With the Department of Justice’s settlement last week ruling that publishers couldn’t work together to set their books at a minimum price (an ‘agency plan’) and Amazon forever looming with its monstrous discounts, it might seem like the future is hopeless for publishing as we know it. We think there is hope, however, and Thom Chambliss, the Executive Director for the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (the group responsible for this site), has a simple plan for publishers, which he wrote about yesterday in a newsletter to members of the group.
Chambliss started his bookselling career at the University of Oregon Bookstore in 1972 and has been the head of PNBA since 1993. “If Amazon, or any one discounter, ever becomes the only source of publishing and distribution of books in this country, free speech will become a lost dream,” he writes. “I encourage my publisher friends to think for themselves, and to save themselves while they still can.”
Thom, this is a great idea! I especially like the aspect that everyone gets to survive. It makes sense!