We hosted Eddie Levert Sr., Walter Williams Sr. and Eric Nolan Grant of the O'Jays as they discussed their hard-hitting, politically charged new single, "Above the Law", as well as their 50+ years of touring and the group’s massive musical success.
We hosted Silvia Matute and Veronica Cervera of Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial to discuss the best books in Spanish for this Fall and Winter. Some of the books discussed included the Spanish versions of Becoming by Michelle Obama and The Bridge of Clay, the newest novel by Markus Zusak, the acclaimed author of The Book Thief; as well as original works in Spanish by Julia Navarro and Arturo Pérez-Reverte.
Authors Trudy Ludwig, Stacy McAnulty and David Barclay Moore joined us to discuss their work, process, inspiration and goal in promoting empathy in kindness through their works. School counselor and community leader Laura Barbour moderated the conversation.
Jason Flom discusses his career in the music industry, his philanthropic works and his new children's title, "Lulu is a Rhinoceros".
Actor. Director. Producer. Philanthropist. And now, Author.
John Amos discusses his first children’s book, "A World Without Color".
Listen as Mark de Vera of VIZ talks about recent trends in manga, current bestsellers and upcoming titles.
Three Dog Nightmare is not only Chuck's story; it’s the story of one of the most successful rock groups ever, Three Dog Night.
Coding knowledge is the must-have 21st Century skill for children and adults alike. Learning to code develops rational thinking and problem-solving skills which are powerful skills that transfer to other subjects and create lifelong learners.
On the verge of his album release and international tour with Charlie Musselwhite, Ben Harper sat down with us to talk about his life, his love of the blues and his work with Charlie.
Listen to graphic novelists Judd Winick, Mark Siegel, James Parks, and Ben Costa interact about their work, inspiration, feedback from young readers, and insight into this exciting format!
Listen to music legend Mavis Staples as she discusses her life as a musician and civil rights activist, as well as her new album If All I Was Was Black.
Listen to our team of experts share their insight regarding the central role of University Presses in today’s publishing landscape.
This webinar offers insight into the Kirkus Diversity lists and how diverse books benefit all libraries.
Reaching all young readers can be challenging.
Listen to this webinar to explore ways to help increase interest in all YA and middle readers in your public library through large print.
The Vietnam War, a ten-part, 18-hour documentary tells the epic story of one of the most consequential, divisive, and controversial events in American history, as it has never before been told on film.
Learn more about the documentary series from director and producer Lynn Novick.
When the Little Golden Books were launched in 1942, they changed publishing history. Today, over two billion Little Golden Books have reached the hands of children all over the world and continue to delight, educate and inspire.
Listen to an entertaining and informative discussion with two experts — Leonard S. Marcus, Children's Book Historian and Critic and author of Golden Legacy; and Diane Muldrow, Editorial Director of Little Golden Books at Random House Children's Books.
Learn more about Gale's digital continuation of their award-winning resource for literary analysis.
- What are Makerspaces?
- Why do libraries have these spaces?
- Who uses these spaces?
For answers to these questions, and much more, listen to a discussion on Makerspaces.
Listen to an intimate discussion with actor/screenwriter/director Tom Holland highlighting his career in horror plus his newest venture into publishing.
Listen to a candid discussion with key authors highlighting their new books and teen journeys in literature.
Listen to an exclusive discussion with Ken Burns to learn about his new project, Jackie Robinson.
Listen to an exclusive webinar discussion between Rebecca Eaton, Executive Producer of Masterpiece on PBS, and Jared Bowen, Executive Arts Editor.
Learn how she successfully relaunched MASTERPIECE along with insights into the final season of Downton Abbey.
Listen in as we investigate the factors that have contributed to not only the dramatic decline but also the recent steady growth of the key travel guide segment.
Topics Included:
- Category Trends - why are sales recovering?
- The impact of digital on travel publishing
- How is the content created and how is it used
- Who is the travel customer and where are they going?
The guest speaker for this webinar was Arabella Bowen, Vice President & Editor in Chief - Fodor's Travel. Baker & Taylor’s Merchandising Manager, David Achar, led the discussion.
Listen in as experts in the hugely popular Young Adult category discuss:
- What's Trending — Biggest trends in YA today
- Role of Social Media — How is social media playing getting teens interested in reading? How does the publishing industry use social media to generate buzz for new titles and who are they actually targeting?
- Debut author — How does the next great voice in YA get discovered
- Reading for Entertainment vs. the Required Reading List — How to get teens excited about books and how both can support more reading
- What's Next — Biggest releases in YA Fiction for Fall 2014
The guest speakers for this webinar were Martha Hickson, Librarian at North Hunterdon High School; Mary Lee Donovan, Editorial Director at Candlewick Press; Wendy Loggia, Executive Editor at Delacorte Press/Random House Children’s Books; and Andrea Portes, bestselling author. Baker & Taylor's Senior Buyer Ray Paszkiewicz led the discussion.
In his thirty years as a documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns has produced some of the most accomplished historical documentaries of our time.
Listen to an exclusive, live webinar discussion with the legendary documentary filmmaker the morning after the premier of Burns’s latest documentary on PBS,
THE ROOSEVELTS: AN INTIMATE HISTORY.
Learn how the project was developed, including unique details, behind the scenes insights and more.
Listen in as we explore how publishers capture the unique voice of authors in the diverse category of memoirs and autobiographies. Learn about publishing trends and upcoming releases.
Topics included:
- How important is celebrity when you decide to acquire an autobiography/memoir
- How important is the co-author/ghost writer in capturing the voice of the subject
- How do publishers leverage the large social media presence that comes with many memoir subjects
- The sensitivities of releasing political memoirs
- Hot Fall releases
The guest speakers for this webinar were Susan Canavan, Senior Executive Editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and David Rosenthal, President and Publisher, Blue Rider Press, Penguin Random House. Baker & Taylor's Merchandising Manager, David Achar, led the discussion.
Listen in to a conversation with experts in the craft arena to learn what the future holds for the craft and hobbies category.
Topics include:
- Current Trends and the future of rubber band crafts
- How bloggers and social media are contributing to the craft category
- How crafts evolve and/or resurge
- Inspiration for crafters and where to find it
- Seasonality and crafting
The guest speakers for this webinar included Chris Vaccari, Director of Library Marketing & Manger of National Accounts for Sterling Publishing and Peg Couch, Editorial Director for Fox Chapel Publishing. Baker & Taylor's Senior Buyer Melanie Rudeau will lead the discussion.
Listen in as we discuss the biggest and most diverse category for both libraries and retailers – Fiction!
Topics include:
- Current and upcoming Fiction trends
- Make Fiction
- Impact of eBooks on the category
- Best ways for readers to discover new Fiction
- Best practices for libraries to promote new Fiction
- Biggest releases for the Fall
The guest speakers for this webinar included Amy Einhorn, Publisher and Vice President of Amy Einhorn Books at Penguin Random House, Jennifer Hart, Senior Vice President, Associate Publisher and Group Marketing Director at William Morrow, Melissa Nicholas, Associate Director, Account Marketing & Retail Operations at Hachette Book Group, and Karen Torres, Vice President, Account Marketing & Retail Operations at Hachette Book Group. Baker & Taylor's Senior Buyer Suzie Brown will lead the discussion.
As more and more parents learn about the Common Core State Standards in their children's schools, they are beginning to ask what they can do at home to support them, offering libraries and bookstores a unique opportunity. While there is a lot of material available about the CCSS at an educational level for teachers, school librarians and administrators, there is less available for those outside the education system.
Topics include:
- Making sense of the jargon around text complexity
- Sharing best practices on getting readers excited about the nonfiction in libraries and bookstores
- Reviewing the new nonfiction for Fall 2013 for grades 2-6
The guest speakers for this webinar included Marc Aronson, Author, Editor, Publisher, Speaker and Instructor at Rutgers University, Kristin Fontichiaro, Clinical Assistant Professor at the School of Information at the University of Michigan, Elaine Fultz, Teen Specialist, MLS, Dayton Metro Library in Dayton, OH, and Deborah Hopkinson, Young adult author and two-time winner of SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Picture Books. Baker & Taylor's Divisional Merchandising Director, Diane Mangan, led the discussion.
This webinar discusses the evolution of audiobooks. Learn how current digital trends are changing the marketplace and preview hot new releases for the Summer and Fall 2013.
Topics include:
- Current and upcoming audiobook trends
- Evolution of audiobooks and the impact of digital downloads
- The changing marketplace and audio publishers' reactions to it
- Best practices for libraries to promote audiobooks
- Baker & Taylor resources available to customers
- Hot audiobook releases for the Summer and Fall
The guest speakers for this webinar include Anthony Goff, Vice President of Audio and Large Print Publishing at Hachette Book Group, Cheryl Herman, Marketing Director for BOT and Listening Library at Random House and Brant Janeway, Marketing Director for Macmillan Audio. Baker & Taylor's Senior Buyer Suzie Brown will lead the discussion.
In this webinar we discuss one of the hottest categories for both libraries and retailers - Cookbooks! Learn about what to look for during the Fall/Holiday season.
Topics include:
- The tremendous popularity of cookbooks
- Trends in cookbooks - including cuisines, cooking appliances and dietary needs
- The latest from long-time favorites: Better Homes & Gardens, Betty Crocker, Joy of Cooking and more
- The biggest new and forthcoming titles for the Fall
The guest speakers for this webinar include Carlo Devito, Vice President and Editorial Director for Sterling Epicure, Puzzlewright and Hearst Books, and Erica Melnichok, Library Marketing Manager at Random House. Baker & Taylor's Senior Buyer Melanie Rudeau will lead the discussion.
Listen in as we discuss the future of Middle Grade fiction, where we cover a wide range of topics, including:
- The impact of the blurring of the lines between Middle Grade and Chapter books and Middle Grade and Young Adult
- Who are the Middle Grade readers and what are they looking for?
- Are there subjects that are underserved? What are the opportunities for future publishing?
- The importance of writing for this age group in developing lifelong readers
- Best practices in helping readers discover new books and subjects
- And everyone's favorite: New Middle Grade fiction for the fall
Our guests include Betsy Bird, Youth Materials Specialist with the New York Public Library, and Jeanne Birdsall, award-winning author of the Penderwicks series, as well as Julie Gabel-Strauss, Vice President and Publisher of Dutton Children's Books. Leading the discussion from Baker & Taylor will be Diane Mangan, Director of Merchandising along with Lindsey Kitzhoffer, Collection Development Librarian.
Baby, Toddler, Preschool and Picture Books
With the insight of experts in children's publishing and public libraries, participants will learn about trends in books for the next crop of readers—children 5 years old and under.
This FREE webinar will focus on books offered for all pre-readers, from board books to concept books, from books that "do something" to picture books.
Learn about publishing and circulating trends in all these areas, along with a look at what's on the horizon to keep parents and children excited and engaged with books.
Diane Mangan, Baker & Taylor's Divisional Merchandising Director for Children's Books, along with Emily Brenner, Vice President and Publishing Director at HarperCollins Children's Books, Sarah Ketchersid, Executive Editor at Candlewick Press, and JoAnn Jonas, Youth Materials Librarian for San Diego County Library will present compelling information and upcoming titles for this important category.
African American Fiction is becoming increasingly popular within the Fiction category. In our webinar, we'll identify the opportunities and sales potential that this growing genre offers for both adult and young adult readers. David Achar, Baker & Taylor Merchandise Manager, along with Brie Edmonds Ashton, Editorial Director from Harlequin and Lesleigh Underwood, Director of Marketing from Kensington Publishing, will present compelling information and opportunities for this emerging category.
- Market size, growth and formats
- Audience demographics
- Recurring themes and trends
- Seasonality and sales lift
- New and bestselling authors and titles from this genre
- Marketing/Author appearances and trade shows
- Impact of eBooks on this category
Graphic novels are exploding in popularity. They are going places far beyond action, sci-fi and fantasy — where librarians and retailers might typically think of first. This fast-moving trend now spans children’s stories, early readers, biographies, memoirs, the classics, movies and more.
- Why should a library or retailer stock graphic novels?
- How can a librarian or retailer select titles that are appropriate for multiple audiences?
- How do ratings work?
- What authors and titles should they know about?
