There’s still time to join, plan your celebration, and be included on the IndieBound Indie Bookstore Day searchable map without any purchases! Sign up by March 31, 2024*. You must be a logged-in ABA member** to access the form. If you do not know your login credentials please email us at [email protected].

*If you have already ordered exclusives, you do not need to complete this form.

**Independent Bookstore Day is open to those who are members of ABA, as well as their regional booksellers association.

What's New:

January To-Do’s

We recommend checking out the Planning Guide regularly for upcoming to-do’s! Now is a good time to:

• Begin party planning.
• Determine your displays, merchandising, food/drink, games, and events. Check out the ideas shared from last year’s events from participating bookstores! 
• Line up authors, illustrators, and other guests (local artists, community organizations, etc.). The possibilities are endless!
• Work with Bonfire on a free custom design and/or order the general design.
• ABA members can claim a free custom design (one-time only) from Bonfire. Email Taylor Soignoli at [email protected] to get started with your design and have your shirts ready to order before Independent Bookstore Day! Stores can choose to incorporate the Indie Bookstore Day logos if they wish.
• For the general design, purchase the Indie Bookstore Day 2024 shirt directly from our Bonfire page.

Ingram Orders and Overstock Inventory

For those who ordered exclusives, you can view them under backordered items in Ingram’s ipage. Orders will not begin shipping until early April.

Additionally, many items from previous year’s list of exclusives are still available first come, first served. Contact your Ingram Rep to add to an order. Note that some of these items also have limited inventory:

Recommend Your Favorite Content Creators

ABA is looking for content creators to help spread the word about Independent Bookstore Day on April 27! We've started a list of BookTokers, Bookstagrammers, and Book Bloggers, but would love to hear who you think we should reach out to for this opportunity. We want each region to be represented, and especially need recommendations for influencers in California and states in the South. 

Email [email protected] with the name and social media account of recommended content creator(s).

Key Dates to Know:

• February 2024: Blackwing Pencil order follow-ups
• March 31, 2024: General Participation Form closes
  • If your store is in multiple locations, you must fill out a form for each store location or RDC.
• April 5, 2024: Indie Bookstore Day Searchable Map goes live on IndieBound
• Early- to mid-April: All exclusives ship to bookstores
• April 22–26, 2024: Indie Bookstore Day Spirit Week
• April 27, 2024, the last Saturday in April: Independent Bookstore Day

Stay tuned for future updates via our newsletters. Missed an issue of the Indie Bookstore Day Newsletter? Catch up on them all on BookWeb.

Questions? Contact Courtney Wallace, Independent Bookstore Day Program Director at [email protected].