Stay up to date with the world of independent bookselling.
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Note: There will be no BTW on June 7. See you at Children’s Institute! 

Can’t make it to Milwaukee?
There’s still time to sign up for our Virtual Children’s Institute!
ABA to Challenge Unconstitutional Arkansas Law
 

The American Booksellers Association and two independent bookstores (WordsWorth Books in Little Rock and Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville) will be filing suit alongside a number of other groups challenging Arkansas Act 372.

Under the law, booksellers can be prosecuted for “making available” or “displaying” books that are “harmful to minors.” This means booksellers have to choose to either limit all the books on our shelves to materials acceptable for the youngest readers or exclude all minors from the shop. 
 
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Get Ready for ABACUS
 

It’s time again to complete ABACUS, ABA’s free annual financial benchmarking survey! This year, the survey has been shortened and revised to be more user-friendly and more actionable. 

By June 9, ABACUS will be emailed to stores from [email protected] or [email protected] with the subject line “ABACUS Benchmarking Survey.” Booksellers have until July 23 to submit their responses.

If you would like assistance, or are participating for the first time, ABA CFO (and former bookstore owner) PK Sindwani will offer ABACUS workshops with step-by-step instructions for the ABACUS questionnaire. Multiple sessions are available in June and July; check the ABA Events Calendar to find the date that works best for you.
 
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Buzz Books Romance Editors Panel

The Buzz Books Romance Editors Panel, sponsored by Publishers Lunch and ABA, will be held Wednesday, June 7, at 6:00 pm ET. Join four editors in conversation with their authors as they describe exciting forthcoming titles. 

Can’t wait for June 7? This morning, Buzz Books 2023: Romance launched, featuring excerpts from the panel’s titles.
Register Now
2023 ZĂłcalo Book Prize

The 13th Annual ZĂłcalo Book Prize has been awarded to Stanford Law's Michelle Wilde Anderson for her book, The Fight To Save The Town: Reimagining Discarded America.

Michelle Wilde Anderson will be interviewed by Community Coalition LA President & CEO, Alberto Retana, on June 15. This program is free and offers both in-person and online options. 
Register Now
Are You Ready for the Children’s Institute Costume Party?

ABA staff are putting the finishing touches on their costumes for the Opening Reception and Costume Party at Children’s Institute!

Can you guess which children’s book characters we are planning to dress as?
Can You Guess Our Costumes?
ICYMI: 5 Days Until Children's Institute 2023

Refer to last Friday’s email from [email protected] with the subject line, “Ci2023: Know Before You Go” for everything you need to know before you head to Milwaukee!

Check out the DEIA Resource Guide for Milwaukee for resources and help navigating any needs that may arise during your stay.
Save the Date

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What to Know
ABA Urges Congress to Raise Debt Ceiling

In a letter sent to congressional leadership on Thursday, May 25, the American Booksellers Association joined 12 other small-business organizations, including the Small Business Majority, urging congress to "identify a path forward to raise the debt ceiling for the good of our nation’s entrepreneurs." The organizations outlined the ways in which small businesses are already being impacted and how they will be affected if nothing is done. (In a deal struck on Monday, May 29, leadership agreed to extend the debt limit for two years, as reported by NBC News.)
July Indie Next List Preview

Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the July 2023 Indie Next List flier. Top pick? The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel. And, to mark the start of a new month, June Indie Next List and May/June Kids’ Indie Next List social media assets are live on BookWeb.
Indies Introduce Q&A with Ani Kayode Somtochukwu

Ani Kayode Somtochukwu is the author of And Then He Sang a Lullaby, a Summer/Fall 2023 Indies Introduce selection. Here, Ani and Christine Bollow of Loyalty Bookstores in Washington, DC and Silver Spring, MD, discuss And Then He Sang a Lullaby.
An Indies Introduce Q&A with Zohra Nabi

Zohra Nabi is the author of The Kingdom Over the Sea, a Summer/Fall 2023 Indies Introduce Kids' selection. Here, Nabi and Liz Decker of Caprichos Books in Ocean Pines, MD, discuss The Kingdom Over the Sea.
RISE Booksellers Exchange Programme

Applications are open for the RISE Booksellers Exchange Programme! This program grants applicants a 3-day stay in a foreign host bookshop, and is designed to promote connection and inclusivity. The deadline to submit applications is June 15.
 
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