IBF/ICYB/BA Bookselling Academy at the London Book Fair 2009

THE BOOKSELLING ACADEMY at the London Book Fair 2009. The London Book Fair is delighted to launch an exciting new initiative for 2009: the international centre of education, training and best practice. By leveraging its central position in the industry to broker key partnerships, the Fair will deliver expertise and excellence through targeted training sessions in both the retail and publishing association sectors. The first Bookselling Academy will be an invaluable addition to next year’s varied event schedule. Created in partnership by the Booksellers Association (BA) , the International Booksellers’ Federation (IBF) and the International Congress of Young Booksellers (ICYB) this one day event will take place on Wednesday 22nd April. Aimed at anyone new to bookselling or from developing markets, it will include sessions on in store marketing, window dressing and web marketing. Meryl Halls, The Booksellers Association: “The BA is delighted to be involved in helping develop the Bookselling Academy during LBF. It is an exciting new addition to the programme of events for booksellers at the Fair and we all hope to see an increase in European and international booksellers – and those from the UK, for whom it will be equally valuable - at the Fair as they recognize the value of the Academy. We know from our experience in the UK how important bookseller education and networking is, and the Academy programme is compelling and attractive.” Karl Pus, IBF President and bookseller in Austria: “I am delighted with this new project! The IBF Secretariat, and the ICYB, (International Congress of Young Booksellers), which is a branch of IBF have been aware for a long time of booksellers’ needs in the field of training. The partnership with the London Book Fair and its sponsors is a perfect answer to this need and offers participants a great and intense training day at the Fair and a wonderful opportunity to visit some bookshops in London." Fran Dubruille, IBF Director: “I am thrilled to work on this project and provide IBF and ICYB Members with a first-class professional programme. Working with the London Book Fair, the British BA and the young booksellers of ICYB has been and continues to be an invigorating experience for me. I am looking forward to seeing great things come from it.” Alistair Burtenshaw, Group Exhibition Director, The London Book Fair: “The London Book Fair is delighted to host this great initiative, and it is fabulous to add exciting new partnerships to our educational portfolio. Now, the London Book Fair will enable a much wider audience to benefit from this key development source.”

For further information about IBF, please contact ibf [dot] booksellers [at] skynet [dot] be