About ABA

At Tools of Change Frankfurt, Google Editions announced its plans to launch in the U.S. by year's end, with international launches following in 2011, as reported by The Bookseller. ABA announced recently that member stores with IndieCommerce websites will be able to sell Google Editions when the product launches.

Smaller quantities of gift cards and holders are now available to booksellers through giveXpress.

ABA staff will be at the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association trade show next week to offer educational programming and to meet with booksellers on the show floor.

The committee charged with reviewing the practices of the ABA’s board and officers to determine whether they are in accordance with established policies and procedures is seeking member input by Tuesday, October 12.

The committee charged with reviewing the practices of the American Booksellers Association's board and officers to determine whether they are in accordance with established policies and procedures is seeking member input by Tuesday, October 12.

ABA has announced the creation of the Joe Drabyak Frontline Fellowship to the Winter Institute to be sponsored for the first three years by Workman Publishing. The fellowship will be awarded annually to one bookseller and will provide airfare, lodging, meals, and conference registration.

ABA staff will be at the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes booksellers associations’ fall shows next week to offer educational programming and to meet with booksellers on the trade show floors.

ABA COO Len Vlahos writes about his recent trip to New Zealand and Australia, where he was invited to speak on the digitization of the U.S. book market.  While in Auckland and Sydney, he visited area indies, made many new friends, and learned a lot about the similarities, and differences, in the three book markets.

ABA recently announced the launch of a new dues structure set to go into effect on February 1. The changes include two new dues categories with reduced dues – used bookstores and new stores. The new stores category includes both newly opened stores and new members.

ABA staff will be at the New England and Midwest booksellers associations’ fall shows next week to offer educational programming and to meet with booksellers on the trade show floors. Booksellers who stop by the ABA booth can learn about membership specials and enter their names for an extra chance to win a scholarship to the Winter Institute.

ABA's Nominating Committee is seeking qualified candidates to serve on the ABA Board of Directors. Any ABA member may submit nominations for Board directors by the October 29 deadline.

ABA staff members are looking forward to seeing booksellers at the New Atlantic, Mountains & Plains, and Southern independent booksellers association trade shows next week.

Registration is now open for ABA's Sixth Annual Winter Institute, to be held from Wednesday, January 19, through Friday, January 21, 2011, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. This educational event – sponsored by Ingram – is a member benefit exclusively for ABA bookstore and provisional members.

The Association of Booksellers for Children has invited its members and other constituents to review the plan for a proposed merger with the American Booksellers Association, and to offer comments.

The Nominating Committee, chaired by Betsy Burton of The King’s English Bookshop, is searching for qualified candidates to serve on the ABA Board of Directors. Any ABA member may submit nominations for Board directors.