News - Regional

The American Booksellers Association's Booksellers Forum Tour will begin on Saturday, March 8, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, followed by stops on Monday, March 10, in Los Angeles, and on Wednesday, March 12, in San Francisco, California.

Booksellers have long championed environmental issues, but 2008 seems to be the year of "Green Retailing" as evidenced by the very positive response to everything green at this year's ABA Winter Institute. Independent booksellers across the country are among those at the forefront of the movement to become smarter, cleaner, more efficient retailers.

The American Booksellers Association will be holding nine Booksellers Forums in locations across the country this spring. Each will provide an opportunity for members, and prospective members, to meet with ABA senior staff and representatives of the Board of Directors to learn about ABA's programs and initiatives, to voice concerns, and to offer input on the association's future direction. Each forum will also feature an educational component.

This spring, American Booksellers Association senior staff and representatives of the Board of Directors will meet with booksellers at nine forums across the country. Held in conjunction with the regional booksellers associations, the Booksellers Forums are an opportunity for members, and prospective members, to hear the latest news about ABA's programs and initiatives, to voice concerns, and to offer input on the association's future direction.

The American Booksellers Association Board of Directors held its fall meeting in Los Angeles, California, from Sunday, October 21, through Tuesday, October 23, following the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association Author's Feast and Trade Show.

Over the course of its meeting, the Board:

By Melony Vance, General Manager of Latitude 33 Bookshop in Laguna Beach, California

By Kelley Drahushuk, Co-owner of Spotty Dog Books & Ale in Hudson, New York

Fall means several things. For many it means sports -- baseball playoffs, the start of football season. For booksellers and publishers, it means regional trade shows. And to Chester County Book Company's Joe Drabyak, president of the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association, it means both.

Attendance at this year's Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA) Trade Show was up, and booksellers who spoke to BTW dubbed it a terrific success. The show was held from Friday, October 5, through Sunday, October 7, at the Oakland Convention Center and Oakland City Center Marriott.

By Laura Hansen, Owner of Bookin' It in Little Falls, Minnesota

By Daniel Goldin, General Manager, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops in Milwaukee

By Joe Foster, Ordering Manager, Maria's Bookshop in Durango, Colorado

By Megan Sullivan, Head Buyer, Harvard Bookstore in Cambridge, Massachusetts

By Rona Brinlee, Owner, The Bookmark in Atlantic Beach, Florida

By Cheryl McKeon of Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, Washington

Moving to suburban Seattle from its traditional Portland, Oregon locale, the fall Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Trade Show attracted enthusiastic booksellers, publishers, and authors to its September 19 - 21 gathering.

On Saturday, October 20, the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association (SCIBA) will hold its 2007 Author's Feast & Trade Show at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Slated for the day- and evening-long event are opportunities to preview publishers' latest titles, meet authors, and take part in education programs.