AGP Executive Report

Porirua Adventure Park Funding: Canadian developer Ridge North America is set to inject capital and become majority investor for the Te Rāhui o Rangituhi/Colonial Knob project, with Porirua councillors deciding behind closed doors on a lease extension and conditions tied to track upgrades, environmental restoration, and logging. Māori Kids’ Books Win Global Spotlight: Two te reo Māori picture books—Dr Tangaroa Paul’s Rere Atu Taku Poi! and another takatāpui-themed title—were selected for the IBBY-UNESCO Remarkable Books collection, recognized at the IBBY World Congress in Ottawa. Libraries as Community Hubs: Japan’s libraries are expanding fast, adding makerspaces, health-check gear, studios, and themed book “streets,” with seven standout sites highlighted for summer visits. Book-to-Real-Life Buzz: An Italian travel guide reportedly shipped with an AI chatbot prompt left in the intro, sparking backlash and a refund. Publishing Industry Watch: Avenroth Hybrid Publishers says it’s ranked among the top hybrid publishers for 2026, citing major author-promotion efforts. Reading & Learning: A new report claims some struggling readers may develop phonics after fluency, not before.

Local Book Culture & Events: Emporia’s Granada Theatre will host famed journalist Bill Kurtis for a Sept. 13 panel tied to the Red Rocks State Historic Site, with free admission and book copies available. Community Reading as Business Strategy: Evanston children’s bookstore Booked is leaning into niche programming and hard-to-find titles to fight flat sales trends. Author & Publishing Spotlight: Tim Curry’s memoir excerpt (“Vagabond”) is circulating ahead of its Oct. 21 release. AI, Copyright & Reading Rights: A new wave of criticism targets generative AI firms for using books without permission, with writers arguing the creative process can’t be replaced. Big Money, Big Media: Saudi Arabia’s PIF finalized a $55B acquisition of Electronic Arts, underscoring how publishing-adjacent entertainment deals keep reshaping the market. Nature Writing Recognition: Nicola Chester’s “Ghosts of the Farm” moved onto the Wainwright Prize shortlist, boosting attention for climate-and-rural storytelling.

Publishing & Adaptations: Prime Video is developing Holly Black’s Folk of the Air trilogy into a TV series with Ridley Scott’s team attached, while Black also expands the franchise across new books and a graphic novel. Book Culture & Media: NYC schools are using a 32-page “Know Your Rights” comic to teach immigrant families their protections amid rising deportations. Book-to-Community: A museum in Edmond, Okla., is hosting “Bach and Roll,” built around children’s author Tammi Sauer’s music-and-chickens books. Reading Lists: Women’s World editors preview 13 standout fall releases, including new work from Barbara Kingsolver and Elin Hilderbrand. Publishing Industry Watch: Multiple reports highlight ongoing pressure on publishing from AI scanning and rare-book preservation concerns, as debates intensify over who controls cultural materials. Language & Heritage: Moldova and other small-language efforts continue to push archives, education, and identity through new cultural projects and language initiatives.

Publishing & Books in Conflict: Russian strikes have destroyed more than 1.1 million Ukrainian textbooks, with Kharkiv warehouse fires reportedly wiping out millions of copies, while damaged books are being repurposed into fundraising at Lviv’s BestsellerFest. AI & Copyright: China’s AI push is hitting a “data bottleneck” as high-quality text runs short, and new reporting renews the debate over companies buying, shredding, and scanning books to train models. Courtroom & Campus Speech: A Mumbai sessions court rejected anticipatory bail for two TISS students accused of raising slogans demanding the release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, while granting bail to seven others. Local Libraries & Community: Wokingham Borough Council launched a survey to shape its future library strategy, and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed child welfare and home care bills tied to stronger oversight. New Reads & Reviews: Summer roundup coverage highlights fresh fiction and nonfiction, including a debut novel reimagining Austen’s “Persuasion,” plus new poetry and travel titles.

Publishing & Business Moves: Indigo River Publishing promoted Keira Lopez to Chief Operating Officer, expanding oversight of day-to-day operations and its nonfiction imprint work. Local Book Culture: Arkansas outlets highlight how independent bookstores are leaning into book clubs as “third spaces,” with Paper Hearts and WordsWorth Books seeing renewed interest. New Releases & Adaptations: Apple TV+ is moving forward with Bad News Dads, based on Adam Frost’s novel, starring James Marsden and executive produced by Stephen Falk and Berlanti Productions. Controversy in Books & Media: The Odyssey debate keeps heating up as translator Emily Wilson renews criticism of Christopher Nolan’s film take on Homer. Book Industry Disruption: Reports say Russia continues targeting publishing warehouses, with millions of books destroyed in strikes. Legal/Academic Spotlight: A UK memoir tied to Cambridge professor Jason Arday faces scrutiny as late edits reportedly toned down claims ahead of Simon & Schuster’s release. Tech & Reading Ecosystem: DeepSeek released an updated V4 Flash API in public beta, keeping pricing steady while claiming faster agent performance.

Book Fairs & Community: Ulcinj opened the 25th edition of its book fair in Montenegro, with President Bajram Begaj praising books and language as key to cultural identity and regional dialogue. Bestsellers & Pop Culture: Australia’s bestseller charts are being swept by Emily Wilson’s The Odyssey, with stock disappearing and library waitlists spiking after Christopher Nolan’s film push. Publishing & Preservation: A Ukrainian publisher says Russian strikes destroyed about 8 million books, including 2,000 donated Japanese picture books translated into Ukrainian. Bookselling Events: Philadelphia’s Bookstore Crawl returns Aug. 22 with nearly 60 indie stops, author appearances, giveaways, and publisher-sponsored prizes. New Releases: Barbra Streisand announced her first children’s picture book, And By the Way…, due March 2027. Faith & Romance: Kari DuMouchel Parker’s new Christian romance SANCTUARY aims to share “God’s intimate presence” through the seasons of life. Industry Watch: A debate is heating up over AI platforms and medical tools tied to major publishers, as regulation reshapes availability.

Publishing & Culture: Malaysia posthumously named writer Mana Sikana its 16th National Laureate, praising her 100+ works and her role in shaping literary education and criticism. Book Reviews & Reading Life: Matt Haig’s new “The Midnight Train” gets a feel-good, Dickens-like spin on second chances, while a “The Shards” TV tie-in review spotlights how Bret Easton Ellis-style darkness travels from page to screen. Kids & Pop Culture: Barbra Streisand will publish her first children’s book, “And by the Way,” in March 2027. Manga & Global Distribution: Seven Seas licensed three new yuri/girls’ love manga titles for English release, and Shueisha launched “MANGA MILLION,” a free, no-registration digital platform offering one million pages in 100+ languages. AI & Bookselling: A bookseller describes selling rare titles to AI firms and fears the books were scanned, shredded, and discarded—fueling the preservation backlash. Community & Events: Parks boards approved new family events at Showse Park, including a dog performance day and a star party with book giveaways.

Webtoon Boom: South Korea’s sleeper hit “Rapid Current” is getting a webtoon adaptation, with Minumsa also lining up a separate screen deal after roughly 400,000 copies sold. Publishing in Wartime: Ukraine’s BookChef says a Russian missile strike destroyed 100,000+ more books at a reserve warehouse, forcing preorder delivery date revisions. AI vs. Books: A new wave of coverage keeps spotlighting how Big Tech is scanning and destroying books to train AI, raising fresh alarm for rare collections and cultural access. Manga Licensing Push: Seven Seas Entertainment announced multiple new English-language manga licenses, including “Wandmaker of the Ruined World,” “Influencer Hero,” “The Berserker NPC,” and “The Kaiju Autopsy,” with print dates set for 2027. Children’s Reading Spotlight: Story Monsters’ Purple Dragonfly Awards named Linda Soules’ “So You Want to Be A…” series the 2026 $500 Grand Prize winner. Local Book Culture: Hungerford Bookshop is gearing up for a major autumn author-event slate, starting Aug. 27 with Robert Harris.

Library Policy Fight: Massachusetts lawmakers sent Gov. Maura Healey a bill meant to strengthen librarians’ authority to keep or remove books, requiring age-appropriate, education-based decisions plus public hearings and appeals. AI & Copyright Pressure: A Munich court backed GEMA in its case against AI music platform Suno, finding copyright infringement tied to training and on-demand reproduction. Classics in the Spotlight: “The Odyssey” translator Emily Wilson escalated her criticism of Christopher Nolan’s adaptation, arguing it’s “emotionally empty” and muddles key moral questions. Community Reading Lists: Access Utah and other outlets are spotlighting summer 2026 picks, with readers and booksellers sharing recommendations. Local Government for Kids: A North Carolina former council member launched “The ABCs of Local Government,” using alphabet lessons to explain budgeting, zoning, and more. Book Culture & Events: Libraries and bookstores kept summer momentum going, from Natchitoches Parish Library’s big reading bash to author signings and local festivals.

AI & Books: A fresh wave of debate keeps swirling around AI’s impact on reading and publishing, with new commentary arguing the tech is both transformative and disruptive. Publishing & Policy: India’s Lok Sabha is set to consider the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill and related taxation changes, underscoring how law and paperwork still shape publishing-adjacent industries. Book Culture & Sales: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is driving a major spike in Homer sales and library demand, with Emily Wilson’s translation among the biggest winners. Literary Awards: The Booker Prize longlist lands as an unusually unpredictable mix, including multiple debut novelists. Libraries on the Ground: Oak Bluffs Public Library hosts an author conversation on tourism and community life, while other local library events and sales continue to push reading in person. School Safety: South Africa’s Gauteng runs a school search operation after complaints about violence and crime, seizing weapons and vapes. Global Reading Events: Azerbaijan’s Baku International Book Fair returns with a seven-day program aimed at boosting children’s reading.

Publishing & Culture: Ukraine’s parliament committee backed an urgent support plan for the book industry, citing non-functional library procurement and bookstore rental compensation after Russian attacks destroyed print capacity and warehouses. AI & Books: A preservation backlash keeps growing as reports say tech firms are buying and destroying rare and used books to train models, reigniting questions about access, consent, and cultural loss. Local Book World: Lafayette Public Library’s 2026 limited-edition art card launches with a community “love letter” from local artist Lindsey Croall. Books & Media: KADOKAWA’s Record of Lodoss War gets a new official WEBTOON spin-off, rolling out across 150+ countries. Controversy in Book Retail: A Nashville bookstore canceled an author’s launch over safety concerns after online backlash, with the ADL calling it a sign of rising antisemitism. Community Reading: A new cozy dog-mystery, Exercise Finished, hits Iowa independent bookstores, spotlighting the competitive obedience world.

Book-to-screen buzz: Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is driving a Homer sales surge in South Korea, with “Odyssey”-titled books up sharply year-on-year as the film nears release. Global library culture: Seoul is taking its outdoor reading model to the World Library and Information Congress in Busan, spotlighting a civic push that’s drawn millions of visitors. Local author events: Sheffield Public Library hosts a free Meet & Greet with thriller writer Lauren Nossett, with Court Street Books selling copies on-site. AI & copyright in court: India’s Delhi High Court in ANI v OpenAI raised big questions about how copyright owners can prove AI training infringement, while also ruling training doesn’t require permission under an exemption. Publishing & community: A Delhi bookseller discussion examines how Daryaganj’s Sunday book bazaar shaped a reading public—and what happens when it’s relocated. Self-care trend in print: A self-care author spotlights workshops and books aimed at making wellbeing a daily habit. Kids’ literacy push: A school summer reading challenge in Pocklington pairs book reviews with prizes and donated library books.

AI Copyright & Publishing: A landmark $1.5B Anthropic AI copyright settlement puts a price tag on training disputes, with roughly $3,100 payments tied to nearly half a million books—while other major publisher-and-author cases against Meta and Google stay in play. Book Industry Awards: Manhattan Book Group scored big at the 2026 Manhattan Book Awards, with “The Friendship Party” taking Bronze and “Six Weeks: A Literary Memoir” winning Gold. Author News: Benjamin Alire Sáenz, PEN/Faulkner winner and a major voice in Latino literature, died at 71. Censorship & Access: Massachusetts lawmakers passed a “Freedom to Read” bill aimed at clarifying how schools and libraries handle book challenges. Kids & Safety: Consumer Reports highlights toddler tower recall concerns, noting safety failures flagged before recalls were announced. Publishing Tech & Privacy: Amazon’s push into voice-first home devices raises fresh questions about how much data these systems collect. Community Reading Events: Moldova’s Diaspora Days opened with book launches and art—using literature to strengthen ties between writers at home and abroad.

Children’s Publishing: Stephen Curran-Haffner is taking his late Jack Russell’s story into a new Fritz children’s series, with book two due by Christmas and a planned run visiting Munster’s 25 libraries. Retail Turnaround: Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt says the chain’s revival depends on making big-box stores feel like real bookstores—quirky displays, better inventory choices, and staff who actually talk books. Tabletop & IP: At Gen Con 2026, Wizards of the Coast teased major D&D hardback releases and gameplay expansions, including World of Warcraft and Star Wars tie-ins. Reading & Schools: Knox County Schools in Tennessee is weighing limits on elementary social media and student email, plus new rules aimed at AI impersonation. AI vs. Copyright: A German court backed GEMA in a case against Suno, ordering it to stop, disclose revenue, and pay damages. Book Culture & Community: A new UK online shop, Fourth Wall Bookshop, launches as a specialist destination for stage-and-screen titles. New Fiction: Min Jin Lee returns with American Hagwon, now set for Korean publication after rights were acquired.

AI & Books: Tech giants are reportedly buying rare print books, scanning them, then shredding them to train chatbots and avoid “AI slop,” reigniting fears for libraries and collectors. Publishing Policy: The Trump administration is scrutinizing the American Medical Association’s control of CPT medical billing codes, with CMS asking whether the AMA’s “monopoly” distorts physician payment policy. Book Culture & Community: Newcastle’s romance-only shop The Sinful Spine drew huge queues—people traveled for miles and waited up to two hours—showing genre bookstores can still turn into local events. Literary Awards: Stephen Colbert is set to receive an anti-censorship American Book Award, alongside Books & Books founder Mitchell Kaplan. Kids’ Reading & History: A new picture book spotlights Kentucky’s Packhorse Librarians, while another bookstore owner argues the “age of reading” is far from over. Classics Buzz: The Odyssey debate keeps driving print demand and fresh criticism around translations and film adaptations.

AI & Books Under Fire: Multiple reports and commentary this week argue AI firms are buying and destroying rare printed titles to train models, raising fresh questions about copyright, access, and what “reading” means when physical books are treated as raw material. Classics in the Spotlight: Joyce Carol Oates publicly clashes with translator Emily Wilson over criticism of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, keeping the debate about translation, interpretation, and who gets to “own” Homer front and center. Reading Access, Real-World: A refurbished school library in Gateshead officially opens under the National Year of Reading, with new books donated—while a Wrexham project recruits student “Accessibility Ambassadors” to audit and improve inclusion. Publishing & Community Moves: UT Press launches its first children’s picture book, My Magic Tux, and Las Vegas’ first Black-owned bookstore, R.D. Talley Books, reopens at a new location inside Fashion Show Mall. Children’s Books Buzz: Indie and children’s lists highlight new picture books and summer reads, including a dragon-and-baking themed title and more family-friendly releases.