Welcome to The Bookselling Research Network! 

Who are we?  We are researchers, booksellers, publishers, and people and associations from around the world who share a common interest in the history, practice, and culture of bookselling.  

The Network is led by Dr Eben Muse (Bangor University, The Stephen Colclough Centre for the History and Culture of the Book) Professor Samantha Rayner (UCL, The Centre for Publishing and the Bloomsbury CHAPTER), and Dr Matthew Chambers (University of Warsaw) is the Publications Director. The Booksellers Association and the Books Council of Wales support the Network.

What does the BRN provide? 

  • access to a community of people who are connected to work around bookshops and bookselling
  • an online hub for news, research, queries, and information about bookshops, booksellers, and bookselling in the UK and across the world
  • events on aspects of bookselling, including (we hope!) a biennial international conference on bookselling and bookshops
  • the chance for knowledge exchange between different communities connected to bookshops (booksellers, researchers, publishers, associations, readers)
  • a resource bank of materials (archival, ephemeral, teaching-related) for use in work around bookselling

Network Aims

The Bookselling Research Network aims to:

  • identify and connect people working in bookselling, researching bookselling, or working in areas linked to bookselling
  • support the strategic decision-making of the Booksellers Association and UK book councils by researching bookshop-related histories, economic environments, professional practices and cultural impacts;
  • make bookselling research available via public events (conferences, symposia, lectures and workshops) and publications (journal articles, trade articles, books, reports);
  • develop the field of bookselling so that knowledge gaps are filled, and research demonstrates the impact bookshops and booksellers have (and have had) on our cultural, economic, and social;
  • provide an evidence base for the strategic development of bookselling in both its physical and online forms;
  • enhance and raise awareness of the cultural, economic and social value of bookshops (in all their forms) and bookselling worldwide.

How do I join?

To request to join, email either of the two Chairs, Dr Eben Muse (e.****@ba****.uk) or Professor Samantha Rayner (s.******@uc*.uk), outlining your connection to bookselling and why you would like to be part of the Network.