We are grateful, as always, for all those who had the courage to speak up at the Community Forum, in person or via questions submitted beforehand, and to those who spoke to the ABA Board Members at our Office Hours throughout Winter Institute. As we work toward doing better as an organization and as individuals, issues can come up that can be uncomfortable. It’s not easy. But as the last few years and the necessary activism of so many have taught us, this discomfort is a functional part of community change, and we are committed to doing that work with you. 

We continue to work toward making the Community Forum a place where as many voices as possible can be heard in an atmosphere of safety and mutual respect. We commit to working on the big issues we heard expressed at this year’s forum: clear responses, improved communication, and increased transparency.

During this year’s forum the issue of the ABA’s response to Palestine was once again raised. In particular, members asked ABA to stand with authors and bookstores who have experienced silencing, cancellations, and hate. We agree. 

The ABA Board, along with the staff of American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) and ABA, condemns all attacks on bookstores, in particular the targeting of bookstores who have chosen to highlight Palestinian books and authors in their stores. Each bookstore’s curation is their own expression of their freedom of speech, and verbal attacks, demands to carry or not carry certain titles, and threats to stores are not acceptable.

This letter continues on BookWeb. Click here to read the full letter from the ABA Board of Directors.

Over the past year and more, dozens of independent bookstores have contacted ABA about harassment, and we hear our members who have shared with us that they have faced harassment and threats for carrying books about Palestine. ABA has offered support, shared resources, offered deescalation seminars, provided crisis communication counseling, and set up a hotline for members challenged for their curation, identity, or political beliefs. This is the work that ABA is empowered to do by our Ends Policies and allowed to do as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association supporting 2,800 independent bookstores with independent views. We cannot make a political statement on behalf of our members, but we can and do support our members in their right to express those views.

Unfortunately, the harassment of bookstores and the attempt to narrow the range of books that can be sold has become one of the biggest challenges for many of our members and for our organization. Book curation is a form of speech, and it must remain free. We condemn any harassment or threat to our members that aims to abridge this freedom.

Censorship of marginalized voices because of their identity is unacceptable. This includes censorship of Black and Brown authors. This includes the censorship of LGBTQIA2S+ authors, emphatically including Trans authors. This includes the censorship of Jewish and Muslim authors. And it includes the censorship of Palestinian authors, Palestinian books, booksellers who support Palestine, and booksellers who merely include Palestinian authors in their inventory. 

This letter continues on BookWeb. Click here to read the full letter from the ABA staff.

ABA and its members depend on publishers to keep their terms and promotions updated in ABA’s Book Buyer’s Handbook. A show of hands at the Wi2025 Community Forum indicated that many booksellers would buy more books from publishers if this information was kept current.

Booksellers, ask your publishing sales reps to update their listings! Publishers, help us all sell more books! Email [email protected] to update your listings.

ABA’s Institute Compensation Policy for speakers/panelists was shared with members in the initial Wi2025 program announcement, was included on the Wi2025 website FAQ, and is posted on BookWeb.

ABA wants to thank the bookseller who spoke up at the Wi2025 Community Forum about a “direct request not to have the panel be about Palestine and Israel” during this person’s moderator training for an education session. 

ABA’s investigation of this matter revealed that an ABA staff member, when training panelists on what to do if a panelist or attendee goes “off topic” during the session, specifically used Palestine as an example. Although ensuring that one panelist doesn’t dominate the conversation, all voices in the room are heard, and that attendees are given the education they expected is a critical part of moderator training, the staff member should not have used Palestine as an example. The example did not align with the training’s purpose and it contradicted ABA’s explicit free expression value and commitment. The staff member has been addressed and training will be provided to all ABA staff to ensure that free expression continues to be supported at ABA events.

ABFE is the acronym for ABA’s free expression initiative, American Booksellers for Free Expression. ABA and ABFE’s work is one and the same, and any statement made by ABFE is also a statement made by ABA.

1. Make support of human authors and audiobook narrators part of your store’s stated values. Convey your store’s values to partners, authors, and publishers.

2. Insist on transparency from publishers. Books produced by AI should be clearly marked in Edelweiss and on books to allow bookstore buyers and readers to make informed decisions about what they read. 

3. Reach out to ABA if you have information about partners, authors, or publishers that aren't supporting human authors and audiobook narrators so ABA can advocate.

ABA is concerned about Barnes & Noble’s aggressive growth the past two years. We’ve tracked hundreds of indie bookstores that have now been potentially impacted by nearby B&N openings. These stores are asked to watch for a survey about their experiences later this month.

A bookseller raised important concerns about Barnes & Noble in Denver. We've spoken with counsel about the question raised about the legality of Barnes & Noble using the Tattered Cover name. As B&N purchased the name as part of the acquisition, and their ownership is a matter of public record, counsel believes this is not illegal. Still, it is concerning. ABA will continue to monitor the situation.

In the meantime, ABA has shared a resource with ways to take action if Barnes & Noble comes to your town. (You will need to be logged in to view this resource.)

We appreciate the fresh perspective and big picture thinking in the proposal for bookstores becoming stewards of a protected class of business and the statement advocating for legislation similar to France's Lang Laws.

ABA's Advocacy team is looking into the possibilities.

Booksellers interested in talking about/supporting the business of bookselling (co-op, on sale dates, damaged books, and more) are encouraged to participate in ABA's publisher survey on March 10 to help inform the agenda for ABA's upcoming publisher meetings, attend ABA staff hours (the next session is April 29 at 3:00 pm ET) to talk about their needs and hear more about ABA's work to address them, and reach out directly to ABA for conversations and support.

Currently ABA is in conversation with publishers and other partners like Book Industry Study Group about business priorities such as damages, on sale dates, Batch, credit limits, tariffs, AI, DEI commitments, better terms, literacy, special editions, and the need for more 7th and 8th grade middle readers.

ABA remains committed to antiracism, equity, access, and representation. Full stop. This work is critical to the mission and the business of bookselling. ABA does not receive federal funding and there are currently no legal limitations that would prevent ABA from continuing this work. 

Internet fraud and cybersecurity continue to be significant issues for bookstores. Members can watch Bookselling This Week and IndieCommerce Alerts for updates and resources, or reach out directly to ABA or IndieCommerce for more information. 

Watch for an IndieCommerce Alert in the coming weeks following up on Winter Institute 2025.

We heard and understand the inquiries about why Interlink Publishing was not present at Winter Institute this year.

Interlink is always welcome at ABA events. We hope this communication can be a small step toward creating an environment where Interlink and other Palestinian authors, booksellers, and publishers feel welcome and able to attend. We will be following up with them.

On January 31, 2025, ABA’s CEO Allison Hill shared a report detailing some of the risks presented by the new administration.

There is still a lot of chaos and confusion surrounding many of these issues and others have been added — the fate of USPS, for example. ABA continues to monitor and engage in all of these issues impacting our members. ABA is prioritizing these issues, as well as those outlined in ABA's 2025 Key Policy Issues report.

On March 3, 2025, the Trump Administration enacted new tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Section 232. (Though on March 6, the White House postponed most new tariffs on Canada and Mexico until April 2. The situation remains in flux, and ABA will continue to monitor news of the tariffs.) The tariffs impact goods from Canada, Mexico, and China. Chinese goods face a 20% tariff, while certain goods from Canada and Mexico are subject to a 25% tariff. Retaliatory tariffs have been imposed by all three countries. It is not yet clear the extent to which this will impact books. Dentons, a global law firm, posted a good summary of the tariffs in more detail. 

Tariffs and their potential impact on bookstores is a top priority for ABA. ABA’s Advocacy team is currently working with coalition partners to seek clarity on the new tariffs and to be prepared to mobilize. Booksellers should be prepared to respond to ABA's call to action when/if the time comes to lobby for exemptions. Contact David Grogan, Director of ABFE, Advocacy & Public Policy at [email protected] with any questions.