A Survey of Canadian Booksellers
© Agnes Whitfield, Professor, Department of English, York University,and Virtual Scholar, Official Languages, Heritage Canada (2006-2007)
This questionnaire looks at how literary works circulate in Canada. It is part of a larger study of how literary translations can contribute to promoting stronger links between Francophone and Anglophone Canadians.
All answers to this questionnaire are strictly confidential. In the event the researcher wishes to quote a particular answer, written consent from the participant will be obtained before publication. By filling out the questionnaire, you are agreeing to participate in this research.
Your participation in the survey will make a significant contribution to the success of this study of literary translation in Canada, and is greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Professor Whitfield by email at rltclibr@yorku.ca
Part One
1. How would you best describe your bookstore?
2. If you answered 'other' in the previous question, please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
3. Which category best applies to your bookstore?
4. If you answered 'other' in the previous question, please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
Please qualify the breakdown of books in your bookstore in terms of language.
5. Approximately what percentage of books are in English?
6. Approximately what percentage of books are in French?
7. Approximately what percentage of books are in other languages. Please specify the main other language(s) and assign an estimated percentage.
8. Do you have separate sections for books in languages other than English?
9. in French?
10. in other languages?
11. Please specify the language if you answered "Yes" to the previous question.
12. Approximately what percentage of the people who frequent your bookstore are Anglophone?
13. Approximately what percentage of the people who frequent your bookstore are Francophone?
14. Approximately what percentage of the people who frequent your bookstore are from another linguistic group? Please specify the linguistic group(s) and assign a percentage.
15. Approximately how many titles does your bookstore stock (on average since 2000)?
Part Two - English-language Titles
Of all the English-language titles you presently have in stock, approximately what percentage would fit into the following 6 categories? If you do not have access to precise data, please offer your best estimation.
16. Adult literary (classic and contemporary works of fiction and non-fiction considered of lasting quality and artistic merit)
17. Popular fiction (mystery, adventure, science fiction, romance, historical novels)
18. Children's literature
19. Non-literary (science, health, computer, how-to books, business, etc.)
20. Reference (unilingual or multilingual dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.)
21. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
22. In terms of your store's annual revenues, what percentage is generated by the sales of Canadian adult and children's literary titles in English? If your store does not have the precise information, please offer your best estimation.
Thinking of sales of Canadian literary titles in English, how would you rank the following 8 categories (1 highest sales to 10 lowest sales)?
31. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
When your clients buy Canadian literary books in English, what factors seem to most affect their choice? Please rank your answers in order of priority.
37. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
When you stock Canadian literary works in English including children's literature, what sources do you rely on to make your choices? Please rank your answers in order of priority.
43. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
44. In your best estimation, what percentage of the English-language books you keep in stock each year are translations (all categories, literary and non-literary, Canadian and foreign):
In terms of the English-language translations you have in stock, what percentage (using your best estimation) are:
45. English Translation of foreign books
46. English Translation of Canadian books from French
47. English Translation of Canadian books from other languages
48. Please specify the dominant language if the previous question was applicable.
What factors influence your decision to stock the English translation of a francophone Canadian work? Please rank your answers in order of priority.
53. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
Part Three - Bookstore Events
Does your bookstore organize regular events or activities? Indicate how many of these activities the Bookstore would hold each year?
60. Other. Please specify and indicate the number of times the activities are held.
61. Has your bookstore organized an event with a focus on other languages and or translation since 2000? If so, provide some indication of the nature of the event.
If support (financial and organizational) were available, what kinds of events would you be interested in organizing at your bookstore? Please rate the following in terms of your degree of interest.
68. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
Do you think your bookstore clients would be interested in activities about translation or translators? Please rate the following in terms of the degree of interest you think such activities would generate.
74. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
75. In your opinion, what measures would encourage your bookstore clients to buy English translation of Canadian francophone literary works?
If you stock books in French, please continue to Part Four. If not, please answer question 125, click save and thank you for participating in this questionnaire.
Part Four - French-language Titles
Approximately what percentage of the French-language titles you have presently in stock would fit into the following categories? If you do not have access to precise data, please offer your best estimation.
76. Adult literary (classic and contemporary works of fiction and non-fiction considered of lasting quality and artistic merit)
77. Popular fiction (mystery, adventure, science fiction, romance, historical novels)
78. Children's literature
79. Non-literary (science, health, computer, how-to books, business, etc.)
80. Reference (unilingual or multilingual dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.)
81. Translations
82. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
83. Approximately what percentage of the annual revenues of your store is generated by the sales of adult and children's literary titles in French? If your store does not have the precise information, please offer your best estimation:
In terms of annual revenues from adult and children's literary titles in French, approximately what percentage would come from each of the following categories (if your store does not have the precise information, please offer your best estimation):
84. Books in French from Quebec
85. Books in French from provinces other than Quebec American
86. Books from France
87. American books translated into French
88. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
Thinking of sales of Canadian literary titles in French, how would you rank the following categories (1 highest sales to 10 lowest sales)?
97. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
When your clients buy Canadian literary books in French, what factors seem to most affect their choice? Please rank your answers in order of priority.
103. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
When you stock Canadian literary works in French including children's literature, what sources do you rely on to make your choices? Please rank your answers in order of priority.
109. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
110. In your best estimation, what percentage of the French-language books you keep in stock each year are translations (all categories, literary and non-literary, Canadian and foreign):
In terms of the French-language translations you have in stock, what percentage (using your best estimation) are:
111. French translation of foreign books
112. French translation of Canadian books from English
113. French Translation of Canadian books from other languages
114. Please specify the dominant language if the previous question was applicable.
What factors influence your decision to stock the French translation of an Anglophone Canadian literary title? Please rank your answers in order of priority.
119. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
What factors influence your decision to stock the French translation of a foreign literary title? Please rank your answers in order of priority.
124. Other. Please specify or use this space for any other comments you may have regarding this question.
125. * Please indicate the name and address of your bookstore.
126. Any further comments or concerns?