About ABA

ABA’s Governance Review Committee is seeking member input on the overall governance practices of ABA to determine whether they are in accordance with established policies and procedures.

The American Booksellers Association’s Board of Directors met on May 9–10, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois, just prior to the start of BookExpo America, to work on a range of issues. 

BanCard Systems, the ABA’s affiliated credit card processing company, is changing its name to Applied Merchant, following a recent merger with Applied Merchant West Coast, LLC.

Among the good news presented at the ABA Annual Membership Meeting at BookExpo America on Thursday, May 12, is that for the seventh year in a row association membership has grown.

Preceding the Annual Meeting, ABA member booksellers shared their comments, questions, and concerns about a range of topics with the association’s Board.

In his bimonthly letter, ABA’s CEO discusses the recently concluded Spring Booksellers Forums and next month’s BEA; the chance for booksellers to effect change through participation in the New Localism movement; and the opportunities presented by the new Indie Next List “Years of Discovery” Campaign.

ABA President Betsy Burton, of The King’s English Bookshop, reports on recent meetings between ABA leadership and the CEOs, COOs, and other major figures at NYC publishing houses.

The results of balloting by the bookstore members of the American Booksellers Association to elect four directors to serve on the ABA Board are now official.

Next Tuesday, April 12, is the last day for all main store members to vote in the 2016 ABA Board of Directors elections. Stores that need the ballot link should contact their ABA member relationship manager.

ABA invites booksellers to Spring Forums on Friday, April 8, in Boulder, Colorado, and on Sunday, April 10, in San Francisco. Both programs will feature a discussion about industry issues and the education session “Indie Bookstores and the New Localism: What You Can Do.”

ABA is inviting members and non-members alike to its last three Booksellers Forums of the season: on Friday, April 8, in Boulder, Colorado; on Sunday, April 10, in San Francisco, California; and on Tuesday, April 19, in New York City.

ABA is encouraging booksellers and others in the book industry to share their thoughts on what can be done to increase diversity in both the books available for sale at ABA member stores and within the community of booksellers itself.

On Monday, March 14, all ABA main store members were sent an e-mail from CEO Oren Teicher that included a link to the ballot for the 2016 Board of Directors elections and biographical information on each of the candidates for four director positions on the Board.

ABA’s New Localism initiative and the opportunities and new resources available to booksellers to effect changes in public policy are the subject of ABA CEO Oren Teicher’s bimonthly letter to members.

Thursday, March 10, is the deadline for ABA members to submit petitions to have the names of additional candidates added to the ballot for the 2016 Board of Directors elections.