A while ago some nitwit in the United Kingdom had thought up that it would be a good plan to sell publishers on the idea of Age Banding of books.

The idea was born of the notion that it would be easier for the publishers to sell to supermarkets. As we all know supermarkets are nothing more than stocking piles of random products and the sales people often know as much about their goods as they can read off of the product label while their customers are waiting. So if books were to have an age indication on books, publishers would have no problem getting supermarkets to stock a lot more books than they are doing now since their employees can just shelve them according to age.

Fortunately, even with the push on Age Banding by the Publishers Association, there are people out there that possess the art of reasoning. A joint effort has been mustered in the form of NoToAgeBanding.com with author Philip Pullman spear-heading the campaign. Over 3000 signatories have undersigned the campaign and these people include writers, illustrators, librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, educationalists, psychologists, readers, parents and grandparents. The signatory authors include Philip Pullman, Jonathan Stroud, Neil Gaiman, Nigella Lawson, Anthony Horowitz, Terry Pratchett and J.K. Rowling. And yours truly, of course.

The situation at the moment is divided amongst publishers;

Walker Books: not age banding any titles
Bloomsbury: not age banding any titles
David Fickling Books: not age banding any titles
Usborne: not age banding any titles
Barn Owl Books: not age banding any titles
Orion will apparently be offering authors a choice.
OUP are clearly offering authors a choice.
The Chicken House will be offering authors a choice.
HarperCollins: certain authors know they will not be age banded.
Macmillan: evidence of a choice offered here.
Puffin: at least one author has been assured banding will not take place without express permission
Random House Children’s Books: it is hard to believe that although some of their high-profile authors have made their positions crystal clear both privately and in the press, will be age banded by this publisher.

There have been meetings between representatives of publishers and the Publishers Association and the representatives of the Society of Authors to discuss the matter.