
The discussion was moderated by Betsy Bird, Collection Development Manager at the Evanston Public Library. Panelists included Shauntee Burns, Outreach Librarian at the New York Public Library; Elizabeth Bluemle, Co-owner of The Flying Pig Bookstore; and Erica Luttrell, Manager of Chevalier’s Books. Though progress in the publishing industry is slow, all agreed that booksellers’ passion can help push forward diverse books.
Between reluctant customers and a slow-to-change publishing industry, booksellers and librarians face a challenge, but these panelists – who are at the forefront of sharing diverse titles with their customers and patrons – urged that what is needed are more ‘mirrors and windows…not just reflecting [the patron’s] world, but the whole world.’ (Publishers Weekly)
