ABA Schedules Coffee Break for BIPOC Booksellers

The American Booksellers Association is scheduling a virtual forum for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) bookseller members.

The BIPOC Coffee Break kicks off on Thursday, July 2, at 6:00 p.m. ET on Zoom.

This forum, which is open to all booksellers who identify as BIPOC, is being created in response to requests and feedback from bookstore members. Booksellers who do not identify as BIPOC — Black, Indigineous, or People of Color — and BIPOC allies should not plan to attend.

In addition, to ensure that this space belongs to the attendees, this will be a non-hosted event without an ABA facilitator or staff person present; it will also not be recorded like ABA’s other Coffee Breaks. The goal is for BIPOC members to have a place in which to gather for connection, support, community, resources, networking, and more. What is discussed is entirely up to those in attendance.

To that end, ABA is seeking a BIPOC bookseller member who is interested in attending the meeting who would also be able to serve as the host; responsibilities are to manage the waiting room at the start of the meeting and to end the meeting. The meeting will take place on ABA’s Zoom account, but as no ABA staffer will be present, hosting responsibilities will need to be turned over to an attendee.

Booksellers interested in attending should email [email protected] for the Zoom login details or to indicate interest in serving as host. The login details are different from the regular Coffee Breaks. Booksellers can also email [email protected] if they are having trouble logging in to the meeting.