You Asked for It

By A�da Bardales -- Críticas, 3/15/2007

Now in it’s sixth year, Críticas continues to satisfy the needs of the booksellers, librarians, publishers, and teachers who are building Spanish-language collections. Since I came onboard Críticas almost a year ago, people have continuously expressed how essential this publication is to their work. Many librarians serving growing Spanish-speaking communities have said they wouldn’t know where to start when purchasing their Spanish-language collections were it not for our reviews. Editors and publishers have told me they rely on our articles, reviews, and best sellers lists to get an idea of what’s working across the country. And even educators have reported that they refer to the magazine for syllabus ideas.

Originally a quarterly print magazine, Críticas went bimonthly only a year after it was launched in 2001. Now a free, monthly online magazine complemented by two print issues a year—one in June and one in November—we’re expanding once again to meet our readers’ needs.

In response to our loyal readers’ requests for more reviews and articles on publishing trends, Críticas Connection, our free e-newsletter, is now going bi-weekly. Twice a month, you will receive the latest news on book releases, industry moves, our comprehensive best seller list, and an electronic Baker & Taylor order form. Our award-winning website, criticasmagazine.com, features an archive of our past issues (including reviews!), and those two print issues will continue to be available during BookExpo America (BEA) in June and the Guadalajara Book Fair in November.

As U.S. distribution channels for Spanish-language books are expanding, more and more publishers from Spain and Latin America are participating in our market, importing their new releases as well as previously published titles. Librarians and booksellers have requested more information on those “older” titles as well as updates on Spanish-language editions of popular or best-selling English-language titles. Starting with this issue, you will find more reviews of previously published adult and children’s titles that are new to the U.S. market, as well as more reviews of new Spanish-language translations. This will also help collection-development librarians specifically searching for translations or Spanish-language original works. We will continue to review the latest releases in a every other issue.

When I approached our readers and asked what they wanted more of in Críticas, the most popular item on everyone’s wish list was an extended best sellers list. Beginning next month, our Críticas fiction and nonfiction best seller lists will exclude the perennial titles—such as El código Da Vinci (The Da Vinci Code), Una vida con propósito (A Purpose Driven Life)—to leave room for newly published books. Of course, we will still highlight the recurrent best sellers, but will do so separately.

Críticas is an invaluable resource for book buyers, distributors, and publishers in the U.S. Spanish-language book market. As the demand for Spanish-language titles continues to grow, Críticas continues to evolve. I hope you like it.

Aída Bardales

P.S. As always, we encourage you to keep letting us know how we can help you serve the Spanish-language readers in your community. Send us your comments.