From the President

Traditionally, newly elected IOBA Presidents started out the year with a message to the members. I was going to do that in this issue, but instead, I wound up writing an article on collecting which I think will be a lot more entertaining to read (I certainly enjoyed writing it!).

I will keep this brief, and try to avoid platitudes:

As a long time promoter of IOBA, I have been asked many times “why does IOBA even exist?” More to the point, why do I think it is so important that I am willing to volunteer a lot of my time to the Association?

Here are just two reasons:

Recently I received a “want match” from AbeBooks. We have all become inured to the far-too- common “may have underlining” in what passes for a book description, but this one had a phrase that caught my attention: “Damaged. . . . may contain excessive writing, cover wear, staining, mold or torn pages.” This is not what online bookselling should be! No responsible bookseller should be sending out books which “may have mold” — books which could endanger the health of anyone who handles them.

IOBA, thankfully, exists to stand up against this blatant disregard for best bookselling practices, and for the rights of customers. IOBA’s members cover the entire spectrum of online bookselling, but they are unified in their belief that buyers are entitled to an honest description of what they are purchasing sight unseen, and in their concern for the future of bookselling itself. And I’m proud to be part of an organization that supports such sellers — not just by helping them say “here is the Code of Ethics I go by,” but also through providing education, scholarships, a discussion forum, and a supportive community to which they they can turn for help when needed.

The second reason: not long ago, a bookstore owner in Ohio lost virtually his entire inventory when a pipe broke in the floor above his store. An IOBA member posted the story of this catastrophe on the IOBA Discuss list, and members from all over the world came together to contribute books and money, to help this bookseller — not an IOBA member himself, by the way — recover from his disaster. Quite simply, it made me proud to be an IOBAn, and reminded me what a great group this can be.

As IOBA continues to grow, the more effective we will be in upholding “traditional standards” even as we adapt to the constant changes of the Internet and adopt new technologies,  and the better able we will be to help one another when the need arises. I am fortunate this year in having a great team on the Board, but what really matters to IOBA are its members. Without them, IOBA is nothing. With all of us working together, we can become an organization that will be a real force in online bookselling.

Christine Volk & Shep Iiams, Booksellers

Bookfever.com P.O. Box 696, Ione CA 95640

From the President

Change, Challenge, and Response

I had an article nearly finished for this edition of the Standard, and took the article to my “day job” today to finish the last ten percent. Today turned into an exercise in how to make smooth transitions between crises and the article went unfinished. After dragging myself back home I reflected on the day and found that it illustrated some things that I was struggling to explain in my article. Following one of my numerous credos—“never be afraid to throw it away and start again”—I did exactly that and wrote a new article based on my day. At first glance it may not seem related to bookselling or the IOBA, but, if you’ll indulge my rambling, the meaning may be clear to you by the last word.

My favorite author is Dr. Seuss, and just as his Cat In The Hat introduced you to Thing One and Thing Two, I’ll do the same.

Thing One: I have a day job. Like many of your day jobs, mine has nothing to do with bookselling. While acclimated to bookselling by temperament, previous ownership of an open shop, an illogical affinity for the general public, and simple desire, my financial situation doesn’t allow full-time participation. Life dealt me some cards, some I chose, but it all adds up to the hand that I hold and it doesn’t allow me to have an open shop for the foreseeable future. If you get a daytime missive from me it’s because I’m leaned over the keyboard and a plastic tray of Lean Cuisine’s finest during my lunch break at the job that pays the bills.

Like being a full-time owner of a bookstore, my situation is tenuous. I’m a contractor who manages IT projects for one of the largest hospital systems in the US, but being a contractor I’m always “on the bubble” of being bumped out of my current situation if my work is done, or I’m not needed, or any number of other reasons.

Thing Two: My day job was one long series of crises today. Just when it seemed like things were getting under control, a car hit a utility pole a block away and cut off power to our office where all IT operations occur. On emergency power only, with no lights in a generally windowless building, and late in the afternoon, it was rational for me to just give up and go home. I was certainly willing to do so, since my day had consumed most of my energy and good will.

At that point my pager produced its hysterical beep and suggested that I bring my laptop computer to the café down the street. I did so and met my boss and his boss, not to partake of the specialty of the house, but to continue the workday. We logged into the house’s free wireless Internet service, hopped from there to our own network via a secure connection, and continued the day’s efforts. Undisturbed, we produced a rough draft of a plan we’d been working on. It was easily the most productive 1 ½ hours of our day.

So what on earth does any of this have to do with bookselling or the Independent Online Booksellers Association?

Thing One: The odds are good that I’m like you, given that most online booksellers have a primary job unrelated to bookselling and are part-time booksellers. As the incoming president I represent not just the majority of IOBA members, but the majority of online booksellers. I have experience that enables me to understand the needs of the high and low ends of the trade, but I’m working in the same manner as the majority and that majority is the group that drives and directs the trade.

I see my presidential task as a project management task, specifically to support the full spectrum of online sellers while strengthening the part-time majority that may feel threatened by changes to the trade.

Thing Two: I’m familiar with change on short notice. When circumstances turn for the worse I’m as adept as anyone at wringing my hands and emitting whining noises, but that doesn’t make anything better. When electric power went away there was still a way to change how I worked and made progress. When the IOBA is faced with change and crisis there is still a way to navigate through it and find an appropriate direction. 2007 is a year that will bring questions and decisions.

The IOBA faces change. How might we offer more tangible benefits? How can we increase membership? What kind of organization are we today? More importantly, what kind of organization should we be today and what kind should we be in five years? The long-range answer will give us a definite direction for our short-term decisions.

I appreciate the opportunity to work beside a capable, energized board of directors and appreciate the responsibility of improving our members’ collective lot. Let’s get busy.

Best regards,

Michael Watson president@ioba.org

Michael Watson operates 20 Ants out of Indianapolis, IN and can be contacted at http://www.20ants.com.

President’s Message

The election is over, and we’re heading into a new year with a something old and something new board of directors.  (If I could figure out how to fit something borrowed and something blue in there, this would all segue nicely with my current theory on how a book business is like a marriage.  But that’s a column for another time.)

Some board members are returning in new roles: Maria Bustillos served as membership/public relations chair last year, and is now Vice President; Greg Williams was finance chair and is now stepping into the role of Treasurer; and Jean McKenna, who served as education chair, is one of our Members-at-Large.  I just adore these folks, and I think they’re all going to be fabulous.

Alyce Cresap is returning as Member-at-Large and Internet Operations chair, much to my great relief.  She’s an incredibly reliable worker, and most important to me, no matter how scatter-brained I get, she manages to poke, prod and nag me back on track.  Honestly, I would never have made it through last year without her help.

In the something new category, I am thrilled to welcome Aimee England, Forrest Proper and Angela Thorpe to the board.

Aimee will be serving as secretary.  You know the old saying, that if you want something done, give it to busy person.  Aimee’s a busy person, active in both her bookstore and her community.  She sometimes shares her schedule, and I get exhausted just reading it, but she’s got the energy to be out there going day in and day out.  I’m just tickled pink that IOBA is getting some of that energy.

And then there’s Forrest.  I used to be so intimidated by Forrest.  First off, he’s got that name: Forest Proper, Joslin Hall Rare Books.  Can anything sound more prim and stuffy and, well, “proper” than that?  Then he’s got that whole ABAA thing and the books to die for and he’s in Concord, Massachusetts, home of Thoreau, Emerson and all those guys I worshipped in college.  The whole thing screamed intimidating.  Fortunately, the truth is Forrest is not a prim and stuffy old academic in an ivory tower.  He is extremely intelligent, knowledgeable and professional, and the big bonus is he’s got a wicked sense of humor.  We’ll need all those qualities this year.

Angela is a “newbie” to IOBA, and I look forward to getting to know her.  I already like her spirit!  It takes guts to jump into something like this, just like it took guts for her to jump into bookselling full-time.  I am sure she will bring energy and derring-do to IOBA.

I think this will be a great board, and I’m very pleased that I get to be a part of it.

I also want to thank our departing board members.  Jerry, David, Sally, Anne and Chris, I am so very grateful for all your contributions.  You managed to put up with a president for whom “organization” is a four-letter word.  You spoke your minds and debated the issues intelligently and civilly.  You gave your time and your energy, and you believed in IOBA and its mission.  Thank you.

Julie Fauble, President