[LM_NET] GEN: OT special request re problems in ordering Kiyo Sato's memoir

[Ken Umbach <ken@UMBACHCONSULTING.COM>]

Hi, folks . . .

Perhaps you have read my review of Kiyo Sato's remarkable memoir, Dandelion 
Through the Crack, in the Web supplement to the Sept/Oct 2007 issue of 
Knowledge Quest -- see 
www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/kqweb/kqarchives/volume36/361/361umbach.cfm
 
(BTW, I would welcome comments on the review).

The book, published by a small press, has had distribution problems that 
the publisher is still trying to correct. Meanwhile, if you have tried to 
order it and have been told it is unavailable (by Baker & Taylor or Barnes 
& Noble, for example), I would appreciate a note directly from you to me, 
ken@umbachconsulting.com, about that situation. That information, which I 
will pass along to the publisher (who is a friend and professional 
colleague), might help him to break the logjam with B&T and B&N. B&T has 
ordered some copies, presumably in response to orders, but still seems to 
be reporting the book as unavailable in response to many inquiries, and B&N 
has been utterly clueless and obstinate, for reasons no one can explain. It 
took preorders, and then refused to fill them.

This is discouraging, as it is a genuinely great book, and is pertinent to 
the high school curriculum, as one of my KQ sidebars documents.

Meanwhile, apparently school and library book jobber The Book House ( 
<http://thebookhouse.com>http://thebookhouse.com  ) is filling orders. 
Information on success of failure in ordering via that company would also 
be of interest.  Amazon is filling orders and of course the publisher fills 
orders directly ( www.DandelionThroughTheCrack.com ).

Thanks. I know this is somewhat off topic, but given that former California 
State Librarian Kevin Starr gave Dandelion a rave endorsement and in fact 
was key in propelling the book toward publication, I think it is worth the 
mention here.

(For those in the Sacramento area, if you are looking for a speaker about 
the Internment and civil liberties, Kiyo Sato has vast experience, and at 
84 is still a superb speaker. She has spoken to many school groups over the 
last 20-some years, most recently to Dr. Gordon Lam's history class at 
Folsom Lake College, near Sacramento. I can put you in touch with her, or 
the publisher can.)

Ken Umbach


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ken Umbach
Columnist, Knowledge Quest
Policy Analyst, California Research Bureau, California State Library
Writer, editor, researcher, consultant, www.umbachconsulting.com
ken@umbachconsulting.com
916-733-2159 -- voice mail
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