The Wooster Book Company
Encyclopedia
The Wooster Book Company is a publishing firm and bookstore located in Wooster, Ohio.
A small publisher with over one-hundred titles, The Wooster Book Company has produced titles such as Ohio’s Bicentennial Barns and Covered Bridges: Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia. As the publisher of books by Louis Bromfield
, one title, Early Autumn
, a novel, has won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
and one title, Awake and Rehearse, collects several O. Henry Prize stories.
The Wooster Book Company also publishes books by Scott Russell Sanders, a winner of the Lannan Foundation literary award, and by Wes Jackson
, president of the Land Institute
.
The publishing company is directly affiliated with the bookstore of the same name.
. It now occupies 7300 square feet (678.2 m²) with over 40,000 titles.
In 2000, The Wooster Book Company took over the sponsorship and administration of the Buckeye Book Fair, Ohio’s largest literary event. The Book Fair is open to the public, with approximately one hundred authors participating in the annual day-long festival.
Under the trade name “The Wooster Book Company,” its first title, a corporate history of Rubbermaid
, written by retired Rubbermaid CEO and Chairman of the Board, Donald E. Noble
, was released in 1996.
Subsequent publishing projects have been done in association with the Ohio State University Medical Center
, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
, Ohio Library Council, and the American Angus Association
.
Additional titles in many areas of interest have been released under ISBN prefixes 1-59098 and 1-888683.
Children’s programs in the bookstore were recognized with a “Friend of Young Children” award in 1997. The business expanded in 2000, rebuilt and restored its facade in 2001 as well as expanding their publishing services operation in the same year. This resulted in a second recognition for revitalization and a second nomination for a Chamber of Commerce successful business award in 2005.
In 2002, David Wiesenberg, co-owner of The Wooster Book Company was recognized with an Ohioana Citation for his contribution to the community and for commitment to Ohio literature.http://www.ohioana.org/features/resources.asp
The Wooster Book Company was recognized in 2008 by the Ohio Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress
, as an Advocate for the Literary Arts.http://www.ohiocenterforthebook.org/index.php?q=node/575
Company Profile
The Wooster Book Company promotes and develops literary works of regional interest to Ohio and surrounding areas; especially those written works which feature themes of natural history and rural living.A small publisher with over one-hundred titles, The Wooster Book Company has produced titles such as Ohio’s Bicentennial Barns and Covered Bridges: Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia. As the publisher of books by Louis Bromfield
Louis Bromfield
Louis Bromfield was an American author and conservationist who gained international recognition winning the Pulitzer Prize and pioneering innovative scientific farming concepts.-Biography:...
, one title, Early Autumn
Early Autumn
Early Autumn is a 1926 novel by Louis Bromfield. It won the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel in 1927.-Plot synopsis:The novel is set in the fictional Massachusetts town of Durham shortly after World War I. The Pentland family is rich and part of the upper class, but their world is rapidly changing...
, a novel, has won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction has been awarded for distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life. It originated as the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel, which was awarded between 1918 and 1947.-1910s:...
and one title, Awake and Rehearse, collects several O. Henry Prize stories.
The Wooster Book Company also publishes books by Scott Russell Sanders, a winner of the Lannan Foundation literary award, and by Wes Jackson
Wes Jackson
-Early life and Education:Jackson was born and raised on a farm near Topeka, Kansas. After earning a BA in biology from Kansas Wesleyan University, an MA in botany from the University of Kansas, and a PhD in genetics from North Carolina State University, Wes Jackson established and served as chair...
, president of the Land Institute
Land Institute
The Land Institute is a non-profit research, education, and policy organization dedicated to sustainable agriculture based in Salina, Kansas, United States....
.
The publishing company is directly affiliated with the bookstore of the same name.
History
The Wooster Book Company was established in September 1992 as an independent bookstoreIndependent bookstore
An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned.-Literary and countercultural history:Author events at independent bookstores sometimes take the role of literary salons. The bookstores themselves, "have historically supported and cultivated the work of independent...
. It now occupies 7300 square feet (678.2 m²) with over 40,000 titles.
In 2000, The Wooster Book Company took over the sponsorship and administration of the Buckeye Book Fair, Ohio’s largest literary event. The Book Fair is open to the public, with approximately one hundred authors participating in the annual day-long festival.
Under the trade name “The Wooster Book Company,” its first title, a corporate history of Rubbermaid
Rubbermaid
Rubbermaid is an American manufacturer and distributor of many household items. It is a subsidiary of Newell Rubbermaid. It is most well known for producing food storage containers and trash cans...
, written by retired Rubbermaid CEO and Chairman of the Board, Donald E. Noble
Donald E. Noble
Donald E. Noble was a former CEO of Rubbermaid from 1959 up to his retirement in 1980. During his tenure, Rubbermaid made the transformation from rubber products to plastic products, increased sales and developed a business plan which provided innovation through research and development. Donald E....
, was released in 1996.
Subsequent publishing projects have been done in association with the Ohio State University Medical Center
Ohio State University Medical Center
The Ohio State University Medical Center is a multidisciplinary academic medical center located in Columbus, Ohio, on the main campus of The Ohio State University . In 2010, the Ohio State University Hospital was ranked one of "America's Best" by U.S. News & World Report in 11 specialties...
, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created in 1949 by the Ohio Legislature. It is a government agency in the U.S. state of Ohio charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, public lands, state forests, state waterways, and recreation areas.Divisions of ODNR...
, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center is the research institution of the Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The center is home to research projects ranging from plant and animal sciences to human ecology and medicine, and includes branches...
, Ohio Library Council, and the American Angus Association
American Angus Association
The American Angus Association was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1883, with 60 members. Its original name was shortened in the 1950s from the American Aberdeen-Angus Breeders' Association...
.
Additional titles in many areas of interest have been released under ISBN prefixes 1-59098 and 1-888683.
Awards
As a bellwether establishment of a downtown (Main Street) revitalization, The Wooster Book Company was the recipient of a community design commission award in 1993 for restoration and renovation and a Chamber of Commerce “Successful Business Award” (1995).Children’s programs in the bookstore were recognized with a “Friend of Young Children” award in 1997. The business expanded in 2000, rebuilt and restored its facade in 2001 as well as expanding their publishing services operation in the same year. This resulted in a second recognition for revitalization and a second nomination for a Chamber of Commerce successful business award in 2005.
In 2002, David Wiesenberg, co-owner of The Wooster Book Company was recognized with an Ohioana Citation for his contribution to the community and for commitment to Ohio literature.http://www.ohioana.org/features/resources.asp
The Wooster Book Company was recognized in 2008 by the Ohio Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, as an Advocate for the Literary Arts.http://www.ohiocenterforthebook.org/index.php?q=node/575