On Demand Education Sessions

Kristen McLean, Director of Business Development at NPD Group, will present a review of the most recent data on the U.S. children’s book market with a deep-dive into the latest trends in genres, formats, buyer behavior, and more. Attendees will emerge with plenty of new insights to help them better understand their business in the coming year.

Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime conversation between bestselling authors Hanif Abdurraqib (Random House), Tiffany D. Jackson (Katherine Tegen Books), and Jason Reynolds (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books), moderated by Tami Charles (Scholastic Press). During this keynote, the bestselling authors will discuss the intersection of music and books, representation, and the powerful impact on a young Black person when their experiences and belief system are mirrored by the words of Black artists.

Is your store composed of a staff of three people or fewer or a footprint of 1,000 square feet or under? This discussion just might be for you. An example of how small/micro store bookstore employees can utilize this roundtable discussion is to share how they make in-store operations work and seek advice on how to work smarter, not harder, with limited employees and time constraints.

It is no secret that 2021 holiday seasons will look different than they did in 2019 and 2020. During this discussion, booksellers can begin laying the groundwork for the in-store operations of their 2021 holiday seasons, which can include back to school, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the 2021/2022 winter shopping season. Examples of ideas that may be discussed are shipping, staffing, in-store shopping, personal shopping, and appointment scheduling.

The popularity of TikTok is rising, but how do bookstores get in on the new social media platform that has launched creators and captivated millions of people? This roundtable will be used to answer the question of what TikTok is, and booksellers may use this time to discuss what type of content works best on the new platform, how it can or has boosted online engagement and sales, and how to get started.

Enjoy a storytime interlude with Max Greenfield, as he reads from his upcoming release I Don't Want to Read This Book (G.P Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers). Storytime is a reprieve from a busy day and a time to recall the joy and comfort we all experience when someone reads to us.

A panel of marketing and publicity personnel from an array of publishing houses will share how indies can maximize their visibility to publishers to be the leaders in events as the industry moves toward a hybrid model. Questions for the panelists can be submitted ahead of time so that the panel can directly address specific topics related to hybrid events and independent bookstores.

Bestselling authors, Nicola and David Yoon, share the inspiration behind their imprint Joy Revolution. The imprint is a celebration of love stories written by people of color about people of color, with its first titles being published in fall 2022.

This session follows the format of an Open Forum: the opinions expressed are those of the individual participants, not of the ABA. Information discussed is reflective of the time of the recording. Please see the most recent ShopTalk and/or the daily email update for the most current information.

This webinar with the U.S. Small Business Administration will feature a presentation from an SBA representative and will explain how an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) may help your bookstore's recovery. Both booksellers who have already applied for EIDL and those who have not yet applied are encouraged to attend.

As the COVID-19 virus continues to adapt and mutate, and as federal, state, and local guidelines continue to offer new ways of staying safe, booksellers are left to wrestle with how, when, where, and even if they should schedule in-person events. ABA’s In-Person Events Packet offers suggested steps for navigating the planning process for indoor, outdoor, and hybrid events.