About ABA

This week, ABA welcomed Matthew Zoni as the new ABC Children’s Group Manager. Zoni comes to the association with more than a decade of bookselling experience and a passion for children’s literature.

ABA President Steve Bercu shares his thoughts on both the upcoming holiday season and recent industry events.

ABA has joined with six other organizations to launch Advocates for Independent Business, a coalition of trade associations and other groups dedicated to ensuring that locally owned, independent businesses succeed and thrive.

From Friday, October 25, to Sunday, October 27, the American Booksellers Association’s Board of Directors met at the association’s offices in  White Plains, New York, to work on a range of issues.

Robert David Hale, a former ABA president and associate executive director, died on Monday, October 21, at age 85.

Earlier this month, Anne Caldwell joined the staff of the American Booksellers Association as the new Industry Relations Assistant. Caldwell comes to ABA with bookselling experience as well as a working knowledge of the many member benefits that small business associations provide.

With the holidays fast approaching, ABA CEO Oren Teicher encourages booksellers to take advantage of three initiatives — two promotions from ABA and a grassroots effort launched by Sherman Alexie — to build on Small Business Saturday and the Local First/Shop Local movement, which continues to strongly influence the way customers are shopping.

Tuesday, October 15, is the deadline for the nomination of ABA Board candidates. “This is part of our democratic process,” said Blue Willow’s Valerie Koehler, chair of the Nominating Committee. “If you know someone who is a leader, a thinker, and is active in organization governance, please nominate them. We are striving to have a well-rounded Board with strengths in many different areas.  Please nominate this week!”

In connection with its transition to a new member database, ABA is reaching out to all bookstore members via telephone to confirm and update key contact information for a variety of programs and initiatives.

There is less than two weeks left for ABA members to submit nominations for Board directors to the Nominating Committee, chaired by Valerie Koehler of Houston’s Blue Willow Bookshop.

Created by ABA specifically to meet the needs of independent bookstores, LIBRIS offers tailored and affordable property, liability, and workers’ compensation insurance through local brokers across the country.

On Tuesday, September 24, the Board of Directors of the American Booksellers Association sent a letter to the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate, urging them to avert a government shutdown.

A special promotion offers ABA membership to used bookstores for just $100, half the annual price of used bookstore membership, if stores sign up before December 31, 2013.

ABA has teamed up with Biblio.com to offer a new affiliate program that enables member stores to give their website visitors instant access to millions of used, rare, and out-of-print books from more than 5,000 independent booksellers worldwide.

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