9/26/05: Borders Is Focus Of Brouhaha (Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative)

Borders Is Focus Of Brouhaha

The Capital Times

Monday, September 26, 2005

Heather Lee Schroeder Special to The Capital Times

No large public event can escape controversy, and this year's Wisconsin Book Festival is no exception. Some booksellers are complaining about what they view as preferential treatment being given to Borders Books.

Borders' corporate office donated $5,000 this year, and in return, manager Michael Chaim (Wisconsin Book Festival director Alison Jones Chaim's husband) was given first pick of the events at which his store would sell books. Bakopoulos stressed in a recent telephone interview that Borders did not demand the right, but rather it was given as a thank you for the company's corporate support.

Rainbow Booksellers Cooperative events manager Allen Ruff said that Borders getting first choice of events left little opportunity for Madison's independent booksellers. He characterizes what was left after Borders made its selection as dross: minor events without popular appeal. Rainbow chose to sell books at only one event.

He said that without a mix of big-name and smaller-name events at which to sell, independent bookstores have a hard time recovering the costs of staffing book tables at the festival.