Dear Booksellers,

First Annual BIPOC Bookseller Awards
Duende District & The Word have founded the first annual BIPOC Bookseller Awards to celebrate and uplift Black and Brown independent booksellers who have contributed activism, innovation, and leadership to indie bookstores and their Black, Indigenous, and POC colleagues and communities. Nominations are open until July 17!

Membership, IndieCommerce, and IndieLite Dues All Resume
As you know, ABA waived membership dues, as well as IndieCommerce and IndieLite dues, for March, April, May, and June. As mentioned previously, we will resume collecting dues this month (regular dues will be deducted around July 15; IndieCommerce dues will be the week after). We felt lucky to be able to support members in this way and wish that we could continue to waive dues ongoing but ABA’s revenue has been significantly reduced in recent months due to COVID; we need to resume collecting dues to ensure that we can continue supporting members in other ways, like education, e-commerce, and advocacy. 

New BIPOC-Owned Bookstores
ABA is waiving membership dues for the remainder of the year for new BIPOC-owned bookstore members who join between July 1 and December 31, 2020. If you know BIPOC-owned stores who you think might be interested in membership and/or support, please invite them to reach out to [email protected] for more information.

ABA (Virtual) Offices Closed July 3–July 6
ABA will be closed July 3–July 6 to give our team a much-deserved break. A few of us will still be working to support members. Members can email the IndieCommerce team or me with any immediate needs during that time and we’ll be available to assist you. ABA’s Daily Updates will resume on Tuesday, July 7. 

Gift Certificates Available
Booksellers can purchase printed paper gift certificates from ABA by using this online form; submit your requests by Wednesday, July 8, to be included in the next round of fulfilled orders. Two styles are available: “A Book is a Present You Can Open Again and Again,” illustrated by Mary Engelbreit, and “Books, the Perfect Gift (A Child of Books),” illustrated by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston.

Events

Children’s Institute: Tomorrow is the last day to register for Children’s Institute, to be held July 15–16. Thank you to the booksellers who have already registered, and thank you to all of the publishers and partners who have supported this event! 

Antiracist Training Cancellations: If you signed up for the antiracist training at Children’s Institute but are unable to attend, please notify ABA as soon as possible at [email protected] so we can open your spot to a bookseller on the waitlist. 

Technology Meetup: On July 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET, learn about cyber insurance. The team from Arrowhead General Insurance Agency will present information on cyber coverage and how this coverage can protect your bookstore. Registration is required.

Diversity & Inclusion vs. Justice & Equity
Thanks to Daniel, ABA’s Senior Member Relationship Manager, for sharing this article. The second bulleted section is especially useful in thinking about the work that needs to be done in our bookstores and in our industry.  

ABA is here for all of you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with. 

Best,
Allison