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IOBA is happy to admit and welcome the following applicants to full membership: Ian Barfield, Peak Dragon Books Alfreton, Derbyshire UNITED KINGDOM Jim Collette, Collette's Books Flagstaff, Arizona USA Martin Frenette, MFLIBRA Antique Books Montreal, Quebec CANADA Fowler Jones, About Those Books Overland Park, Kansas USA Donald Prescott, Circle City Books, LLC Tucson, Arizona USA Brandon Purvis, The Book Rapport Rare Books Springfield, Virginia USA Michael Slicker, Lighthouse Books, ABAA Dade City, Florida USA Philip David Treece, CollectingMagicBooks.com Sheffield, South Yorkshire UNITED KINGDOM Sara Winn, Sutter & St. P Booksellers San Antonio, Texas USA

As told by Blake to Colleen Barrett, Cataloguer Blake joined the staff of the Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts Company (PRB&M), an antiquarian bookstore in northeast Philly, in late 2011. This loveable tabby cat had big paws to fill as her predecessor Sessa had many admirers, his own email address, and even his own division of the business: “SessaBks,” which continues to offer good used, “medium rare,” and simply serendipitous stock complementing our core early books of Europe & the Americas. After much thought, PRB&M’s proprietors Cynthia Buffington and David Szewczyk decided to name her after the English poet, painter, and printer William Blake, a surprisingly fitting name considering the variety of activities in which Blake participates — not to mention that some people say she’s a “tiger”! Blake spends her days here at The Arsenal patrolling the bookstore, which served for over 100 years as U.S. Army officers’ quarters before it became home to PRB&M’s stock and offices. Her lack of opposable thumbs prevents her from greatly contributing to cataloging efforts, but she makes up for it through her phenomenal public relations skills. She often greets visitors at our Saturday Open Houses, occasionally contributes to emails, and “helps” employees with their daily work by cleaning their desks of notes with her tail or demanding attention when they need a break. Her most famous appearance in print to date has been in the Lifestyle section of Cat Fancy, where she was a featured cool cat, but she is even more enthusiastic about being featured in a truly bookish publication. Save

I would like to take a moment to talk about antiquarian book fairs: what they are; who attends them; where they have been and where they are going; why they are important; and how I as a bookseller fit into all this. My hope is that this will provide a touchstone for various groups: those who are unfamiliar with book fairs should be able to read this, understand their purpose, and decide whether they are interested in visiting one; those who have shopped at book fairs before should learn a few handy tips to make their next fair more enjoyable and successful; booksellers who have not exhibited at fairs in the past may be encouraged to give it a whirl; and booksellers who have hundreds of book fairs under their proverbial belts may be inspired to encourage those just starting out to explore them. Like many booksellers, I have attended numerous book fairs, and exhibited at a decent number as well, from local and regional book fairs like Rochester, Cooperstown, Buffalo, and Albany, to major national fairs like Boston and New York City. These each have their own specific personalities which are formed based on a number of factors: the dealers exhibiting, the geographic location, the organizers in charge of planning and advertising the show, etc. But before we get into that it’s important to give some working definition of a book fair; i.e., what is the same about each of these? For my purposes here, I’ll use the following: Who attends these fairs — are they only for advanced collectors and high-end dealers? Not at all. While there are certainly fairs geared towards wealthier clientele, most book fairs feature a wide variety of material at diverse price points. So, while serious collectors, special collections librarians, book dealers and book scouts are among those you would expect to see at an average book fair, be assured that you will feel right at home if: you are an avid reader hunting for something you can’t seem to find at your favorite shop; you are interested in a particular subject and want to meet booksellers who can help you find new material; or you want to learn more about books by talking to experts. What sorts of dealers exhibit at book fairs? This tends to be a diverse group as well. At a given fair you might see: specialists in modern first editions, vintage children’s book dealers, postcard dealers, sellers of early photographica, experts in incunabula and early printed works, map dealers, purveyors of Americana, literature, the sciences, exploration, etc. Other dealers will bring a miscellany of works on various subjects. What you won’t see is an array of flea-market-style sellers with dog-eared, musty paperbacks; even the less expensive material offered at these fairs will often be in exceptional condition, and generally items that show significant wear, if exhibited, are present because they are particularly scarce. This goes for book dealers as well: If you are considering exhibiting at a fair, do a bit of digging to see who has exhibited in the past. Perhaps attend this year to get a lay of the land, with plans to exhibit the following year if it looks like a good venue for your material. Remember that, for a bookseller, book fairs are useful for both buying and selling, so getting to know which dealers regularly attend a show can be a good way of knowing how to be successful there. In the heyday of antiquarian bookselling (or as some have taken to saying, ‘before the internet’), book fairs were essential events in the trade. They provided centralized locations at which to browse stock from numerous dealers, without the travel expenses associated with visiting each of these colleagues individually. They also provided customers with opportunities to do business with booksellers they would not otherwise have occasion to meet. Sometimes getting on that one dealer’s customer list was the difference between tracking down that first edition Steinbeck or Hemingway, and missing out; or, conversely, the difference between selling it or not. At first, the assumption was that the internet and other modern forces like e-books would have a negative impact on book fairs, because they facilitated the location of all sorts of material without the need to leave home. The same were made in regard to the future of used bookstores. What we have seen in the last several years, though, is a continual uptick in interest in used bookstores. Numerous book fairs throughout the United States (not to mention London and Paris) continue to thrive. So, what does that mean for the future of book fairs? In my opinion, it is a bright one, and I don’t merely say this as a starry-eyed idealist, or as a spectator. This year will be my first as head organizer of the 44th Annual Rochester Antiquarian Book Fair, one of the longest continually-running regional book fairs in the country. It is a fair that has treated me well as an exhibitor in the past, and I am excited to work towards its continued success, and to introduce innovations designed to make it even better. These new efforts are designed to capitalize on what continues to make book fairs important and necessary events: the direct interaction of people. My hope is to bring together even more booksellers, and facilitate their interaction with local librarians (both public and collegiate), local literary societies, and with one another. An important element in a strong book trade is a strong literary community, and book fairs are an excellent way to bolster that community on a local level, and to form and foster relationships regionally and nationally. Below are a few resources that should prove useful to those interested in learning more about attending or exhibiting at book fairs, including a link for the Rochester (NY) book fair, to be held Saturday, September 10. Bookfairs.com Antquarian Booksellers Association Of America Events Page International League of Antiquarian Booksellers Events Page Rochester Booksellers Jonathan Smalter, Yesterday’s Muse Books 32 W Main Street, Webster, NY 14580 Yesterday’s Muse Inc. is an independent used & rare bookseller located in Webster, NY. Owner Jonathan Smalter is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (ABAA), and former vice president of the Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA), both of which are trade organizations created to promote ethical online selling practices, and to encourage continuing education among fellow booksellers. He is also a 2011 graduate of the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar (CABS). He has over fifteen years of experience in the book trade, during which time he has become adept at evaluating used and collectible books. #BooksFairs #collecting

Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA) members have been closely monitoring the impacts of the U.S. tariffs since they were first announced. With more than 370 members worldwide, IOBA is ideally suited to understand how these rules affect bookselling businesses, particularly regarding the shipping of books between countries. There have been ongoing discussions on our private members-only Discuss list, and shared news stories drew the attention of The Washington Post, resulting in coverage in the newspaper’s Book Club Newsletter by columnist Ron Charles, with two IOBA members being quoted in the piece. Richard Erdmann, owner of Mare Booksellers in Dover, New Hampshire, discussed some of the issues: Richard Erdmann, vice president of the Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA), tells me he’s been hearing of problems from members in the U.S. and abroad. Even when dealers correctly label a package as informational material, “the shipping companies are erring on the side of caution and labeling it as something other than just a book” — and tacking on extra charges. “Books — especially higher-end books — there’s a low margin on those,” he says. “An extra 20 percent onto what you expected to pay for that book can be a killer for trying to acquire inventory. Some of our sellers in the U.S. are extremely worried these tariffs could mean the end of their small businesses.” Erdmann says his association is concerned that efforts to comply with new U.S. tariff rules could result in E.U. shippers charging ruinous flat fees, such as $80 for a single $10 book. Sylvia Petras, a current IOBA Board Member-at-Large, added her perspective: Sylvia Petras, owner of Leaf and Stone Books in Toronto, tried to use the new declaration form, which requires the address, phone number and Zip code of the manufacturer. “That’s really great in the used book market,” she says. She asked her fellow booksellers, “Anyone happen to have the email address, contact name and Tax ID number for one Aldus Manutius?” (Probably not. Ever since the Italian printer died in 1515, he’s been notoriously slow with paperwork.) The comments above are excerpted with permission, but you can read the full Washington Post article here. IOBA leadership and our members will continue to track and share developments on this and a multitude of other topics through our private Discuss list, and other channels. Additional Links: A statement regarding tariffs and their impact has been released by the Independent Online Booksellers Association. IOBA is a U.S. based, nonprofit, International trade organization benefiting member booksellers. The statement can be read on the IOBA.org website link: https://www.ioba.org/post/an-open-letter-about-book-tariffs Richard Erdman's IOBA Link is: IOBA Member Directory Sylvia Petras's IOBA Link is: IOBA Member Directory

Recent changes to U.S. trade policies are affecting the book trade. The IOBA Board of Directors penned this letter reflecting our concerns. It was sent to U.S. Congress and Senate Committees. We recommend reading this article from the Washington Post by Book Club (Ron Charles): https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?trackId=5980c5dfae7e8a6816fa41a6&s=68baf5e3f869983622e8118b If you're an independent online bookseller, consider joining us. With a larger membership, we have a louder voice to advocate for better policies for the book trade. If you're a concerned citizen, please support independent booksellers. They are navigating uncertainty right now and could use your help! --- Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA) www.ioba.org

Apply for the 2023 CABS Diverse Voices Fellowship on used/rare bookselling! Activities include a two-day field school in Atlanta; a week-long seminar in Minnesota; and virtual events. There will be an info session on October 11th at 5 PM EDT. More info at https://www.bookseminars.com/fellowship.php CABS-Minnesota / Antiquarian Book School Foundation is currently accepting applications for the 2023 Diverse Voices Fellowship on used and rare bookselling. Fellowship activities include a two-day field school in Atlanta, Georgia; a week-long seminar in Minnesota; and various virtual events. Travel, lodging, and meals are covered by the fellowship. People of color, people who identify as LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, people from low-income backgrounds, and people who identify as women, non-binary, and/or trans are eligible to apply. More details are available at bookseminars.com/fellowship.php. There will be an informational session on Zoom next Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 5 PM Eastern (4 PM Central, 3 PM Mountain, 2 PM Pacific), at which prospective applicants will have an opportunity to learn about the fellowship, hear from prior Fellows, and get questions answered. Register here for the info session. In addition, please feel free to contact the fellowship coordinator at michele@bookseminars.com with any questions, or sign up for office hours to speak one-on-one with her. The Antiquarian Book School Foundation (ABSF) is an independent, non-profit, and tax-exempt educational institution focused on promoting, maintaining, and expanding the standards of the antiquarian, used, and out-of-print book trade. CABS-Minnesota, which is administered by the ABSF, is an annual week-long intensive seminar for booksellers, prospective booksellers, and others with an interest in the rare and second-hand book market. For more on our programs and missions, visit our website at bookseminars.com.

As you may know, IOBA is now an affiliate of the Bibliographic Association of America, a wonderful organization promoting bibliography with a significant academic and professional audience. Please see the following notice from the BSA regarding upcoming events, and let me know if you have any questions about the BSA and/or want to get involved. Thanks. Join your friends and colleagues in bibliographical camaraderie this June and July at these BSA-sponsored events, in person and online. Events are all free and open to the public; registration is required for all attendees. A current list of BSA's upcoming events is available at all times at https://bibsocamer.org/programs/upcoming-events/. What's Critical About Critical Bibliography? A Discussion of a Special Issue of Criticism | June 20 at 12pm ET, online +Organized by Lisa Marusa and Kate Ozment, editors of the special issue +Special Issue of Criticism: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/criticism/ +Register (required): https://bit.ly/BSAxCriticism Rare Book Collecting in Black Francophone Caribbean Literature July 14 at 2pm ET, online +Organized and led by Kellee Warren and Curtis Small, Jr. +Register (required): https://bit.ly/Black-Francophone-Carib-Lit Caterina Jarboro, the 1898 Wilmington Riot, and the Challenges of the Archive July 1 9 at 7pm ET, in-person and online +This is the 2023 James Russell Wiggins Lecture in the History of the Book in American Culture by Professor Richard A. Yarborough, organized by the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, MA & co-sponsored by the BSA +Regiser (required): https://www.americanantiquarian.org/wiggins-lecture-richard-yarborough

Read all about the 2023 David Ruggles Prize winners here: https://rugglesprize.org/winners

Rare book seller and high school teacher Jeff Mezzocchi has spent the past 10 years compiling a Crime and Punishment “bookshelf”—a collection of nineteenth-century works of philosophy, science, and fiction that form the novel’s intellectual backdrop. He has generously agreed to share his catalogue of first editions with our readers. Read More here: https://bloggerskaramazov.com/2022/12/21/a-chat-with-jeff-mezzocchi-about-his-crime-and-punishment-bookshelf/

I am pleased to announce the 2023 cohort of the CABS-Minnesota Diverse Voices Fellowship: Lise Childers of Native Books, Zakiya Collier of Shift Collective, Jeannine Cook of Harriett’s Bookshop, Francisco Hernandez of Leaves, and Phillip Richardson of Solitary Confinement. The Fellowship offers professional development on selling used and rare books for individuals from a variety of diverse backgrounds. Read more about the Fellows here:

THE INDEPENDENT ONLINE BOOKSELLERS’ ASSOCIATION AIMS TO COMBINE TRADITIONAL BOOKSELLING BEST PRACTICES WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES OF ONLINE BOOKSELLING https://www.finebooksmagazine.com/issue/caveat-emptor-or-some-thoughts-ethics-and-online-book-buying

The Membership Committee is seeking those who are interested in developing our member categories, and our screening of new members. This years membership drive will start on May 1, 2001. If you have any ideas to help it become a success please join us. Membership will also be looking for new benefits, services and programs. Please join and share your ideas. Thank you for your consideration, Sally Hollingsworth Vice President Interim Membership Chair Finance Committee Report This committee is responsible for establishing budget and financial policy recommendations. The board will then approve or modify them. We will receive monthly financial reports from the Treasurer (who will be overseeing the bookkeeper) which will then be forwarded to the board. On March 7, I was asked to fill the vacancy created when Shirley Bryant resigned as chair. It is my pleasure to do so. The following IOBA members have agreed to serve on this committee: Jerry Blaz, Steve Ericson, Neil Williams, and Vic Zoschak, The various chairs have been asked to submit an estimate of the funds their committee anticipates they will need for their projects. When these estimates are received and the treasurer submits the fixed expenses (bookkeeper, insurance, etc.), we will make our recommendation to the board for this year’s budget and this year’s dues. Pat Ahearn Education Committee Report The Education Committee is hard at work recruiting new members and setting agendas. At the present time we consist of 7 members with perhaps another joining shortly, and they are: Shirley Bryant – Authors & Artists Deb Graham – Books By Blondie Jim Hart – PublishedPage.com (President IOBA) Anne Poe Lehr – Poe’s Cousin Julie Fauble – Century Books Barbara Lightner – Red Wheelbarrow Bookshop Jean McKenna – Jean McKenna – Books (Chair) We hope to accomplish a lot this year, and should with such talented members. Shirley Bryant has compiled a poll for members to see what their interests and hopes are for IOBA education. You will see this shortly. We would like your ideas and comments. We would like to add Bindings, how to identify, describe, etc., to our Education Page on the IOBA site, along with other articles we are currently discussing. These are just a few of our goals at the moment. As I have just recently taken over the chair of this committee, we are still in the planning stages. We welcome members thoughts, ideas, and help. We are all excited and anxious to get to work on these projects. Jean S. McKenna – Chairman Education Committee Net-Operations Committee Report My first couple weeks as IOBA’s Chairman of Net-Operations have been busy! We have a lot to get to work on, to include updating the website with new information as it comes from the members and Board, closing out the remaining issues on the search engine to either bring it out of Beta-testing or decide where to go from here with it, and exploring the development of education in website development and maintenance for members who wish some resources in this area. At a minimum, each newsletter will feature the basic news from our committee to keep members informed of what we’re doing over here, and who is doing the primary work with us. As an all-volunteer organization, it seems to me that about the only payment we can offer is thanks and recognition to our peers. This edition, I would like to thank Susan of Ravenroost Books for her assistance in keeping up with updates for me while I have moved through this transition to Net-Ops and getting up to speed on the site and issues. For this edition of The Standard, the Net-Ops Builder of the Quarter Award must go to Deanna Ramsay, of Ramsay Books, and past Chairman of Net-Operations, not only for her contributions to the website and IOBA’s online presence, but also her continued work with the search engine and ongoing support and membership on my Net-Ops Team. Thank you, thank you, Deanna! We very much need committee members who know html, java, and website development and maintenance, and I am shamelessly recruiting for all the help we can get. Please email me at graham@gnt.net if you would like to join our team! Deb Graham