We are still accepting nominations for ABA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee (DEIC). Nominations are due by 11:59 pm ET on Monday, May 23, 2022. This is a great way to get involved with ABA and industry diversity and inclusion efforts. Read more about the DEIC.

A big thank you to all booksellers who participated in #AntitrustDay! Thanks to your participation, 260 messages were sent to Congressional offices in support of reining in Amazon’s anti-competitive tactics. If you haven’t participated yet, it's not too late! Keep #AntitrustDay going and send a pre-written email to your lawmakers.

As part of National Libraries Week, the American Library Association (ALA) released its annual top 10 most challenged books of 2021. ALA tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021, resulting in more than 1,597 individual book challenges or removals. These are the highest figures ALA has seen since it started compiling challenges more than 20 years ago. Most targeted books were by or about Black or LGBTQIA2S+ people. Booksellers are encouraged to sign ABFE's petition and condemn the rise in book banning.

Sign up now to receive a free Banned Books Week kit! Bookstores that signed up to receive the 2021 kit last year will automatically receive the 2022 kit (no action required).

Banned Books Week kits are sent annually to participating stores and include materials to decorate your store and educate customers about the freedom to read. Supplies are limited and are fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis. We ask that each bookstore branch fill out its own form. Online-only stores and international stores are NOT eligible to receive kits. The deadline to sign up is Friday, April 22, 2022.

Join us for a Virtual Children’s Institute on July 13. A one-day digital experience following the in-person Children’s Institute in Phoenix. More information and registration will be shared in an upcoming BTW.

Publisher’s Weekly announced the US Book Show schedule! Catch ABA members presenting two sessions for booksellers on May 24:

• Curation Through Partnerships with University Presses
• Tech Solutions for Store Operations
  

ABA’s Advocacy & Public Policy Manager Molly Bond penned a guest blog for the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) highlighting the importance of antitrust reform, ABA’s recent work and achievements in the area, and ways booksellers can get involved. The blog post coincided with #Antitrust Day of Action on April 4. Read the post here.

Here is a preview of the titles on the May/June Kids’ Indie Next List flier. Top pick? I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston.

Bookstore Boot-Camp, a training program designed by The Bookstore Training Group of Paz & Associates to help launch independent bookstores, is the newest set of educational materials now available online. Previously held as an in-person workshop retreat, the training program includes twelve self-study training videos with hand-outs and spreadsheets addressing store design, planograms, how to create and source your opening inventory, merchandising, buying, pricing, computerizing, and marketing. Also available online is “Managing Today’s Bookstore,” for those in leadership positions wanting to embrace best practices for daily operations.

The final recording of the Creating a Strategic Plan series, Part 3: Branding & Promotion is now available on Bookweb. Part 1 from Snow Days and Part 2: Developing a Marketing Strategy are also available to watch. 

ABA member booksellers are invited to take advantage of one-on-one sessions with Lesli Rice, lead strategist for Rice Education Consulting. Access her Calendly link to schedule your session. These consulting rates will be available until June 1, 2022.