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Who We Are

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Book Publishing Hall of Fame™ is a celebration of those who write, create, produce, sell, promote, review, preserve, and consume books. We are a community of experts and novices who treasure books.

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It is also a place for our entire community to gather and contribute ideas, share information, and provide unique vantage points regarding all things books, where discussions can cover anything from writing, publishing, and reading books, to literacy, free speech, language, and many other areas.  Our organization is a forum for developing what in fact a hall of fame for book publishing should look like. We are also here to identify and confront issues facing the book world today, put the book industry into a historical perspective, identify new trends, and develop an agenda around how to promote the reading, writing, and sharing of great books.

Launched in January 2020, Book Publishing Hall of Fame is initially a digital membership home for those who cherish books and want to highlight greatness in the book world. We are here for those who are part of -- or want to support -- the book world’s ecosystem of bookstores, libraries, schools, publishers, and those in the industry. It is also for those who appreciate the societal contribution of books and the economic impact of the book industry on neighborhoods, the nation, and the world.

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Though this organization initially exists as an idea, the goal is to develop a concept and grow from it a clear mission statement and a timetable to execute a well-crafted vision. Join this ground-level opportunity to be a part of the founding of this organization. Together, we shall define how we will honor great people, books, ideas, events, and organizations.

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It's all up for grabs. You can help play a unique role in determining not only the fate of Book Publishing Hall of Fame – but of the existence and role of books today and tomorrow.

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Filling A Need

Be a part of an amazing world, the world of books, and help keep books on top of the information and entertainment food chain in a nation and world challenged by more free and paid content and entertainment than it can manage. From music, video games, blogs, podcasts, websites, news media, social media, movies, television, theatre, and pro sports, the book is fighting for its life.

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From a blog and podcast to a store and membership community – and of course books – Book Publishing Hall of Fame debuted on January 18, 2020! What will it become, in terms of activism, public events, online gatherings, products, and social significance? Well, that is up to you and your fellow supporters, and lovers of books and the written word.

Wherever possible, we want to tell the story of books through books. That means we will discuss, note, or share information about books that help shed light on some aspect of books, whether it is a book about great writers, the best books, oddities in our language, the history of the industry, how to raise hungry readers, how to get published, banned books, or any of scores of other topics that are sure to interest you.

 

If we can unify the industry, educate others, set some standards, and all promote books, our purpose will be fulfilled. Whether we take a philosophical look at books and society or seek out ways to collaborate, build and expand the book universe, our task is great but the reward is all so fulfilling. If there is something almost as good as reading or writing books, it's to talk about them.

Are you ready to join the discussion – and be a part of the solution? Do you want to champion books? Help us enhance society one book at a time, and change the world one word at a time. We are building a house of books – in our minds, hearts, and the real world – and paying homage to the rich history of great contributors to the world of books.

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What We Do

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Book Publishing Hall of Fame is raising and seeking to answer many questions, including these:

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• Is a book publishing hall of fame really needed, and if so, what should it consist of?

• Can it exist without a central physical home and museum display?

• Does it have to have members inducted? If so, for which area? Who would be eligible?

• Who should judge? What type of nominating or voting criteria could be used?

• How do we honor the sacrifices and successes of those involved in the book ecosystem?

• What can we do to promote literacy and partner with existing non-profits, government agencies, and educators?

• How do we battle book censorship and book bans?

• How can we promote the value and importance – and joy – books bring to society?

• Are all books important? Do all books need to be published and live forever?

• How do we determine which writers or what books are considered great?

• What are the challenges today’s book industry is facing?

• How do we define what a book essentially is?

• Which books should we all read – why?

• How do we create a book world representative of the cultural demographics of today’s America while still preserving a wealth and treasure trove of great books from past eras?

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Along the way, Book Publishing Hall of Fame will grow with you. It will deliver:

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• Useful, inspiring, and intellectually-moving content on all things books.

• Links to useful resources.

• Surveys that help identify our ideas, needs, and desires.

• Historical stories and facts.

• A debate over awards, lists, and rankings.

• The raising of ideas, some great and some awful, to encourage dialogue and discovery.

• A means to bring exposure to new voices that will lead to a unification of the book world.

• Opportunities to set ethical and professional standards for the book industry.

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Advocating For All Things Books

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Books matter in how we live our lives – they provide information, inspiration, entertainment, and enlightenment. We will encourage the writing and sharing of great books that help people. All books influence the way we see the world and the world that we create. We shall seek to:

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• Help position books as the leading source of information and as progenitors of ideas that could make our lives and the world better.

• Expand the circulation and availability of books to everyone and everywhere.

• Explore how to make better books, and create, as a result, a better society.

• Support organizations and individuals that support books.

• Advocate for books and writers.

• Speak out against piracy, copyright violations, censorship, book bans, hoaxes, and plagiarism.

• Promote the author as our leading thinker.

• Curate and aggregate lists/awards/data/resources that are relevant to the book world.

• Be an ambassador for books. We would benefit from having an advocate to lobby for all things books.

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Why Now?

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A decade before Book Publishing Hall of Fame was launched, the world of books was undergoing uncertainty, numerous challenges, and many changes. A trifecta of challenges was at play: the Great Recession turned the economy upside down; the closing of Borders and the wild growth of Amazon changed the face of book retail; and the boom of e-books and the explosion of social media altered how books were consumed and talked about. Technology, the economy, and the retail consumer were undergoing a revolution.

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The dust has now settled and books remain a part of our lives but their hold on us is tenuous. If we are to keep the book world strong, we must support it, raise new readers, and talk it up for books just as many of us are quick to discuss Netflix, Facebook, Apple, Google, Tesla, or any other trending and dominant industry-changing force. The book has been under threat from its very beginning and it deserves to be protected by all of us.
 

The book industry, however, lacks a representative. It doesn't have the showcase event that some industries have. The book world lacks a well-known televised awards show on par with the Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, or Grammys. It doesn’t have a Super Bowl or World Series. It doesn’t have a spokesperson, a mascot, or an identity. It lacks a hall of fame. It lacks a home or a central repository for bringing all of those connected to the book world together. But it does have a long and rich history, one worthy of attention.

 

The time for Book Publishing Hall of Fame is now!

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