Bowker and AAP Will Host Webinar on Consumer Book Buying

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ--(Marketwire - September 22, 2009) - Who is today's book consumer, where are they shopping and how successful are we at reaching them will be the subject of a forthcoming hour-long webinar for industry professionals, a first-of-its-kind sneak peek into book buying trends for the first half of 2009. Set for Thursday, October 22, from 2:00 p.m - 3 pm EDT, the webinar will be co-hosted by Bowker and the Association of American Publishers (AAP).

Publishers, booksellers, and other industry professionals will have the opportunity to understand consumer book buying behavior through Bowker's PubTrack™ Consumer, one of the industry's leading sources for intelligence on consumer book buying behavior. Moving beyond basic book sales data, the webinar will provide insight into who today's book buyer is, what they buy, where they buy books and what motivates their purchase. "A program which sheds some light on the mindset and purchasing behavior of book buyers is particularly timely in light of the recession's impact on retail markets, the rapidly growing demand for e-book content and burgeoning interest in devices and formats, and the real need for a better understanding of book consumers as we head into a critical holiday season," said Tom Allen, President & CEO of the Association of American Publishers. "We hope the program is informative and provides useful insight for all members of the book trade."

Highlights of the webinar will include the most recent book consumer population demographics (who's buying what), types of books being purchased (fiction, nonfiction, mystery, romance, juvenile, YA), where readers buy their books, how they learn about new titles, the impact of the Internet, interest in e-books and audiobooks. Attendees will be able to follow the audio presentation and ask questions in real time. Bowker's Kelly Gallagher, Vice President, Publisher Services, will present, with the virtual audience Q&A facilitated by AAP Vice President Tina Jordan.

The October 22nd event is the first of what is expected to be a series of webinars the two organizations will host in the coming months. A second webinar, "Emerging Book Trends for 2009," is scheduled for 2 pm EDT on Wednesday, December 9th. That program will provide an overview of the changing climate of book buying in 2009 including e-book buzz, online social networks and marketing, changing channels, buying versus library patronage, as well as highlight the connection between what publishers publish and what consumers buy.

To register for the October 22nd webinar ($49 per individual participant; $99 multiple participants using one login at a company) please visit www.bookconsumer.com or email PubTrackInfo@bowker.com.

About Bowker

Bowker is the world's leading provider of bibliographic information management solutions designed to help publishers, booksellers, and libraries better serve their customers. The company is focused on developing various tools and products that make books easier for people to discover, evaluate, order, and experience, as well as providing services to publishers that help them better understand and meet the interests of readers worldwide. Bowker is a member of the ProQuest family of companies and is headquartered in New Providence, N.J., with additional operations in England and Australia. For more information, please visit www.bowker.com.

The Association of American Publishers

The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP's more than 300 members include most of the major commercial publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies. The protection of intellectual property rights in all media, the defense of the freedom to read and the freedom to publish at home and abroad, and the promotion of reading and literacy are among the Association's highest priorities.

Contact Information: Contact: Judy Platt 202/220-4551