Many bookstores and libraries suffered severe damage during
Hurricane Katrina and the flooding that followed it. Herewith reports
from associations and news media:
Bookends Bookstore in Bay St. Louis, Miss., and Pass Christian Books in Pass Christian, Miss., both on the shore, were totally destroyed. In addition, Afro-American Book Stop in New Orleans is ruined.
Bookends owner Susan Daigre told Bookselling This Week, "We're out of the book business. I can't even think of rebuilding it. . . . We have no home, no jobs . . . but we have great family, great friends and good insurance."
New Orleans booksellers, including Mary Price Dunbar of Beaucoup Books, Michele Lewis of Afro-American Book Stop and Octavia Books co-owner Tom Lowenburg, are all safe. Lowenburg wrote ABA that a neighbor reported that "our store building is in good shape and has remained above water" although he worried that the water might have risen since the neighbor's observation.
The ABA has contacted member stores in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, offering to talk with suppliers about extending credit terms and being resupplied, among other issues. It has also contacted some major publishers and wholesalers.
ABA CEO Avin Domnitz commented: "Our hearts go out to all those devastated by Katrina, and we want to do whatever we can to help. We know many in the book industry feel the same way, and are looking for ways to offer assistance."
ABA has set up a Bookseller Relief Fund to assist independent bookstores affected by the hurricane. Checks should be made payable to ABA/Bookseller Relief Fund and sent to the ABA at 200 White Plains Rd., Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591; please write "Bookseller Relief" on the envelope.
Any affected members needing business advice should contact Domnitz at 800-637-0037, ext. 6610, or avin@bookweb.org or David Walker, ABA's director of special projects at ext. 6612 or davidw@bookweb.org.
Several stores around the country have said they would house and /or employ booksellers whose stores cannot reopen soon. Anyone wanting to offer such help should contact Walker.
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As of last Thursday, Barnes & Noble had apparently heard from only about 10% of its booksellers in affected areas and was making extensive efforts to contact them. It was also offering those booksellers financial assistance and housing information at any B&N or Dalton in the country.
Borders and Books-A-Million also have stores that are damaged and closed.
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The National Association of College Stores's CM Bulletin reported that some 50 Follett stores in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky have been hurt, although the company isn't sure because it hasn't been able to communicate with all of them. "Some stores may be damaged beyond repair," Cliff Ewert, v-p of campus and public relations, told the newsletter. "Our prayers here are with all of the people affected down there."
The Louisiana Association of College Stores has canceled its annual meeting and is donating money earmarked for that to the Red Cross.
NACS is "actively looking into ways to help all of those unfortunate people hurt by this devastating storm, including our members in this region," CEO Brian Cartier said. "We view this as a long-term commitment."
Likewise NACS president Debbie Harvie said, "We want to provide support for the long haul because we understand that this can't simply be just a donation."
Bookends Bookstore in Bay St. Louis, Miss., and Pass Christian Books in Pass Christian, Miss., both on the shore, were totally destroyed. In addition, Afro-American Book Stop in New Orleans is ruined.
Bookends owner Susan Daigre told Bookselling This Week, "We're out of the book business. I can't even think of rebuilding it. . . . We have no home, no jobs . . . but we have great family, great friends and good insurance."
New Orleans booksellers, including Mary Price Dunbar of Beaucoup Books, Michele Lewis of Afro-American Book Stop and Octavia Books co-owner Tom Lowenburg, are all safe. Lowenburg wrote ABA that a neighbor reported that "our store building is in good shape and has remained above water" although he worried that the water might have risen since the neighbor's observation.
The ABA has contacted member stores in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, offering to talk with suppliers about extending credit terms and being resupplied, among other issues. It has also contacted some major publishers and wholesalers.
ABA CEO Avin Domnitz commented: "Our hearts go out to all those devastated by Katrina, and we want to do whatever we can to help. We know many in the book industry feel the same way, and are looking for ways to offer assistance."
ABA has set up a Bookseller Relief Fund to assist independent bookstores affected by the hurricane. Checks should be made payable to ABA/Bookseller Relief Fund and sent to the ABA at 200 White Plains Rd., Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591; please write "Bookseller Relief" on the envelope.
Any affected members needing business advice should contact Domnitz at 800-637-0037, ext. 6610, or avin@bookweb.org or David Walker, ABA's director of special projects at ext. 6612 or davidw@bookweb.org.
Several stores around the country have said they would house and /or employ booksellers whose stores cannot reopen soon. Anyone wanting to offer such help should contact Walker.
---
As of last Thursday, Barnes & Noble had apparently heard from only about 10% of its booksellers in affected areas and was making extensive efforts to contact them. It was also offering those booksellers financial assistance and housing information at any B&N or Dalton in the country.
Borders and Books-A-Million also have stores that are damaged and closed.
---
The National Association of College Stores's CM Bulletin reported that some 50 Follett stores in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky have been hurt, although the company isn't sure because it hasn't been able to communicate with all of them. "Some stores may be damaged beyond repair," Cliff Ewert, v-p of campus and public relations, told the newsletter. "Our prayers here are with all of the people affected down there."
The Louisiana Association of College Stores has canceled its annual meeting and is donating money earmarked for that to the Red Cross.
NACS is "actively looking into ways to help all of those unfortunate people hurt by this devastating storm, including our members in this region," CEO Brian Cartier said. "We view this as a long-term commitment."
Likewise NACS president Debbie Harvie said, "We want to provide support for the long haul because we understand that this can't simply be just a donation."