Scholastic Inc.

From multimillion-dollar acquisitions to multimillion-dollar best-sellers, powerful women stand at every pivotal, decision-making point in the book publishing process. Book Business’ first annual “50 Top Women in Book Publishing” feature recognizes and honors some of these industry leaders who affect and transform how publishing companies do business, and what—and how—consumers read.

The preliminary settlement agreement between the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild and Google regarding Google’s Book Search project and its alleged copyright violation has been heralded by the parties involved as a victory. Other publishers and industry analysts also have voiced optimism over the settlement’s impact on the industry. But as the date of the final settlement review (the Fairness Hearing) approaches (June 11), many still are investigating the agreement’s details. Others have voiced concern and suggest the settlement demands some significant changes.

The 3rd Annual SustainPrint Awards, produced by Publishing Executive and Book Business magazines, will recognize two book and two magazine publishing companies for their achievements in environmental sustainability. Nominations for this year's awards are currently being accepted (visit www.SustainPrint.com for a nomination form); the deadline is Dec. 31. A 'green' celebration of the award winners will take place Monday evening, March 23, 2009, at the New York Marriott Marquis, Times Square, N.Y., during the 2009 Publishing Business Conference & Expo.

Imagine being able to tell your grandkids that you worked on the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper” album, or on “Star Wars”—playing an important role in the creation of a cultural phenomenon that anyone would be proud to claim as the capstone of their career. Francine Colaneri, the book industry’s 2008 Publishing Executive Hall of Fame inductee, is just that lucky. As vice president of manufacturing and supply chain at global children’s education and media company Scholastic Inc. (New York), she was instrumental in coordinating the manufacture and distribution of all seven books in the “Harry Potter” series published in the United States. “We

Children are pulled in many directions today; at least, their attention is. They are occupied by MP3 players, gaming systems, computers, cell phones, handheld electronic games and other digital technologies. And yes, children still play old-fashioned board games. They also attend school, compete in team sports, and participate in community and extracurricular activities. With all of these outlets occupying children’s time, how are books faring? With an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 new children’s titles released each year, children’s book publishers are concerned with how their books can compete for young readers’ attention with the thousands of titles already in the market, according to Ron

What is your best management tactic? “People are the key to success. Build a team with diverse strengths, whose members are committed, goal-oriented and embrace change.” What is key to building collaboration among departments and vendor partners? “Recognizing the value of co-workers and business partners, being open-minded and willing to compromise, and always being fair.” What’s the best cost-saving tactic you (or Scholastic) has implemented? “One I’m most proud of is developing a lower basis-weight paper for one of our major book formats. It was truly a collaborative effort on the part of the mill, printer and Scholastic.” What keeps you up at night?

The Asia Foundation is providing publishers with an alternative to incinerating or pulping overruns and excess stock. Through its Books for Asia program, which the foundation started in 1954, publishers may instead donate these books for distribution to remote and impoverished areas throughout the Asian continent. Books for Asia delivers nearly one million books and educational resources to 17 countries in Asia every year. Publishers that have already partnered with the program include McGraw-Hill, John Wiley and Sons, Scholastic, W.W. Norton, Island Press and Lynne Rienner Publishers. Melody Zavala, director of Books for Asia, spoke with Book Business Extra about the San Francisco-based

With its new Web site, HBG has established an infrastructure for digital development, says COO Beth Ford. With close to one year on the job, Hachette Book Group (HBG) Chief Operating Officer Beth Ford continues to work toward increasing efficiencies—and profits—for owner Hachette Livre, who purchased the publishing company from Time Warner in March 2006. Ford, who joined HBG last September after serving seven years as Scholastic’s senior vice president of global operations and information technology, dove right in by reviewing the publisher’s processes and identifying “gaps” that needed to be filled. It’s a full plate of responsibilities—one Ford relishes, she says.

Green was the fashionable color on Monday evening, March 10, as more than 200 publishing industry executives gathered for a unique celebration in the Marquis Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis in New York’s Times Square, during the Publishing Business Conference & Expo. It wasn’t an early St. Patty’s Day celebration either, but a celebration honoring the recipients of the 2nd Annual SustainPrint Leadership Awards, recognizing achievements and leadership in “green” publishing. The awards—established in 2007 by SustainPrint.com (the Web site produced by book business and publishing executive magazines to cover environmental sustainability in printing and publishing)—recognize book- and magazine-publishing companies each year for outstanding

The second-annual SustainPrint Leadership Awards have been announced, recognizing book and magazine publishers for their outstanding achievements in environmental sustainability. Scholastic Inc. and Chelsea Green Publishing are the 2008 winners in the book category. The awards are presented by Book Business and Publishing Executive magazines and SustainPrint.com—which provides information on environmental sustainability in printing and publishing. The awards were presented on Monday evening at an awards reception during the Publishing Business Conference & Expo at the New York Marriott Marquis (http://www.PublishingBusiness.com). Scholastic Inc. won in the “Newcomer of the Year” category for book publishers and Chelsea Green won in the “Longtime Leader” category for