Change is Good: SEBA Now SIBA

The Southeast Booksellers Association (SEBA) has officially changed its name to the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA). SIBA, which made the announcement on January 23, stated that the change "reflects an increased commitment towards activism and advocacy for the independent bookstores in the South."

Coinciding with the name change, the alliance revealed a new logo and a new look for its website, www.sibaweb.org. The name change also reflects the merge with Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi booksellers who had previously been members of the Mid-South Independent Booksellers Association, which dissolved last year.

"I feel like the focus has been narrowed so that we are in a better position to respond to the needs of our core member bookstores," SIBA Executive Director Wanda Jewell told BTW. "I'm also very excited about the new logo. It's a classic and simple design that is not so busy it will detract from a store logo or the Book Sense logo."

Jewell noted in a press release that SIBA changed from an "association" to an "alliance," to show its "commitment to become a marketing tool for our stores. We are focusing on the retail alliances and 'buy local' campaigns..."

With a territory stretching from Louisiana to Virginia, SIBA's region encompasses the entire southern quarter of the United States, making it geographically one of the largest regional trade associations for booksellers in the country. Nearly 300 independent bookstores employing over 2,000 booksellers are currently represented by SIBA. --Karen Schechner