IndieLite stores should sign up for a Wednesday, April 21, webinar to learn about the steps they need to take to switch credit card processors.

On April 22, ABA is offering a free session to member booksellers from the Center for Anti-Violence Education on microaggressions in the workplace. All booksellers are invited to sign up for the event here. The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, April 21.

Wondering about how to optimize your Bookshop.org page? Join a Marketing Meetup led by Bookshop Partnerships Manager Sara High on Tuesday, April 22, at 3:00 p.m. ET to learn more. Sign up at the bottom of BookWeb.org’s Meetups page here.

Tell your customers to stop by the Oprah Book Club website on Friday, April 23, to watch the first conversation between Oprah and her most recent book club pick Marilynne Robinson, author of the Gilead novels quartet: Gilead, Home, Lila, and Jack. 

The deadline to cast your vote in the ABA Board of Directors election is April 27. If you’re the designated voter for your store, submit your store’s ballot now. Learn more about the candidates here.

Share best practices, talk business strategy, and crowdsource ideas and solutions to problems at this month’s ShopTalk in the Evening on April 29, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET. ABA will send the meeting link to the entire bookstore membership a few hours before each event.

Submit a nomination for the ABC Best Books for Young Readers consumer catalog. Let us know your favorite titles now!

The dedicated ShopTalk for ABC Group Members will take place today, Tuesday, April 20, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Register in advance for this session.

Connect with book lovers at the Independent Bookstore Day Twitter party on Wednesday, April 21, at 4 p.m. ET — just look for #IndieBookstoreDay. And on Thursday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. ET, join author ambassador Glennon Doyle and Alexandra Elle for a special event. Share the link with your customers now! And check out the other IBD events being held here.

ABA’s A Universe of Wishes four-part virtual reading series for indie bookstore customers and in support of We Need Diverse Books will continue through the rest of April, with the remaining sessions taking place on April 21 and April 28. Find more information about the event here.

On Thursday, April 15, ABA partnered with the Center for Anti-Violence Education for a workshop on de-escalation. Booksellers can view the recording here (use passcode: CAE2021!) and read a recap of the event here.  

The ABACUS financial survey opens on April 21! Booksellers should watch their inboxes for an email from Michael Becher of Industry Insights, with the subject line “ABACUS Benchmarking Survey.” Stores that fill out the survey will receive a customized report in September that benchmarks them among other bookstores. More information about ABACUS can be found here.

Applications for the Book Industry Charitable Foundation’s Survive to Thrive grant program are now open, and will be accepted through May 10. Apply here.

While the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) deadline is May 31, funds are dwindling and could run out this month. Booksellers who are interested in either a first or second draw PPP loan should apply as soon as possible before the funds run out.