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November 15-30, 2003 Edition NEW AAP AWARD CELEBRATES

CREATIVITY IN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING

WASHINGTON, D.C./11/14/03—The Association of American Publishers (AAP) has announced a new award, to be given for the first time in February, to honor an individual who has made a creative and innovative contribution to the world of independent publishing. Co-sponsored by AAP, Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, and National Book Network (NBN), the first annual Miriam Bass Award for Creativity in Independent Publishing will be presented in Washington, DC on February 25, 2004 at the AAP Annual

Meeting for Smaller and Independent Publishers. The award will carry a $5,000 cash prize, which will be fully funded by Rowman & Littlefield and NBN.

According to AAP President Pat Schroeder, the award was established for a dual purpose—to seek out and recognize exceptional creativity in independent publishing, and to serve as a memorial tribute to Miriam Bass, one of the most beloved and respected members of the industry, who died earlier this year. At the time of her death, which followed a publishing career that spanned more than a quarter-century, Miriam Bass was Vice President of Marketing at NBN. Publishing industry friends say she will be remembered as much for her generosity in mentoring younger colleagues as for her creative and pioneering work in book marketing.

A prestigious award committee will select the winner from among nominations submitted to AAP by December 15, 2003. Anyone working at an independent publishing house in any area, including editorial, marketing, finance, sales, production, and design, is eligible. Nomination forms can be found on the AAP web site http://www.publishers.org or can be obtained from Katie Blough in the AAP New York office (kblough@publishers.org).

The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP’s members include most of the major commercial book publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses, and scholarly societies. AAP members publish hardcover and paperback books in every field, educational materials for the elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and professional markets, computer software, and electronic products and services.