Today’s update is a checklist of the asks, along with a list of upcoming ABA events: Checklist Financial Snapshot Survey (5 minutes; due 1/18):
Today, ABA is launching a data survey to help us gain insight into how stores are doing, what you need, and how we can help. The results will inform our talking points when meeting with publishers and the media. Help us help you. We plan to share the results with the membership. All responses are 100% confidential. The deadline for the survey is January 18.
Winter Institute Registration (5 minutes; due 1/29):
At 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT) on Thursday, January 7, registration opens for the 2021 Winter Institute! This year it’s virtual, there’s no cap on attendance, and you don’t have to travel, so take advantage of this opportunity and join us on February 18–20 for education, rep picks, poetry, and the chance to be together. Registration closes January 29.
DEIC Nominations (2 minutes; due 1/20):
Nominations or self-nominations are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 20, for ABA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee (DEIC), which serves as a sounding board and advisory council on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, representation, and access facing the bookselling community and ABA. We’re looking for individuals who represent different diverse identities; learn more here and nominate yourself or a colleague now.
ABA Membership Renewal (10 minutes; launches 1/13):
We hope that you’ve found your membership to be valuable in 2020. We also hope that you elect to renew your membership for this new calendar year. Membership and dues renewal begins January 13 and ends March 1, and this year it’s critical that renewals occur before the deadline to avoid interruption of Bookweb access, IndieCommerce services, and other ABA benefits.
Advocacy (2 minutes; launches 1/14!):
This month, ABA will be launching two advocacy campaigns for members using our new one-click advocacy tool (it takes two minutes!). The first campaign, launching January 14, will be an introduction to your new lawmakers if you have new members of Congress. The second campaign, launching at the end January, will be a push for more comprehensive relief. As the new Congress settles in, it’s important to put booksellers’ priorities front and center. All campaigns will have pre-written messages to send to your lawmakers with the option of adding your own personal story. Be on the lookout for more information as we move forward.
January Events Marketing and Technology Meetups: Marketing Meetup: Open Conversation
Thursday, January 7, at 1:00 p.m. ET: This Marketing Meetup will not have any specific guest speakers. Instead, booksellers are invited to partake in an open conversation about the results of the feedback survey, the marketing initiatives they are starting the year with, and what they might be thinking of for 2021 in general. Advance registration is required.
Technology Meetup: Open Conversation
Thursday, January 14, at 1:00 p.m. ET: This Technology Meetup will not have any specific guest speakers. Instead, booksellers are invited to partake in an open conversation about the results of the feedback survey, the technologies that improve their business operations on a daily basis, and what they might look into during 2021. Advance registration is required.
BIPOC Meetup and ABA Forum Thursday, January 14, at 6:00 p.m. ET: ABA has been scheduling monthly BIPOC Coffee Breaks for Black, Indigenous, or People of Color booksellers and bookstore owners since the summer. ABA also began its first quarterly BIPOC forum in October for BIPOC members to share concerns and ideas with ABA CEO Allison Hill. On January 14, the two come together for a BIPOC gathering that combines the Coffee Break with the forum so that BIPOC booksellers can share ideas for future BIPOC Coffee Breaks; needs for ABA services, programming, and support in general; and questions, with ABA CEO Allison Hill, ABA COO Joy Dallangera-Sanger, ABA Senior Membership Manager Daniel O’Brien, and other members of the ABA team who will be in attendance. Booksellers interested in attending should email [email protected] for the session information.
IndieCommerce Webinar Coffee Breaks
New year, new passwords. Be sure to contact [email protected] or register as indicated for access to upcoming coffee breaks: Tuesday, January 5, at 3:00 p.m. ET: Afternoon Coffee Break, open to all booksellers. Monday, January 11, at 1:00 p.m. ET: New Member Coffee Break, open to new and new-ish bookstores: In the first part of a series introducing the benefits of ABA, this session will offer a tutorial on navigating Bookweb.org to ensure a better understanding of where to find the information most vital for members. The presentation will look at education resources, networking and community, business affinity partnerships, marketing, advocacy, and much more. The end of the session will offer booksellers an open forum during which they can ask questions and talk with ABA staff. Registration is required. Tuesday, January 12, at 3:00 p.m. ET: Afternoon Coffee Break, open to all booksellers. Tuesday, January 19, at 3:00 p.m. ET: Afternoon Coffee Break, open to all booksellers. Tuesday, January 26, at 3:00 p.m. ET: Afternoon Coffee Break, open to all booksellers. Thursday, January 28, at 8:00 p.m. ET: Evening Coffee Break, open to all booksellers.
ABA and Publishers Lunch Buzz Books Editors Panel Wednesday, January 27, at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT): Join us for a conversation between seven breakout authors and their editors moderated by Jake Cumsky-Whitlock, co-owner of Solid State Books. The first 50 registered booksellers will receive either physical galleys or instant access to egalley downloads via NetGalley. Register here.
School Partnerships Education Sessions Wednesday, January 13, at 2:00 p.m. ET: Building School Partnerships: Your Librarian, Your Friend
A strong relationship with a school librarian can amplify events and boost institutional sales for your children’s bookstore or kids’ department. Booksellers from stores with strong ties to their school district’s librarians will discuss how to reach out to librarians, what collaboration looks like, the best way to cultivate the partnership, and how a strong relationship with librarians can benefit a bookstore. Register here. Wednesday, January 27, at 2:00 p.m. ET: Planning Your Book Fair: The Basics for In-school, In-store, and Online Planning Success
Book fairs can be a profitable undertaking for a bookstore, but for those who have yet to launch a fair or who are new to them, the task can be overwhelming. As a continuation of the ABC Group’s virtual education session “Building School Partnerships: Your Librarian, Your Friend,” this session will feature booksellers with established relationships with their local school districts who will share how to build a realistic timeline for a book fair, manage bookstore and school expectations based on a school’s needs, and create a checklist to ensure the fair goes off without a hitch, whether it’s in-person or online. Register here.
ABA is here for all of you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with. Members can contact me directly or email the Membership, Advocacy, or IndieCommerce teams. Best,
Allison |
