About ABA

In response to enthusiastic feedback from booksellers who participated in Winter Institute 10’s Advanced Learning Session on Human Resources, ABA has invited the session’s presenter, Dr. John Sherlock, to lead two Human Resources Workshops this fall.

Event registration and hotel reservations for ABA’s 2016 Winter Institute are scheduled to open on Wednesday, September 9, 2015. The 11th annual education event will be held in Denver, Colorado, from Saturday evening, January 23, through Tuesday, January 26, 2016.

ABA’s fourth ABC Children’s Institute will be held June 21–23, 2016, at the Wyndham Orlando Resort International in Orlando, Florida, immediately preceding the American Library Association’s Annual Conference.

The American Booksellers Association Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposal to amend the association’s bylaws to provide for an additional member of the Board of Directors, increasing the number from 10 to 11. Bookstore members will now have the opportunity to vote on the change. 

The ABA Board of Directors worked on a range of issues during its summer meeting, held last month in Denver, Colorado, the host city for next year’s Winter Institute.

Continuing with Bookselling This Week’s series of staff profiles, here’s an introduction to ABA’s education development team, which consists of Education Manager Lisa Winn and ABC Group Manager Matthew Zoni.

Newly elected ABA President Betsy Burton shares news on the Board of Directors’ most recent meeting, including changes to the association’s Ends Policies. 

ABA CEO Oren Teicher has announced the restructuring of the organization’s technology department and the promotion of two ABA staff members.

ABA has opened registration for the Human Resources Workshop, a new in-depth education event, to be offered twice this fall to owners and managers of ABA member stores.

Changing Hands co-owner Bob Sommer has found BookWeb’s discussion forums to be a prime way to share ideas and network with his bookselling colleagues when in-person meetings are not possible.

Here’s an introduction to ABA’s accounting department, whose five staff members include the organization’s new chief financial officer, Robyn DesHotel.

Jill Perlstein, ABA’s meetings and planning officer, and Maria Rodriguez, office administrative assistant, discuss their roles overseeing the logistics of travel, planning, accommodations, and room set-up for ABA events.

ABA Development Officer Mark Nichols, Membership Program Manager Pete Reynolds, and Design and Production Manager Linda Ford discuss their work with the association’s Publisher Partners, on the Indie Bestseller and Indie Next lists, and more. 

In the first installment of a series on ABA’s staff and their roles in supporting indie booksellers, the Membership and Marketing team talks about its work in providing information and resources to members, developing indie-focused marketing campaigns, and meeting booksellers at ABA events.

Politics & Prose has been named the official bookseller for the Library of Congress National Book Festival for the second consecutive year. The 15th annual event will be held in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, September 5.