|
ABA is...
the national trade association for independent booksellers — since 1900. ABA offers education, services and products, advocacy, and relevant business information. Look below for a selection of this month's key news and programs, or see an overview of all ABA programs and benefits.
Watch for in-depth coverage of Wi5's education sessions and special events beginning in BTW's February 11 edition and in the weeks to follow. For now, here's a quick look at some of the first day's events. >More info & program schedule BookExpo America (BEA) has secured a room block and favorable rates at the Park Central Hotel in Manhattan, located just north of Times Square, for ABA bookseller members. The Park Central's special low rate for ABA bookstore members is $179 for one or two beds, single or double occupancy; $199 for triple occupancy; and $219 for a quad. All ABA member stores receive a complimentary BEA badge, and all ABA Winter Institute attendees will receive an additional badge allotment. BEA 2010 will take place from Tuesday through Thursday, May 25 - 27. >ABA members only, click here to reserve a room  ABA has joined with the Campaign for Reader Privacy in urging Congress to expand protections for readers in a Patriot Act reauthorization bill. As proposed, the revised Patriot Act authorizes the FBI to obtain library records only when those records pertain directly to someone suspected of terrorism or espionage. Bookstores, however, are not currently included in this clause, and could be subject to search even when the customer is not suspected of criminal conduct. The Campaign for Reader Privacy is urging supporters to contact their members of Congress in both the House and the Senate about including bookstores in the expanded protections. >Read more |
 As states ring in the new year faced with significant budget shortfalls, there is a tremendous opportunity to win victories for sales tax equity around the country. ABA has launched a new E-Fairness Action Kit (E-FACT) that provides booksellers with crucial, state-specific tools to help them in their e-fairness outreach efforts. Find your state, and get started!
More than 130 small business owners from 25 states, gathered on Capitol Hill and at the White House recently to urge that Congress reform health care. Three ABA member booksellers and ABA CEO Oren Teicher took part in the day's activities, which included a White House meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Small Business Administration Director Karen G. Mills.
>Read more
The Board of Directors of the American Booksellers Association sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice requesting that it investigate practices by Amazon.com, Wal-Mart, and Target that it believes constitute illegal predatory pricing. The letter stated that the price wars on new hardcover bestsellers, including books by John Grisham, Stephen King, Barbara Kingsolver, Sarah Palin, James Patterson, and others, of between $8.98 and $9.00 was damaging to the book industry and harmful to consumers.
|
When ABA's