Considered the next big market for English-language (and all) publishing, China hosted the fourteenth Beijing International Book Fair this past August 30-September 3 at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing.  This was Combined Book Exhibit’s third time participating in the fair, and we—along with our sister company The American Collective Stand—have already garnered a reputation as an important stop on the show floor for attendees and other exhibitors alike.

This year’s show featured Hall 8, the location for American, UK, and other English-language countries, as well as domestic Chinese publishers.  Hall 8 was separate from the main hall of the fair, spreading out exhibitors, but unfortunately, slowing traffic down quite a bit.  Many attendees seemed unaware that a second building was part of the fair, and it took a couple days for everyone to reach Hall 8.  All was not lost however, as, despite slower traffic, profitable deals were made within the American Collective Stand and elsewhere throughout the fair. 

The 2007 Beijing International Book Fair also featured the debut of the International Children’s Publishing Exhibit, a joint effort between the Beijing International Book Fair itself, The Combined Book Exhibit, The American Collective Stand, and the Association of Educational Publishers, with official sponsors, The Children’s Book Council and The Publishers Association of the UK.  This first-time exhibit featured less than 100 books, but received a lot of attention from attendees and media alike, being covered in local Chinese media and Publishers Weekly.

Growing the publishing industry is obviously and issue that the Chinese hold close to their hearts.  In honor of the fair, there was an opening banquet held in the Great Hall of the People, and featuring top-notch live entertainment, and publishing-related speeches given in Chinese, English and German (to acknowledge Germany as the Country of Honor).  The fair’s grand opening featured an opening ceremony honoring the crème de la crème of representatives at the fair, and the fair’s introduction by members of the Chinese government.

Nothing says “back to work” like the end of summer; but, while many see this phrase as one of impending long hours, meetings and (for those of us lucky enough) classes, we in publishing are blessed to face the changing of seasons not with a heavy heart, but with heartfelt excitement for the face-to-face, book-to-eye time we get to experience at the upcoming fall book fairs. 

State, regional, national, and international shows fill out the coming months, and now that the clerical and administrative work of creating show catalogs, floor plans and hotel reservations is behind us, we can all look forward to simply attending, and connecting with our audience.

On the state level, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, California and Illinois are all hosting their library association trade shows.  The libraries of states north and east of New York are being represented by the New England Library Association, and New York is getting double face time by hosting its state reading association show this month as well.  All state shows are the ideal location to connect with those whom, in the library and classroom caste systems, are the ones making the selections and buying decisions.

National shows are a great opportunity to be seen on a greater level, by a greater number of people in one location.  This October, the bi-annual conference of the American Association of School Libraries will be held in Reno, Nevada.  This show represents libraries in the k-12 level, and is a great place to showcase your children, student, young reader, and young adult material.

Also in October is the show that really needs no introduction:  The Frankfurt Book Fair.  As the largest show in the world, most of us know the importance of attending Frankfurt each year.  And, as the largest show in the world, the Frankfurt Book is the perfect venue to end a year of successful international book fairs, where rights and distribution deals are often struck.

With all of this on the industry’s plate, fall feels a lot more exciting, and a lot less stressful (we save the stress for the Christmas push).  2007 looks to end as strong as it started, and we hope to carry it over in 2008.

Editor’s Note:  Unfortunately, registration for participation in the Combined Book Exhibit at most of these shows has closed, but now that you know the importance of each level, I’m sure that you’ll be sure to register on time next year if you couldn’t this year.