Professional Moan

Libraries fail to link with bookshops, says new report

More than 80% of library authorities sell books, but just 4% have ongoing sales facilities linked to bookshops, new research by The Reading Agency (TRA) has revealed.

The study highlights opportunities for booksellers to capitalise on events organised at libraries, through the Reading Partners collaboration with publishers.

TRA director Miranda McKearney said: "There are obvious synergies. We need to work out what's in it for both partners." Ottakar's and the BA have registered interest, she added. Kate Spencer-Payne, who runs a book club with Chesterfield Library, said: "You get a lot of advertising and a lot of goodwill, and you certainly increase your revenue."

Meanwhile, in other news, greengrocers aren't making enough links with swimming pools and pubs just aren't working with florists. You'd expect this kind of stuff from professional wastes-of-space like Libri, but when agencies who are supposed to know the score are suggesting two seperate businesses/organisations should work closely together despite having nothing in common except a throughput of collections of paper, what are you going to do?