Industry News

Booksellers and publishers attending Children’s Institute 2017 in Portland, Oregon, this April may now register for half-day and full-day bookstore tours.

Retail sales at bookstores were down by 3.1 percent in December 2016 compared to December 2015 but were up for the year, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

In response to concerns expressed by booksellers at the Wi12 Town Hall, ABA has increased the number of members on its Booksellers Advisory Council and created a Diversity Task Force.

The Independent Bookstore Day Marketing-in-a-Mailer contains signage, stickers, teasers, shelf-talkers, and balloons to help bookstores promote the event. The kit costs $19 and orders are due March 1.

ABA has announced three director candidates to stand for election to the ABA Board, as well as the Board’s selection for president and vice president, who must be ratified by membership.

Stores are encouraged to sign up now for the July 2017 celebration of Find Waldo Local, which will feature special swag in honor of the iconic character’s 30th anniversary this year.

BookExpo has announced the four authors to be featured at its 2017 Children’s Book & Author Breakfast, to be held on Friday, June 2, at the Javits Convention Center.

Here is a look at some of BTW’s Winter Institute 12 coverage to date as well as photos of booksellers, authors, and event highlights.

IPG signs new distribution agreement with Albert Whitman; Writers issue statement protesting NYT Bestseller List cuts; One Book/One NY campaign asks readers to vote on five award-winning titles; SIBA introduces the Conroy Legacy Award; Recipients of 2017 PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants announced

ReedPOP has announced the speakers for BookExpo 2017’s Adult Book & Author Breakfast, including a special appearance by Stephen King and his son Owen King.

Booksellers are celebrating Black History Month with a range of interesting and educational book displays, events, and activities that celebrate African Americans’ contributions to society.

The Winter Institute session “Creating and Managing Your Store Brand” showed booksellers how committing to their store’s brand can help them attract and retain customers.

Registration is now open for a live webinar of the popular Winter Institute 12 session “Google Analytics for E-commerce,” to be held on Thursday, February 16.

ABA would like to hear from booksellers of diverse backgrounds who would be interested in serving on a new task force on diversity or on the Booksellers Advisory Council.

In a Winter Institute featured talk, Foyles Bookshop CEO Paul Currie showed booksellers some of the recent innovations and changes at the 114-year-old U.K. book retailer.