A Global Affair

Thousands of publishers and exhibitors from more than 100 countries are convening at the UAE’s annual Sharjah International Book Fair, which runs through November 16, to talk shop, make deals, and chart a course for the industry’s future. PM Press is aiming to crowdfund $250,000 to secure ownership of its warehouse in upstate New York, amid what the radical publisher’s owners called a precarious moment for small presses. At a tough time for nonfiction sales, Hachette’s Basic Books imprint, which turns 75 this year, remains buoyed by its popularity with both the trade and academia. OpenAI has signed a $38 billion cloud computing deal with Amazon, reports the New York Times. Meanwhile, Slate looks into the recently inked AI licensing deal between Arcadia Publishing, known for its local and regional history books, and an unnamed tech company. Tech Brew talks with Steve Potash, CEO of Libby parent company OverDrive, about how AI might help libraries. The Cut considers why people are using AI chatbots as a substitute for book clubs, among other hobbies. And the New York Times pays a visit to Argosy Books, the oldest independent bookstore in New York City, for its 100th anniversary.