BookExpo America was a little different this year for us and for many other fans of Art Carson: for the first time in many years, the always-cheerful figure at Ingram was not in the house.
Before his retirment, Carson attended 39 consecutive ABA and BEAs and was mostly recently a sales rep for higher education as well as a liaison between Ingram's IT people and the sales force. May 28 was his last day at Ingram, after what he called "a 46-year career serving booksellers."
In 1963, he began work at Raymar Book Corp., the Southern California wholesaler that was bought by Ingram in 1976. His first task in the warehouse was repricing Random House Modern Library titles to $3.95 to $3.45.
"It's been interesting going from the days when it was great if you could get books in three to four days to now when people call to complain that the next-day delivery is coming in the afternoon rather than the morning," Carson said.
"Now it's no question we're at a crossroads," he continued. "I love booksellers and I believe that those who are connected with local and national and global communities will continue to do well in whatever form the book takes."
Carson has one more major honor coming from Ingram, which does a huge business in shipping all kinds of products via barges across the country. In the fall, the company will christen an Ingram towboat the Arthur J. Carson. Only three other Ingram book people have received this honor: former CEOs Phil Pfeffer, Steve Mason and Lee Synnott. The boat has an owner's stateroom and will feature a picture of Carson. "It'll cruise the upper Mississippi, the Ohio and Illinois rivers," Carson noted. "I'll be able to track it via the Internet."
Speaking of shipping, Carson said he has "one tip for people retiring: if you own a pickup truck, announce you sold it. If you have one, everyone assumes you have the time and means to move their stuff. I've already moved a washer, dryer and refrigerator."
Besides, Carson would rather spend his new free time differently. Like so many officially retired book people, he plans to stay active and will do some projects for Ingram and others under his new shingle, AC Connections.
He may be reached at acarson9@gmail.com or 707-319-1269.--John Mutter