Spring Forums This Month in Massachusetts, New York, and California

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ABA Education logoBetween now and the end of the month, the American Booksellers Association will be hosting Spring Forums in three locations around the country: this Friday, March 24, in Cambridge, Massachusetts; on Tuesday, March 28, in White Plains, New York; and on Friday, March 31, in North Hollywood, California. All independent booksellers — ABA members and non-members alike — are invited to attend the forums, which are being held in conjunction with the regional booksellers associations.

Each program will feature an open forum discussion of industry issues plus the new education session “Bookstores — An Inclusive Place for Dialogue and Discovery.” An ABA Board member will lead the education session at each forum, and attending booksellers will be asked to share ideas and discuss how bookstores can foster communication and create opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to express and respond to differing views in the welcoming setting of a bookstore.

This nontraditional education session is designed to be an interactive discussion that fosters open communication and problem solving — in both large and small groups — to clarify strategies for strengthening the unique role that bookstores play in their communities.

For planning purposes, booksellers who are planning to attend any of the ABA Spring Forum are asked to RSVP via the form available here.


The March 24 Spring Forum in Cambridge will be held conjunction with the New England Independent Booksellers Association. ABA CEO Oren Teicher will host the open forum discussion with Senior Program Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, Senior Strategy Officer Dan Cullen, and Member Relationship Manager Catherine Cusick in attendance. ABA Board Member Chris Morrow of Northshire Bookstore, which has locations in Saratoga Springs, New York, and Manchester Center, Vermont, will lead the education session, “Bookstores — An Inclusive Place for Dialogue and Discovery.”

The program will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Barn Room at First Parish, located at 3 Church St. in Harvard Square.

Prior to the forum program, NEIBA will be hosting “All About the Books,” a series of author talks and readings, starting at 10:30 a.m.; lunch will be served at noon. Learn more about the NEIBA event here.


The March 28 Spring Forum in White Plains will be the second of the season held in conjunction with the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association. The event, at ABA’s offices at 333 Westchester Avenue, Suite S202, in White Plains, will run from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will include lunch.

The open discussion of industry issues will be hosted by ABA CEO Oren Teicher with Senior Program Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger and Senior Strategy Officer Dan Cullen; the education session, “Bookstores — An Inclusive Place for Dialogue and Discovery,”  will be led by ABA Board member Jonathon Welch of Talking Leaves… Books in Buffalo, New York.


The March 31 Spring Forum in North Hollywood will be held in conjunction with the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association at The Garland Hotel (4222 Vineland Avenue), from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The education session, “Bookstores — An Inclusive Place for Dialogue and Discovery,” will be followed by the open forum discussion of industry issues over lunch. ABA Board member John Evans of DIESEL: A Bookstore, which has locations in Oakland, Larkspur, and Brentwood, will lead the education session; ABA CEO Oren Teicher and Senior Strategy Officer Dan Cullen will host the open forum discussion.

Following ABA’s Spring Forum, SCIBA will be hosting a “Books and Beers” Author Reception at 3:00 p.m. (SCIBA members can log into the SCIBA website to view the author lineup.) The full day runs from 11:30 a.m. to about 5:00 p.m.

RSVP via the form available here.