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On Demand Education Sessions
1042 results. Results may be paginated. Select one or more topics and filter by tag, format, or conference to focus results. Some resources are visible only to logged-in, ABA bookseller members.
ABACUS 2023 Key Takeaways
Recorded November 7, 2024 for Webinars
Now that you have received your individualized ABACUS report, let's discuss your ABACUS data results in detail with ABA Chief Financial Officer PK Sindwani (a former bookseller), including the key takeaways, how to identify opportunities for improving your store's profitability, and ways you can use ABACUS in your advocacy efforts for your store.
Prioritizing Cash Flow: 10 Areas to Review for Improved Cash Flow and Profitability
Recorded October 24, 2024 for Regional Conferences
The true key to being in control of your business is to be in control of your cash. A bookstore’s financial stability is dependent on far more than just profitability, and cash flow determines your store’s ability to cover day-to-day expenses, such as purchasing inventory, paying suppliers, and meeting operational costs. In this session, ABA discusses cash flow tools briefly then guide stores through ten essential steps to improve your store’s cash flow, financial stability, and long-term resilience.
Links & Files
Boozy Book Fairs with Leah Johnson (Loudmouth Books)
Recorded October 10, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On October 10, 2024, Leah Johnson of Loudmouth Books (Indianapolis, IN) discussed Boozy Book Fairs.
Links & Files
Crafting Non-bookstore Partnerships with Ally Kirkpatrick (Old Town Books)
Recorded October 10, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On October 10, 2024, Ally Kirkpatrick of Old Town Books (Alexandria, VA) discussed Crafting Non-bookstore Partnerships.
Links & Files
Book Clubs and Bookstores with Lily Rugo (Harvard Bookstore)
Recorded October 10, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On October 10, 2024, Lily Rugo of Harvard Book Store (Cambridge, MA) discussed Book Clubs and Bookstores.
Links & Files
New Member Series: Intro to ABA Benefits (Q4:24)
Recorded October 8, 2024 for New Member Series
The first part of this series will offer a tutorial on navigating Bookweb.org to ensure a better understanding of where to find the information most vital for members. The presentation will look at the member dashboard, education resources, networking & community, business affinity partnerships, marketing, advocacy, and much more. The end of the session will offer booksellers an open forum during which they can ask questions and talk with ABA staff.
Recorded October 8, 2024 for New Member Series
The first part of this series will offer a tutorial on navigating Bookweb.org to ensure a better understanding of where to find the information most vital for members. The presentation will look at the member dashboard, education resources, networking & community, business affinity partnerships, marketing, advocacy, and much more. The end of the session will offer booksellers an open forum during which they can ask questions and talk with ABA staff.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 New Member Series:Intro 10.8.24 Chat | 2.44 KB |
| New Member Series:Intro 10.8.24 Transcript | 46.44 KB |
Safeguarding Our Stories: Leveraging Insurance to Navigate Book Bans
Recorded September 26, 2024 for Webinars
CoverHound is thrilled to present a special four-part webinar series for ABA members, Insuring Success: Business Insurance for Bookstores.
On September 26, CoverHound presented part four of this series, Safeguarding Our Stories: Leveraging Insurance to Navigate Book Bans, a webinar designed to help bookstore owners navigate book bans and censorship challenges. Discover how insurance coverage can play a crucial role in ensuring books remain freely available to your community. Learn about the specialized coverages that protect your book business against legal battles, loss of revenue, and reputational damage in the face of censorship efforts. We'll show you how insurance can serve as a safeguard for your bookstore's mission of promoting diverse ideas and perspectives. Engage in an interactive Q&A session to address your concerns and gain actionable strategies for protecting your bookstore's freedom of expression.
CoverHound is proud to partner with the ABA in managing the Bookseller Insurance Program, which has been supporting the unique insurance needs of bookstores since 1997. More information can be found at https://www.coverhound.com/booksellers.
Links & Files
Dos and Don'ts of Small Business Loans with Erin Matthews (The Last Word)
Recorded September 12, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On September 12, 2024, Erin Matthews of The Last Word (Mt. Airy, MD) discussed the Dos and Don'ts of Small Business Loans.
Observing Banned Books Week in Your Store with Philomena Polefrone (ABA)
Recorded September 12, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On September 12, 2024, Philomena Polefrone of ABFE discussed Observing Banned Books Week in Your Store.
How to Run an Author Event Signing Line with Cathy Berner (Blue Willow Bookshop)
Recorded September 12, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On September 12, 2024, Cathy Berner of Blue Willow Bookshop (Houston, TX) discussed how to run an author event signing line in your store.
New Member Series: Store Ownership 101- Q3 2024
Recorded August 20, 2024 for New Member Series
This session will provide new and prospective bookstore owners with an opportunity to ask questions of seasoned bookstore owners/staff. New and new-ish members are welcome.
This installment features:
- Clarrissa Cropper, owner of Frugal Bookstore (MA)
- Cathy Fiebach, owner of Main Point Books (PA)
- Melanie Moore, owner of Cincy Book Bus (OH)
Recorded August 20, 2024 for New Member Series
This session will provide new and prospective bookstore owners with an opportunity to ask questions of seasoned bookstore owners/staff. New and new-ish members are welcome.
This installment features:
- Clarrissa Cropper, owner of Frugal Bookstore (MA)
- Cathy Fiebach, owner of Main Point Books (PA)
- Melanie Moore, owner of Cincy Book Bus (OH)
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| New Member Series: Store Ownership 101-8.20 Chat | 9.21 KB |
| New Member Series: Store Ownership 101-8.20 Transcipt | 82.01 KB |
The Set Books Free Project: Facilitating Banned & Diverse Book Donations
Recorded August 19, 2024 for Advocacy
Book access programs for banned and diverse books are essential. In places where books are banned from public institutions like schools and libraries, these programs may be the only way low-income kids can see themselves reflected in literature. In this episode, the American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) introduces the Set Books Free Project, a book donation initiative to create a pipeline of banned and diverse books from independent booksellers and their customers to the places experiencing the most bans. The virtual kick off event on August 19th was hosted by American Booksellers for Free Expression in collaboration with Authors Against Book Bans, the Independent Book Publishers Association, Red Wine & Blue, and others.
Recorded August 19, 2024 for Advocacy
Book access programs for banned and diverse books are essential. In places where books are banned from public institutions like schools and libraries, these programs may be the only way low-income kids can see themselves reflected in literature. In this episode, the American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) introduces the Set Books Free Project, a book donation initiative to create a pipeline of banned and diverse books from independent booksellers and their customers to the places experiencing the most bans. The virtual kick off event on August 19th was hosted by American Booksellers for Free Expression in collaboration with Authors Against Book Bans, the Independent Book Publishers Association, Red Wine & Blue, and others.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 SetBooksFreeProject.pdf | 119.67 KB |
Lightning Talk - Subscription Programs with Courtney Ulrich Smith
Recorded August 8, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On August 8, 2024 Courtney Ulrich Smith of Underbrush Books (Rogers, AR) discussed Subscription Programs.
Lightning Talk - Blue Dot in a Red State with Lyn Ciurro
Recorded August 8, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On August 8, 2024 Lyn Ciurro of Bound to Happen Books (Stevens Point, WI) discussed being a Blue Dot in a Red State.
Links & Files
Lightning Talk - Writing Compelling Shelf Talkers with Danielle King
Recorded August 8, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On August 8, 2024 Danielle King of Left Bank Books (St. Louis, MO) discussed Writing Compelling Shelf Talkers.
New Member Series: Intro to ABA Benefits
Recorded July 30, 2024 for New Member Series
The first part of this series will offer a tutorial on navigating Bookweb.org to ensure a better understanding of where to find the information most vital for members. The presentation will look at the member dashboard, education resources, networking & community, business affinity partnerships, marketing, advocacy, and much more. The end of the session will offer booksellers an open forum during which they can ask questions and talk with ABA staff.
Recorded July 30, 2024 for New Member Series
The first part of this series will offer a tutorial on navigating Bookweb.org to ensure a better understanding of where to find the information most vital for members. The presentation will look at the member dashboard, education resources, networking & community, business affinity partnerships, marketing, advocacy, and much more. The end of the session will offer booksellers an open forum during which they can ask questions and talk with ABA staff.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 7.30 Intro to Benefits Chat | 6.59 KB |
| 7.30 Intro to Benefits Transcript | 76.34 KB |
Workers' Compensation: Navigating Claims, Compliance, and Coverage
Recorded July 25, 2024 for Webinars
CoverHound is thrilled to present a special four-part webinar series for ABA members, Insuring Success: Business Insurance for Bookstores.
On July 25, at 3:00 pm ET, CoverHound presented part three of this series, Workers' Compensation: Navigating Claims, Compliance, and Coverage. In this webinar, we explore the crucial topic of workers' compensation insurance. Discover the essential coverage options necessary to protect your employees and your business. From slip-and-fall accidents to repetitive strain injuries, we'll discuss real-life scenarios where workers' comp proves indispensable. Gain valuable insights, ask questions during our interactive Q&A, and leave equipped with the knowledge to safeguard your bookstore and support your team effectively.
CoverHound is proud to partner with the ABA in managing the Bookseller Insurance Program, which has been supporting the unique insurance needs of bookstores since 1997. More information can be found at https://www.coverhound.com/booksellers.
Links & Files
- Slide Deck
- Guide to Workers' Comp Insurance
- Series Handouts
- Part 1 - Safeguarding Your Shelves: Business Insurance Basics for Book Retailers
- Part 2 - (Web)Pages of Protection: Cybersecurity and Cyber Insurance For Bookstores
- Register for Part 4 - Book Bans & Store Liability: Leverage Insurance to Safeguard Your Business
Local Voter Engagement: A Conversation with ABA and League of Women Voters
Recorded July 25, 2024 for Advocacy
Presented by ABA and the League of Women Voters (LWV), “Local Voter Engagement in 2024 and Beyond” was designed to help independent bookstores mobilize and empower voters in their communities.
As we approach the 2024 election, consider taking some of these steps to help your community prepare:
- Create store displays with titles about the history of voting and democracy.
- Remind customers of the deadline to register to vote in your state.
- Encourage customers and employees to sign up to work the polls.
- Share ABA’s Vote411 page with your customers! This page has tools to help readers register to vote, check their registration, or find out what’s on their ballot.
Lightning Talk: The Right to Read Handbook with Philomena Polefrone (ABA)
Recorded July 11, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On July 11, 2024, ABA's Advocacy Associate Manager, Philomena Polefrone, discussed the forthcoming Right to Read Handbook.
Lightning Talk - Supporting Indie Authors with Aysia Brown (Protagonist Black)
Recorded July 11, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On July 11, 2024, Aysia Brown of Protagonist Black (Pomona, CA) discussed supporting indie authors through their Friends of the Shop local author program.
Files & Links
Lightning Talk: Community Outreach with Morgan Haywood-Joy (Greenlight Bookstore)
Recorded July 11, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On July 11, 2024, Morgan Haywood-Joy of Greenlight Bookstore (Brooklyn, NY) discussed Community Outreach.
Files & Links
Slide Deck
Closing Keynote with Rex Ogle and Mark Oshiro: Queer Stories For Community
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Rex Ogle and Mark Oshiro are inspirational authors of young people’s literature writing about queer adolescents overcoming real-life and fantastical obstacles. Both depict examples of acts of heroism, community-building, trust, generosity, reciprocity, and queer culture. During these unprecedented times of book bannings and challenges predominantly impacting the LGBTQIA2S+ community, young readers deserve (and need!) stories that illustrate what it is to be in community for transcendence. It is the commitment of booksellers to share queer stories that cultivate a culture of caring, and empathy all the while uplifting LGBTQIA2S+ authors and readers that expands their unique position of stewards of storytelling.
Rex Ogle is the author of Free Lunch, which won the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award; Abuela, Don’t Forget Me, a finalist for the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award; and Punching Bag, a NYPL Best Book of the Year.
Mark Oshiro is the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning Latinx queer author of Anger Is a Gift, Each of Us a Desert, and Into the Light, as well as several middle-grade books and co-author (with Rick Riordan) of The Sun and the Star.
Kai Burner (he/they) has been a proud member of the book industry since 2016. He is currently the Assistant Manager and Children’s/Gift Buyer at the Bookworm of Edwards, serves on ABA’s Bookseller Advisory Council and Children’s Council, and is a board member of their local pride organization, Mountain Pride.
Files & Links
Speakers
Mark Oshiro, Jasmine Is Haunted (Macmillan Children's Publishing)
Rex Ogle, Road Home (Norton Young Readers)
Kai Burner, Bookworm of Edwards - Edwards, CO
Rex Ogle, Road Home (Norton Young Readers)
Kai Burner, Bookworm of Edwards - Edwards, CO
Planning Your Calendar to Navigate the Unexpected
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
How you plan your calendar impacts the flow of business. Knowing what’s coming down the pike can better help you navigate surprises. This session asks you to review what you can anticipate during any calendar year and plot the constants (holidays, frontlist ordering windows, weekly bestseller reporting, ABACUS, national and regional events) so that when variables (staff vacations, events & book fairs, emergencies) arise, you already have one foot out of triage and can better handle whatever comes at you.
Files & Links
Speakers
Courtney Wallace, American Booksellers Association - White Plains, NY
Jennifer Sauter-Price, Read Early And Daily R.E.A.D. - Arlington, VA
Rene Holderman, Third Place Books - Lake Forest Park, WA
Melissa Taylor, E. Shaver, Bookseller - Savannah, GA
Jennifer Sauter-Price, Read Early And Daily R.E.A.D. - Arlington, VA
Rene Holderman, Third Place Books - Lake Forest Park, WA
Melissa Taylor, E. Shaver, Bookseller - Savannah, GA
Building Diverse Children’s Sections
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
To highlight new titles from authors and characters from historically underrepresented groups, Ci2024 children’s publishers will demonstrate their best handselling skills! Come learn about books from Black and BIPOC authors, Trans and LGBTQIA2S+ authors, and authors and characters with disabilities, as well as upcoming sci-fi and romance titles written by those authors. An Edelweiss collection of the presented titles will be available.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Preethi Kannath, American Booksellers Association
Inspiring Families and Kids to Read Again
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Reading is on the decline. We've all heard it and we're all worried. It will take a bookstore organizing and community effort to relight the spark of literacy in not just kids, but also their parents. Bookstores with active reading programs will share models that work for them that booksellers can implement in their bookstores. This session will include time for a discussion on how the collective can work together to keep kids in bookstores.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Cliff Helm, Left Bank Books - St. Louis, MO
- Sandie Angulo Chen, Loyalty Bookstores - Silver Spring, MD
- Diane Capriola, Little Shop of Stories - Decatur, GA
- Cortney Yee, Changing Hands Bookstore - Tempe, AZ
Ingram Essentials: Workflow Enhancements & ipage® Improvements
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Join Ron Smithson and Marsha Wood as they discuss how Ingram is investing in indie bookstores through new warehouse improvements, and how the recent ipage enhancements can help increase productivity while decreasing downtime.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Ron Smithson, Ingram Content Group - La Vergne, TN
- Marsha Wood, Ingram Content Group - La Vergne, TN
Publisher Presentations & Lunch
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Hear about great upcoming titles from more of Children’s Institute’s publisher sponsors.
Files & Links
Social Emotional Learning With Romance
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
With young adult and middle-grade readers enjoying romance, it’s no secret that romance is good for business and good for young people who are exploring their identities and feelings. Whether it’s their first crush or a big love song-worthy experience, this discussion-based session will examine how reading about romantic relationships can be a young person’s first experience with different expressions of identities in relationships, creating boundaries, and giving/receiving consent — all while growing your business.
Files & Links
Speakers
Danielle Pernell, King's Books - Tacoma, WA
Nicole Brinkley, Oblong Books - Rhinebeck, NY
Haley Calvin, The Novel Neighbor - Webster Groves, MO
Sydney Wilson, Little Shop of Stories - Decatur, GA
Nicole Brinkley, Oblong Books - Rhinebeck, NY
Haley Calvin, The Novel Neighbor - Webster Groves, MO
Sydney Wilson, Little Shop of Stories - Decatur, GA
Harnessing Edelweiss For Discoverability
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Edelweiss provides a suite of tools that will allow everyone in your team to contribute to sustaining your children's literature sections. In this session we will cover core, analytics, community, and 360 Edelweiss tools that you can leverage for discovery, building out, and boosting your store sections. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of Edelweiss tools for the purposes of knowledge sharing, previewing, and handselling.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Deidre Dumpson, Edelweiss
- Cat VanOrder, Bookmarks - Winston-Salem, NC
- Taylor Carlton, Brazos Bookstore - Houston, TX
Bookstore Systems and Automations
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Can a bookstore be a Rube Goldberg machine? Realistically? Probably not, but here booksellers will apply the geometric law of syllogism (“If this, then that”) to demonstrate how to automate processes or develop systems to follow a consistent pattern or trigger a chain reaction of “this, then that.” Attendees will learn about low code/no code automation, and have the chance to examine and re-evaluate systems that can be streamlined to create an outcome that follows a chain reaction pattern — whether it’s an Excel formula or a standard procedure for fluid store operations.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Mikey LaFave, Avid Bookshop - Athens, GA
- Hannah Oliver Depp, Loyalty Bookstores - Washington, DC
- Kelly Justice, Fountain Booktore - Richmond, VA
- Danielle King, Left Bank Books - St. Louis, MO
Advocacy, Activism & Bookselling: The Influence of Bookstores
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Whether it’s to advocate for better public infrastructure, get out the vote for school board elections, stand up to book challenges, protect drag story times, or support a cause that aligns with your store’s mission, bookstores have the ability to influence change that can help their business and their community. In this session, booksellers will share examples of the ways their bookstore has influenced change and the obstacles they face.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Brein Lopez, Children's Book World - Los Angeles, CA
- John Cavalier, Cavalier House Books - Denham Springs, LA
- Vera Warren Williams, Community Book Center - New Orleans, LA
- Rebecca Crosswhite, Rediscovered Books - Boise, ID
Utilizing Category Turns To Leverage Profits
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Measuring turns is a good indicator of the vitality of your children’s department or bookstore. The session will explain turns in terms of your business’ health, compare children’s bookstore and children’s categories’ turns to general bookstores and non-children’s categories, teach booksellers how to measure turns, and the importance of watching them. With a foundational understanding, attendees will be allotted time during the session to brainstorm goal-setting and plans for growth for underperforming categories.
Files & Links
Speakers
Cynthia Compton, 4 Kids Books & Toys - Zionsville, IN
The New Strategy For Author Events
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
The nature of authors’ events continuously changes from one event to the next. However, COVID-19 has forced an evolution in events that can leave event coordinators wondering why they aren’t meeting their event goals. This session will discuss updated strategies for forming mutually beneficial relationships with publishing partners, managing ticketing and turnout, and creating an ordering strategy that feels less like throwing spaghetti at the wall and more like a tactical approach to hitting your event numbers bullseye.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Angie Zhao, bbgb - Richmond, VA
- Casey Robinson, The Silver Unicorn Bookstore - Acton, MA
- Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop - Houston, TX
- Thu Doan, East Bay Booksellers - Oakland, CA
License Characters and Media Properties as a Gateway to a Love of Literature
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
With consideration to the thousands of children who have transitioned from learning to read to reading to learn during the pandemic, how have the events of the last four years impacted reading comprehension and the middle-grade readers’ experience of reading? This session will investigate the rise of sales in graphic novels, manga, licensed character novels and stories, and comic books in relation to the drop in sales of the traditional middle-grade novel. We will also critically examine the independent bookstore’s relationship with licensed characters and media property tie-ins in terms of competing businesses like Walmart and Target and our own implicit bias against licensed character novels and stories.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Molly Olivo, Child’s Play - Washington, DC
- Lily Taliaferro, Eagle Harbor Book Co - Bainbridge Island, WA
- Marisa Spence, Ballast Book Company - Bremerton, WA
- Kai Burner, Bookworm of Edwards - Edwards, CO
Social Responsibility and Children’s Bookselling
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
This idea exchange acknowledges that books are a luxury and children who don’t have access to books won’t have access unless a concerted effort is made by a bookstore. We will assess the role of a community bookstore, critique school events, and connect ways in which bookstores can integrate financially accessible or no-cost ways to deliver books to children — strengthening community bonds and infusing all young people with a lifelong love of reading while remaining fiscally conscious of the business.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Tanvi Rastogi, Dog-Eared Books - Ames, IA
- Pranoo Kumar, Rohi's Readery - West Palm Beach, FL
- sweet pea Flaherty, King's Books - Tacoma, WA
- Latanya Devaughn, Bronx Bound Books - Bronx, NY
Breakfast Keynote: Spotlight on Black Publishing
Recorded June 12, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
In this spotlight on Black publishers Cheryl Willis Hudson (Just Us Books), Kwame M’Balia (Freedom Fire), and Bria Ragin (Delacorte Press) candidly discuss what inspired them to pursue careers as publishers of children’s books and their journeys to success in the publishing industry. It is a frank conversation about the history and experiences of Black publishers and the responsibility of all bookstores to invest in Black publishers, authors, illustrators, and children.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Cheryl Willis Hudson is an author, editor, publisher, and respected member of the children’s book community. She is co-founder of Just Us Books, publisher and packager of books that celebrate African American children, as well as co-author of Bright Eyes, Brown Skin. When I See Spirituals is Cheryl's first book for Holiday House.
- Kwame Mbalia is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Tristan Strong series and the publisher of Freedom Fire, an imprint of Disney Hyperion devoted to stories about the Black diaspora by Black creators.
- Bria Ragin is an Editor at Delacorte Press, where she works on middle grade and young adult fiction, and edits for Joy Revolution, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books co-founded by authors Nicola and David Yoon, focusing on commercial teen romances written by and about people of color.
- Britt J. Camacho (she/her) is ABA’s DEIA & Communications Senior Copy Editor, where she reviews content and language standards across the organization for diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. She believes that language is a means of freedom, and that stories help us build the future.
Creating Training Plans that Work
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
We don’t believe in training just for training’s sake, or just because it's the right thing to do. We firmly believe that the best and most successful training positively changes behavior and, therefore, positively affects our business’ bottom lines. We’ll share key elements of how we design and deliver our staff training as well as other tips we’ve learned over the years. (Presented by ZingTrain.)
Files & Links
Speakers
Elnian Gilbert, ZingTrain - Ann Arbor, MI
Evaluating Circana Data
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Following the Children’s Book Market Overview, booksellers can attend this idea exchange to investigate the data further, formulate opinions, and set goals for the final quarter of the year to prepare for a robust holiday season.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Lauren Savage, The Reading Bug - San Carlos, CA
- Holly Weinkauf, Red Balloon Bookshop - Saint Paul, MN
- Brenna Connor, Circana - New York, NY
- Nicole Brinkley, Oblong Books - Rhinebeck, NY
Budgeting For Bookstores
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
In this session, attendees will learn essential budgeting principles, including maintaining various budgeting reports and monitoring sales, payroll, inventory, and other key financial metrics. We’ll explore practical strategies for managing expenses, maximizing revenue, and maintaining financial health, as well as review ways to share this critical data with staff. Whether you’re a new bookstore owner or a seasoned veteran, this session will provide valuable insights to help you navigate the financial landscape with confidence.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo, Greenlight Bookstore - Brooklyn, NY
- Gabriel Moushabeck, Booklink Booksellers Inc. - Northampton, MA
- Sarah Hutton, Village Books - Bellingham, WA
- Tina Ferguson, Face in a Book - El Dorado Hills, CA
Book Bans’ Impact on Marginalized Communities
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Book bans and challenges have disproportionately harmed the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, with 30% of challenges targeting books including BIPOC characters or anti-racist themes and another 30% targeting books with LGBTQ+ characters and themes. Panelists will discuss the targeted impact of book bans on these and other marginalized communities, how they use bookselling to fight back in their own communities, and how other booksellers can do the same.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Jihye Shin, The Nonbinarian Book Bike - Brooklyn, NY
- Erin Decker, White Rose Books & More - Kissimmee, FL
- Annastasia Williams, The Bottom - Knoxville, TN
- Leah Johnson, Loudmouth Books - Indianapolis, IN
Featured Talk: Children’s Book Market Overview
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Brenna Connor, Books Insights Manager of Circana (formerly NPD), will explain and identify the US children’s book market key trends to watch, highest growth areas, and performance by genre, format, and age range. This can’t-miss session is based on the latest Circana BookScan data and Brenna’s industry expertise. (With a follow-up idea exchange)
Files & Links
Speakers
Brenna Connor, Circana - New York, NY
Education for Authors: Best Practices for Bookstore Events
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Developed for author guests in the early stages of their writing careers, this panel features booksellers who have formulated successful practices for creating events that benefit both stores and authors. This session will cover a number of issues, from author publicity to dealing with pre-event nerves.
Files & Links
Speakers
Maggie Robe, Flyleaf Books - Chapel Hill, NC
Harriet Moss, Books Inc. - Campbell, CA
James Ponti, The Sherlock Society (Simon & Schuster Children's Books)
Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company - Seattle, WA
Christine Bollow, Loyalty Bookstores - Washington, DC
Harriet Moss, Books Inc. - Campbell, CA
James Ponti, The Sherlock Society (Simon & Schuster Children's Books)
Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company - Seattle, WA
Christine Bollow, Loyalty Bookstores - Washington, DC
Indies Introduce Lunch and Author Signing
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
The Indies Introduce program is about what independent booksellers do best: discovering exciting debut authors and sharing the best with readers across the country. Enjoy lunch while learning about the title selection process from the bookseller panelists who curated the Summer/Fall 2024 Indies Introduce Kids’ list. Many of the Summer/Fall 2024 Indies Introduce Kids’ debut authors will be present to read a short passage and answer a question posed by one of the bookseller panelists. Authors will be available to sign copies of their debut books following the presentation.
Files & Links
Featured Authors
- K. A. Cobell, Looking for Smoke (Heartdrum/HarperCollins Children's Books)
- Freddie Kölsch, Now, Conjurers (Union Square & Co.)
- Aimee Lim, The Spindle of Fate (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
- Daisy Garrison, Six More Months of June (Flatiron Books/Macmillan Publishers)
- John Cochran, Breaking Into Sunlight (Algonquin Young Readers/Hachette Book Group)
- Josh Galarza, The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky (Henry Holt and Co./Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
- g. haron davis, The Lonely Below (Scholastic Press)
- Steven Banbury, The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers/Hachette Book Group)
- Kalela Williams, Tangleroot (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
Summer/Fall 2024 Kids' Bookseller Panelists
- Holly Weinkauf - Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, MN
- Sally Sue Lavigne - The Storybook Shoppe, Bluffton, SC
- Donna Liu - Kepler’s Books, Menlo Park, CA
- Lily Taliaferro - Eagle Harbor Book Co., Bainbridge Island, WA
- Emmy Widener - Changing Hands, Phoenix, AZ
- Kromeklia Bryant - Solid State Books, Washington, DC
- Katie Pionk - McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, MI
Understanding Cost of Goods For the Mathematically Anxious
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
This session will teach booksellers how to calculate the cost of goods sold (COGS) and maximize gross profit/margin. Panelists will lay the foundation for an understanding of COGS so that booksellers can confidently compare their information to ABACUS data. During this session, booksellers will be given time to examine what they’ve learned and identify areas in their own business for better COGS management so that they can begin applying these concepts when they return to their stores.
Files & Links
Speakers
Josh Christie, Print: A Bookstore - Portland, ME
Rebekah Rine, Watermark Books & Cafe - Wichita, KS
Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company - Seattle, WA
PK Sindwani, American Booksellers Association - Harrison, NY
Rebekah Rine, Watermark Books & Cafe - Wichita, KS
Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company - Seattle, WA
PK Sindwani, American Booksellers Association - Harrison, NY
Virtual Book Fairs and Teacher Wishlists
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Virtual book fairs and teacher wishlist fulfillment are practical ways to support schools and students. Learn the fundamentals of planning, marketing, running, and fulfilling virtual book fairs and wishlists.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Hannah Walcher, California Independent Booksellers Alliance (CALIBA) - Oakland, CA
- Angela Whited, Red Balloon Bookshop - Saint Paul, MN
- Sophie Nogar, Second Star to the Right - Denver, CO
Supporting Young Readers During Tough Times
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Adults don’t always have the answers. And just like adults, kids have the urge and want to seek out answers to difficult questions and situations. In this session, booksellers will discuss how bookstores can display, discuss, and create an environment for young readers where they feel empowered to ask about and find the answers to their tough questions and difficult events happening in our world.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Lorie Barber, Anderson's Bookshops - Naperville, IL
- Heather Albinson, Wild Rumpus Books - Minneapolis, MN
- Danielle Pernell, King's Books - Tacoma, WA
Redefining Success
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Bookstores have obvious indicators of success. The business is in the black, new customers walk through the doors, regular customers return, and events are well attended. In this session, booksellers examine what other measurements of success exist outside systemic measurements. What are benchmarks of success that are not part of a traditional capitalist understanding of measuring success?
Files & Links
Speakers
- Erica Tso Haidas, Belonging Books - Brewster, MA
- Rebekah Shoaf, Boogie Down Books - Bronx, NY
- Bunnie Hilliard, Brave + Kind Bookshop - Decatur, GA
- Hannah Oliver Depp, Loyalty Bookstores - Washington, DC
Breakfast Keynote with Renée Watson: Shades of Blue: On Writing About Grief and Joy For Young Readers
Recorded June 11, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Renée Watson is a #1 New York Times-bestselling author. Her books include Piecing Me Together, which received a Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award, the Ryan Hart series, and acclaimed picture books like Maya’s Song and The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, written with Nikole Hannah-Jones.
Files & Links
Speakers
Renée Watson, All the Blues in the Sky (Bloomsbury) - New York, NY
Seminar: Leader's Guide to Performance Management
Recorded June 10, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
Helping staff succeed is the primary role of a leader, though many leaders struggle with exactly how to do that. In this two-hour workshop, we’ll share practical, tactical tools for leaders to use to tackle performance problems, give future-focused feedback, and manage their teams more effectively. Presented by ZingTrain.
Files & Links
Speakers
Elnian Gilbert, ZingTrain - Ann Arbor, MI
Publisher Education: Middle Grade Market Discussion
Recorded June 10, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
The recent decline in middle grade readership has set off an alarm for independent children’s booksellers. With children losing interest in reading between the ages of 8–12, in only a few short years, the number of adult readers will also be diminishing. In this session, booksellers and Brenna Connor from Circana will share the middle grade trends bookstores are seeing, ideas for addressing the issue head on, and open the floor for a collaborative discussion.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Kathy Burnette, Brain Lair Books - South Bend, IN
- Brenna Connor, Circana - New York, NY
- Diane Capriola, Little Shop of Stories - Decatur, GA
- Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop - Houston, TX
Publisher Education: Booksellers Present on Children’s Events in the 2020s
Recorded June 10, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
This session is exclusively designed for publishers and led by events managers from bookstores with longstanding histories of successful events. Booksellers will present how events (virtual, hybrid, and in-person) have evolved since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020 through today. They will investigate factors that impact the new needs of bookstores and customers as they pertain to events and school visits, and share solutions that cultivate cross-industry collaboration so that bookstores, event participants, authors, and publishers have their needs met now and into the future.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Nahin Cano, Seminary Co-Op Bookstore - Chicago, IL
- Angie Zhao, bbgb - Richmond, VA
- Lupe Penn, Bookmarks - Winston-Salem, NC
- Brein Lopez, Children's Book World - Los Angeles, CA
New Children’s Bookseller Toolbox
Recorded June 10, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
This session is for those new to children’s bookselling (or those who want a refresher). Long-time children’s booksellers will demystify and clarify important FYIs and other details you won’t know until someone tells you! Topics discussed will be sales rep relationships, opening accounts versus ordering from a wholesaler, and more. You will leave feeling comfortable with a foundational toolbox that you will add to over time.
Files & Links
Speakers
- Paul Thomason Fyke, Square Books Jr. - Oxford, MS
- Kimi Loughlin, The Silver Unicorn Bookstore - Acton, MA
- Molly Olivo, Child’s Play - Washington, DC
- Cliff Helm, Left Bank Books - St. Louis, MO
Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding with an Inclusive & Accessible Lens
Recorded June 10, 2024 for Children's Institute 2024
This workshop is designed to empower bookstore managers and owners with the knowledge and tools to cultivate truly inclusive environments. Over the course of two hours, this interactive session will guide participants through the nuances of recruitment, hiring, and onboarding through the lens of anti-racism, inclusivity, and accessibility. Building on the principles advocated by RISEwithUS (Radical Insightful and Solutions to create Equity), this workshop aims to integrate equity-centered practices and leadership into the very foundation of bookstore operations.
Files & Links
Speakers
KJ Williams, RISEWITHUS
AJ Williams, RISEWITHUS
Lightning Talk - Launching a Reading Access Nonprofit with Claudia Vega (Whose Books)
Recorded June 6, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On June 6, 2024, Claudia Vega (Whose Books) discussed Launching a Reading Access Nonprofit.
Lightning Talk - Filling out ABACUS with Kira Wizner (Merritt Bookstore)
Recorded June 6, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On June 6, 2024, Kira Wizner (Merritt Bookstore) discussed Filling out ABACUS.
Files & Links
ABACUS Survey Step-by-Step Workshop
Recorded June 5, 2024 for Webinars
Join ABA CFO PK Sindwani, a former bookstore owner, and our accounting staff for our session designed to jumpstart your ABACUS submission. In this session, you’ll receive step-by-step instructions to fill out your ABACUS survey, tips on how to find your information to complete the survey, and ways to find time to report.
Attend a forthcoming workshop with PK for one-on-one assistance with filling out the 2023 ABACUS Survey the submission deadline of July 21, 2024.
(Web)Pages of Protection: Cybersecurity and Cyber Insurance For Bookstores
Recorded May 30, 2024 for Webinars
CoverHound is thrilled to present a special four-part webinar series for ABA members, Insuring Success: Business Insurance for Bookstores.
On Thursday, May 30, 2024, CoverHound presented part two of this series, (Web)Pages of Protection: Cybersecurity and Cyber Insurance For Bookstores. In this webinar, we dive into the vast realm of cybersecurity. Learn practical and easy-to-implement cybersecurity tips and best practices that fortify a bookstore against online threats. Gain insight into the essential Cyber Insurance coverages necessary to protect bookstores and online retailers against digital threats such as data breaches, hacks, and cyberattacks. Explore real-life scenarios where Cyber Insurance can be indispensable, safeguarding businesses from financial losses and reputational damage. Cap off the session with an interactive Q&A, where you can address concerns and gain clarity on implementing your own cybersecurity measures.
CoverHound is proud to partner with the ABA in managing the Bookseller Insurance Program, which has been supporting the unique insurance needs of bookstores since 1997. More information can be found at https://www.coverhound.com/booksellers.
Links & Files
- Slide Deck
- Handouts
- Part 1 - Safeguarding Your Shelves: Business Insurance Basics for Book Retailers
- Register for Part 3 - Workers' Compensation: Navigating Claims, Compliance, and Coverage
Emergency Drag Story Time Security Webinar: Best Practices, Case Studies, and Challenges
Recorded May 9, 2024 for Advocacy
In recent weeks, booksellers around the country have been targeted by bomb threats and other threads of violence because they host drag story time events. Some have been targeted before, and some are being targeted for the first time. This webinar offers a chance to hear from booksellers who have dealt with threats in the recent past (and have before), experts from the Drag Story Hour team, and a crisis management expert.
Lightning Talk - Book Donation Campaigns with Sophie Nogar (Second Star to the Right Books)
Recorded May 9, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On May 9, 2024, Sophie Nogar of Second Star to the Right Books (Denver, CO) discussed book donation campaigns to increase access to LGBTQIA2S+ books.
Files & Links
Lightning Talk - Building Awareness & Visibility for the Children's Section with Lily Taliaferro (Eagle Harbor Book Company)
Recorded May 9, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On May 9, 2024, Lily Taliaferro of Eagle Harbor Book Company (Bainbridge Island, WA) discussed building awareness & visibility for the children's section in your bookstore.
Files & Links
Lightning Talk - Book Fest Planning and Logistics with Preet Singh (Eagle Eye Book Shop)
Recorded May 9, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting short talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On May 9, 2024, Preet Singh (Eagle Eye Book Shop) discussed book fest planning and logistics.
Files & Links
New Member Series: Store Ownership 101- Q2 2024
Recorded May 7, 2024 for New Member Series
This session provides new and prospective bookstore owners with an opportunity to ask questions of seasoned bookstore owners/staff. New and new-ish members are welcome.
This installment features:
Kelly Nusz, owner of Foxing Bookstore (KY)
Nina Sanchez, owner of 51st Ward Books (IL)
Sherrele Goloversic, owner of The Book Reader's Venue (TX)
Suzanna Hermans, owner of Oblong Books (NY)
Recorded May 7, 2024 for New Member Series
This session provides new and prospective bookstore owners with an opportunity to ask questions of seasoned bookstore owners/staff. New and new-ish members are welcome.
This installment features:
Kelly Nusz, owner of Foxing Bookstore (KY)
Nina Sanchez, owner of 51st Ward Books (IL)
Sherrele Goloversic, owner of The Book Reader's Venue (TX)
Suzanna Hermans, owner of Oblong Books (NY)
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| New Member Series: 5.7.24 Store Ownership 101-Chat | 15.79 KB |
| New Member Series: 5.7.24 Store Ownership 101-Transcipt | 83.58 KB |
New Member Series: Intro to ABA Benefits
Recorded April 30, 2024 for New Member Series
The first part of this series will offer a tutorial on navigating Bookweb.org to ensure a better understanding of where to find the information most vital for members. The presentation will look at the member dashboard, education resources, networking & community, business affinity partnerships, marketing, advocacy, and much more. The end of the session will offer booksellers an open forum during which they can ask questions and talk with ABA staff.
Recorded April 30, 2024 for New Member Series
The first part of this series will offer a tutorial on navigating Bookweb.org to ensure a better understanding of where to find the information most vital for members. The presentation will look at the member dashboard, education resources, networking & community, business affinity partnerships, marketing, advocacy, and much more. The end of the session will offer booksellers an open forum during which they can ask questions and talk with ABA staff.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| New Member Series:Intro 4.30.24 Chat | 7.05 KB |
| New Member Series:Intro 4.30.24 Transcript | 69.74 KB |
Lightning Talk - Creating a Sensory-Friendly Store Environment with Robin Stern (Books Inc)
Recorded April 11, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On April 11, 2024, Robin Stern (Books Inc.) discussed Creating a Sensory-Friendly Store Environment to improve Autistic inclusion in your store.
Files & Links
Lightning Talk - Balancing Scheduling & Employee Morale with Amani Jackson (The Ivy Bookshop)
Recorded April 11, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On April 11, 2024, Amani Jackson (The Ivy Bookshop) discussed Balancing Scheduling and Employee Morale.
Files & Links
Lightning Talk - Using Slack for Staff Communication with Liz Whitelam (Whitelam Books)
Recorded April 11, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On April 11, 2024, Liz Whitelam (Whitelam Books) discussed Using Slack for Staff Communication.
Files & Links
Safeguarding Your Shelves: Business Insurance Basics for Book Retailers
Recorded March 28, 2024 for Webinars
CoverHound is thrilled to present a special four-part webinar series for ABA members, Insuring Success: Business Insurance for Bookstores.
On March 28 at 3:00 pm ET, CoverHound presented part one of this series, Safeguarding Your Shelves: Business Insurance Basics for Book Retailers. In this webinar, tailored to book retailers and bookstore owners, CoverHound guides bookstore owners through the essential aspects of commercial insurance. Learn about the coverage options necessary to safeguard your book business against unforeseen risks, including property damage, liability claims, and business interruption.
CoverHound is proud to partner with the ABA in managing the Bookseller Insurance Program, which has been supporting the unique insurance needs of bookstores since 1997. More information can be found at https://www.bookweb.org/coverhound-business-insurance-details.
Links & Files
Lightning Talk - School Author Events with Angie Zhao (bbgb books)
Recorded March 14, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On March 14, 2024, Angie Zhao of bbgb books (Richmond, VA) discussed School Author Events.
Files & Links
Recorded March 14, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On March 14, 2024, Angie Zhao of bbgb books (Richmond, VA) discussed School Author Events.
Files & Links
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Mar2024 Lightning Talk - bbgb school author events .pdf | 5.21 MB |
Lightning Talk - Emily Autenrieth (A Seat at the Table Books) on Calculating Sales for Store Sustainability
Recorded March 14, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On March 14, 2024, Emily Autenrieth (A Seat at the Table Books) discussed Calculating Sales for Store Sustainability.
Lightning Talk - Buying/Sourcing Toys with Bregette Poore (Child's Play Toys & Books)
Recorded March 14, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On March 14, 2024, Bregette Poore (Child's Play Toys & Books) discussed Buying/Sourcing Toys.
Lightning Talk IBD Edition - Ryan Clark of Gibson’s Bookstore (Concord, NH) on Bookstore BINGO and #BookHaul Photo Booths
Recorded February 22, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On February 22, 2024, Ryan Clark of Gibson’s Bookstore (Concord, NH) discussed Bookstore BINGO and #BookHaul Photo Booths.
Recorded February 22, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On February 22, 2024, Ryan Clark of Gibson’s Bookstore (Concord, NH) discussed Bookstore BINGO and #BookHaul Photo Booths.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Indie Bookstore Day Presentation.pdf | 2.52 MB |
Lightning Talk IBD Edition - Erin Ball of Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park, WA) on Bookstore Crawls
Recorded February 22, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On February 22, 2024, Erin Ball of Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park, WA) discussed Bookstore Crawls.
Lightning Talk IBD Edition - Eileen McCormick of Green Apple Books (San Francisco, CA) on Partnering with Community Organizations
Recorded February 22, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On February 22, 2024, Eileen McCormick of Green Apple Books (San Francisco, CA) discussed Partnering with Community Organizations for Independent Bookstore Day.
Recorded February 22, 2024 for Lightning Talks
ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On February 22, 2024, Eileen McCormick of Green Apple Books (San Francisco, CA) discussed Partnering with Community Organizations for Independent Bookstore Day.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| IBD community partnerships.pdf | 3.47 MB |
Closing Keynote with Doris Kearns Goodwin
Recorded February 14, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Description
Doris Kearns Goodwin is an acclaimed presidential historian, international keynote speaker, and Pulitzer Prize-winning, New York Times #1 bestselling author of books including Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, Leadership: In Turbulent Times, and the forthcoming An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History.
Speakers
Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s (On sale April 16, 2024 from Simon & Schuster)
Philomena Polefrone, Advocacy Associate Manager for ABA's American Booksellers for Free Expression
Files & Links
Bookstore Resilience: Stories from Venerable Booksellers
Recorded February 14, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Description
Nearly half of small businesses fail within the first five years, and only 25% make it to 15 years or more - and bookselling can be a particularly tough industry to crack. This makes it all the more impressive when a bookstore manages multiple decades in business, with no sign of stopping. This panel features five indomitable booksellers with more than 100 years of combined bookselling experience. They will share their stories and the ups and downs of their careers in bookselling, what motivates them to keep going, and their hopes for the future of the industry. Come learn from our bookselling veterans!
Speakers
Kris Kleindienst, Left Bank Books - St. Louis, MO
Janet Jones, Source Booksellers LLC - Detroit, MI
Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay Book Company - Seattle, WA
Brein Lopez, Children's Book World - Los Angeles, CA
Shirikiana Gerima, Sankofa Video and Books - Washington, DC
Files & Links
Developing De-escalation Skills
Recorded February 14, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Description
As booksellers continue to be on the front lines of many consumer and human rights issues, the need for professionally-led training to keep booksellers safe has never been more important. In this session, participants will learn essential de-escalation skills and strategies to gracefully handle difficult customer interactions and defuse tensions while prioritizing staff safety. Empower yourself with the tools you need to navigate challenging situations with confidence and professionalism, fostering a welcoming and supportive atmosphere in your bookstore.
Speakers
Chasity Rush, Talbert House - Cincinnati, OH
Files & Links
Powering Indies with Edelweiss Analytics
Recorded February 14, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Edelweiss Analytics, a tool created uniquely for indie booksellers, allows you to easily manage your inventory by integrating POS data into Edelweiss to analyze your stock, view order & sales history, and access aggregate market data without missing a beat. Whether your store uses Square or a bookstore-specific POS system, this conversation is for you. An Edelweiss team member in collaboration with bookseller panelists will examine each tier of Edelweiss Analytics and explain the value of utilizing these tools for better collaboration with publishers, and for amplifying the power of the indie market as a whole. If you’re not currently signed up, remember Edelweiss Analytics’ base tier — Basecamp — is free for ABA members the first year so come check it out! If you’re already signed up, come hear best practices and ways to optimize it for your store.
Speakers
- Jeanne Costello, Maria's Bookshop - Durango, CO
- Jenny Cohen, Waucoma Bookstore - Hood River, OR
- Dan Brewster, Prologue Bookshop - Columbus, OH
- Nicolette Siclare, Edelweiss by Above the Treeline - Ann Arbor, MI
Files & Links
Labor Trends in Retail
Recorded February 14, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
The world of work has changed. New worker expectations, growing labor movements, pandemic trauma, increased need for de-escalation skills, and pandemic-induced skill gaps are creating new challenges and opportunities for managers and frontline employees. In this session, hear from an expert on current labor trends to consider when hiring, developing, and supporting staff.
Speakers
Nicolas Williams, University of Cincinnati - Cincinnati, OH
Files & Links
Getting Clarity: What Business Are You In?
Recorded February 14, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Description
The changing landscape of bookselling brings new challenges every day, and it is essential to learn how to respond without losing sight of your goals or purpose. Join Bonnie Wan, author of The Life Brief, for a workshop that creates space to declare your ambitions/focus for 2024 and design a brief for how you will achieve growth, engagement, and concentrate on what matters most deeply to you and your business.
Speakers
Bonnie Wan, author of The Life Brief: A Playbook for No-Regrets Living (available now from Simon Element)
Files & Links
Strategies for Employee Retention
Recorded February 14, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Description
The heart of a bookstore is the bookseller in the stacks, on the floor, behind the counter, or in the back room. These are the dedicated professionals who create the welcoming environment your community experiences every day. How do you keep this team? This session will cover important factors that impact employee retention today. You will be asked to consider your store culture, the openness of store-wide communication, your diversity and inclusion efforts, and conditions around compensation, among other important factors that drive employee satisfaction and retention. Come prepared to listen, engage, and leave with the beginnings of an action plan.
Speakers
Suzanna Hermans, Oblong Books - Millerton, NY
Jamie Thomas, Women & Children First - Chicago, IL
DJ Johnson, Baldwin & Co. - New Orleans, LA
Lyn Roberts, Square Books - Oxford, MS
Files & Links
Increasing Sales With IndieCommerce 2.0
Recorded February 14, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Channeling ten years of feedback from booksellers, IndieCommerce 2.0 is an entirely new platform built from the ground up with new features and a fresh new design. Learn how you can harness the power of IndieCommerce 2.0 in this panel discussion with three booksellers who are using the new platform. Each panelist will showcase their site and share their first hand experiences with the new platform. They will discuss strategies for effectively matching their IndieCommerce 2.0 site to their in-store business model, highlight their favorite new features, and offer tips and tricks for maximizing the potential of IndieCommerce 2.0.
Speakers
Geetha Nathan, ABA - IndieCommerce - White Plains, NY
Kazemde Ajamu, The Black Dot Cultural Center & Bookstore - Lithonia, GA
Steve Iwanski, Charter Books - Newport, RI
Sophie Nogar, Second Star to the Right - Denver, CO
Files & Links
Tracking ROI for Events
Recorded February 14, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Although you may be creating events that look successful, your return on investment might not be. Come to this session to learn what information you should be tracking, how to track it, and how to analyze this data so you can evaluate whether or not an event is worth your staff’s time.
Speakers
Cindy Dach, Changing Hands Bookstore - Tempe, AZ
Files & Links
Making Numbers Count: Quantifying Success with KPIs
Recorded February 13, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Description
You’ve meticulously curated your inventory, designed the perfect displays, and developed an events program for your community — but how will you know if what you’re doing is working? Tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will give you the answer. KPIs are specific outcome-based targets that support your strategic plan and can be measured quantitatively, such as inventory turnover ratios, sales per square foot, and average transaction value. By the time you leave this session, you will: (1) understand the meaning and value of critical retail KPIs and how to track them, (2) understand how to compare your store’s KPIs against financial metrics found in the ABACUS report, and (3) be able to apply this data to create an improvement plan for at least one area of your store’s performance.
Speakers
Cynthia Compton, MacArthur Books - Carmel, IN
Melissa DeMotte, The Well Read Moose - Coeur d'Alene, ID
Candice Anderson, Tombolo Books - St. Petersburg, FL
Files & Links
Leading Leaders: Developing Staff Leadership Skills
Recorded February 13, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Description
Investing in the leadership skills of your staff has both short-term and long-term benefits, from building a better culture for your team to identifying potential successors when you retire. In this session, Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor and the forthcoming Radical Respect, will teach you how to nurture staff into leadership roles, and evaluate the process for success!
Speakers
Kim Scott, author of Radical Respect : How to Work Together Better (On sale May 7, 2024 from St. Martin's Griffin)
Files & Links
ipage® Fundamentals: How to Save Time, Order Strategically & More
Recorded February 13, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Join Ingram for an informative workshop with ipage tips that can help you manage your account and store more efficiently. Whether you’re new to ipage or an experienced user, gain a clearer understanding of our platform’s full capabilities allowing you to spend less time navigating and more time selling. Learn about our streamlined stock box and cart, Direct-to-Home improvements, IPS publisher direct discounts and cart, and so much more!
Speakers
- Johanna Hynes, Publishers Group West/ Two Rivers - Louisville, KY
- Leslie Jobson, Ingram Content Group - La Vergne, TN
- Marsha Wood, Ingram Content Group - La Vergne, TN
Files & Links
Banned Book Preparedness
Recorded February 13, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
This session presents practical ways to prepare to fight book bans before they come to your area. Staff from the American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE), ABA’s free expression initiative, will advise attendees on what they can do locally: how to engage with their community and local government, and what actions to take if attempted book bans do arrive. Presented by the ABA Children’s Group.
Speakers
Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop - Houston, TX
Leah Johnson, Loudmouth Books - Indianapolis, IN
Philomena Polefrone, American Booksellers Association - White Plains, NY
Angela Cooper, ACLU of Kentucky - Louisville, KY
Files & Links
Project Management for Booksellers
Recorded February 13, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Keeping a bookstore running can feel like having too many tabs open in your brain at once. Luckily, there are project management tools and strategies that can help with that. In this presentation, booksellers who have cracked the code on project management will share the tools and strategies that have helped them set goals and timelines and stay organized with their short- and long-term projects. You’ll leave this session with a better understanding of effective project management, which tool or approach is right for you, and what your next steps are for getting started!
Speakers
Kirsten Hess, The End & Let's Play Books Bookstore(s) - Emmaus, PA
Angela Schwesnedl, Moon Palace Books - Minneapolis, MN
Rachel Watkins, Avid Bookshop - Athens, GA
Cori Theroux, The Green Dragon Bookstore - Fort Dodge, IA
Files & Links
Batch for Books: The Easy Invoice Management Solution
Recorded February 13, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Every bookseller in the UK uses Batch to simplify their Accounts Payable and publisher invoice management and over 300 US booksellers (and growing!) are now using it. Come learn more about this free platform to:
- Automatically and electronically organize publisher invoices to reduce paperwork and free up time.
- Provide access to invoice information 24x7, enabling you to manage invoices when it’s most convenient for you.
- Provide electronic invoices, allowing you to verify shipments and raise claims for damages or shortages at the point of delivery.
- Allow payments to be prepared and remittances received and stored electronically.
- Link with QuickBooks, enabling automated entry of invoice data directly into QuickBooks.
The more booksellers that sign up for Batch, the more publishers that will sign up! Saving everyone time and money.
Speakers
Kathy Burnette, Brain Lair Books - South Bend, IN
Kate Layte, Papercuts Bookshop - Boston, MA
Zachary Matelski, McLean and Eakin Booksellers - Petoskey, MI
Nathan Halter, Batch for Books - Hartford, CT
Files & Links
Featured Talk: Beyond the Binary
Recorded February 13, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Description
Contemporary fiction increasingly invites the reader to see race, gender, and sexuality not as binary identities, but as a vibrant spectrum of diversity. This year's new fiction is opening up space for new ideas about how we might expand our understanding of identity and what myriad of relational dynamics are possible beyond the normative concepts of race, gender, and sexuality. In this keynote panel, four authors share their thoughts and experiences writing for a world that has moved beyond the traditional binary definitions of identity and belonging.
Speakers
Miranda July, author of All Fours (On sale May 14, 2024 from Riverhead Books/Penguin Random House)
Danzy Senna, author of Colored Television (On sale September 3, 2024 from Riverhead Books/Penguin Random House)
LaDarrion Williams, author of Blood at the Root (On sale May 7, 2024 from Labyrinth Road/Penguin Random House)
Maysoon Zayid, author of Shiny Misfits: A Graphic Novel (On sale April 16, 2024 from Graphix/Scholastic)
Anton Bogomazov, Politics and Prose Bookstore - Washington, DC
Files & Links
Lunch and Booksellers Present: Indies Introduce Authors
Recorded February 13, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Description
The Indies Introduce program is about what independent booksellers do best: discovering exciting debut authors and sharing the best with readers across the country. Enjoy lunch while learning about the title selection process from the bookseller panelists who curated the Winter/Spring 2024 Indies Introduce list. Many of the Winter/Spring 2024 Indies Introduce debut authors will be present to read a short passage and answer a question posed by one of the bookseller panelists. Authors will be available to sign copies of their debut books following the presentation.
Files & Links
Education for Authors: Best Practices for Bookstore Events
Recorded February 13, 2024 for Winter Institute 2024
Description
Developed for author guests in the early stages of their writing careers, this panel features booksellers who have formulated best practices for creating events that benefit both stores and authors. This session will cover a number of issues, from author publicity to dealing with pre-event nerves.
Speakers
Paul Hanson, Village Books - Bellingham, WA
Linda Kass, Gramercy Books - Bexley, OH
Errol Anderson, Charis Books and More - Decatur, GA
Bunnie Hilliard, Brave + Kind Bookshop - Decatur, GA
Javier Ramirez, Exile in Bookville - Chicago, IL
Files & Links
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About ABA
American Booksellers Association is a national trade association that supports and advocates for the success of independent bookstores. We provide members with education, networking opportunities, advocacy, resources, and technology. In turn our members support local schools through book fairs, donations and author visits; promote literacy; provide inclusive community centers; connect readers and books; add character to neighborhoods; champion and center diverse and new voices; and contribute to the local economy. We feel honored to support them in their work.
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- Email: [email protected]
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