New Regular Membership Application - New Member*

 

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

* New store or not an ABA member during the previous two years. 

Renew your membership here.

For membership questions, contact a Member Relationship Manager.
 
Please note, our membership term is a fixed year from February 1 through January 31.
A copy of ABA's Code of Conduct can be found at this link, ABA Code of Conduct.
Please select the top reason you are joining ABA.
Store Information
Please add the names and emails of the additional store co-owners.
The ABA routinely sends emails to the main contact regarding events, membership dues, and surveys about the store.
Please complete with the Main Contact for the store
This email address will be used as the primary email for ABA communications.
The ABA routinely sends emails to the billing contact regarding membership dues and fees.
This phone number will be used as the primary contact number for ABA to reach you. Please enter your phone number in this format ###-###-####
This will be public-facing and will appear on the Indie Store Finder through IndieBound.org and BookWeb.org member directory. Please enter your phone number in this format ###-###-####
This will be public-facing and will appear on the Indie Store Finder through IndieBound.org and BookWeb.org member directory.
The primary website address for your business. Please enter complete URL. Example: https://www.bookweb.org
Please enter complete URL. Example: https://www.facebook.com/americanbooksellers
Please enter complete URL. Example: https://www.instagram.com/americanbooksellers
Please enter complete URL. Example: https://www.threads.net/@yourusername
Please enter complete URL. Example: https://twitter.com/ababook
Please enter complete URL. Example: https://pinterest.com/yourstorename
Please enter complete URL. Example: https://tiktok.com/yourstorename
Please enter complete URL. Example: https://youtube.com/yourstorename
Does your store have a different shipping address?
Please include this information for each location: Address, Main Contact, Email, Phone, Store Opened Date, Square Footage
ABOUT THE BOOKSTORE
This description can be viewed by consumers in ABA's store directory.
If your store open date is more than 3 months in the future, please submit a Provisional Member Application
By additional business we mean business/sales generated above and beyond those of your primary retail business; i.e. a storefront who also has an event business or mobile bookstore.
Total square feet of the store, including office and storage space. If you are not sure what this is, we recommend reviewing your lease agreement.
Please estimate to the best of your ability the consumer space of the store, excluding offices, storage areas, and cafe or bar space
What is your point of sale system?
Upon joining the ABA, members have the opportunity to sign-up for IndieCommerce, ABA’s state-of-the-art e-commerce platform enables ABA members to create unique, content-rich, easy-to-operate, and fully transactional and customizable e-commerce websites. The IndieCommerce database consists of more than 10 million in-print titles and more than four million ebooks and audiobooks. The entire system is supported by ABA's experienced development and customer support team. Please visit https://www.bookweb.org/eCommerce for additional information.
Please provide complete URL. Example: https://bookshop.org/shop/YOURSTORENAME
Please provide the complete URL. Example: https://libro.fm/YOURSTORENAME
If you are a member of your Regional Association please select the applicable association.
Does your store carry non-book inventory? Non-Book inventory includes but is not limited to gifts, toys, and store-branded merchandise. Excluded from non-book inventory are books in all formats, paper gift certificates, magazines, calendars, and food products. More information about ABA Dues can be found here, https://www.bookweb.org/membership/dues
What is the percentage of non-book sales from total sales?
Does your store carry children's books (board books, young reader, middle grade, YA)?
What is the percentage of children's book sales from total sales?
Does your store host events? Select all that apply
Does your store brand itself around any of the following identities, genres, or specialties?
Please select all that apply if the store has multiple owners. The choices available were the most commonly received or most commonly requested demographics from our partners and media. We've included space to self-describe below as we certainly understand there are many ways to identify and how often intersectionality occurs.
Please format "Woman-owned, Black-owned, etc."
ABA receives requests for store lists based on ownership identity by publishers, partners, and the media. Clicking this box ensures your store will appear on these lists shared with them and on our own website and social media.
Your contact information will be shared with publishers so that they may reach out to you directly.
These answers are for ABA staff use. If you are an existing store, how has the change in consumer habits due to Covid-19 affected your business?
AMOUNT PAYABLE

Please contribute to ABFE (American Booksellers for Free Expression) to support the important work of protecting free speech and fighting censorship.

The ABC Children’s Group is dedicated to growing and expanding the reach of children’s books.

PAYMENT
** By making payments via credit card, you are authorizing ABA to store your credit card details for future payments on this site.
Stores are not eligible to use quarterly or monthly payment options when using an active promo code.

Please note: Dues paid to the ABA are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. However, they may be tax deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses subject to restrictions imposed as a result of association lobbying activities. ABA estimates that the non-deductible portion of your dues –  i.e. the portion which is allocable to lobbying – is 5.2%.

Avoid the hassle! If your store's credit card on file requires pre-authorization, please authorize your Membership dues with your bank in advance. You'll receive an email the Friday before your payment is charged. If the card on file declines for 3 consecutive months, we will require payment in full to maintain your store’s Membership for 2024.

For Installment Payers: If your store pays dues monthly or quarterly, there will be a $1.00 processing fee added to each installment payment.

 

Payment will not be deducted until application is processed by ABA staff.

About ABA

The American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization, works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.

Independent bookstores act as community anchors; they serve a unique role in promoting the open exchange of ideas, enriching the cultural life of communities, and creating economically vibrant neighborhoods.

Contact

PRESS INQUIRIES: [email protected]

INDIECOMMERCE: [email protected]

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: [email protected]

 

 

Copyright 2024 American Booksellers Association. BookWeb is a registered trademark of ABA.
Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Accessibility Statement

 

Follow ABA