SIBA Announces Revamped Fall Trade Show

On Tuesday, February 27, the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance announced changes to its fall trade show that it hopes will maximize the show experience for both booksellers and exhibitors. The SIBA fall show is scheduled for September 28 - 30 in Atlanta.

SIBA's new format calls for the exhibit hall to open, rather than close, at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 29. The hall will remain open until 10:00 p.m., and in place of its usual Saturday night event, SIBA will provide free hors d'oeuvres and drinks on the trade show floor. The exhibit hall will also be open from 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. on Sunday for a total of 8.5 hours of exhibit time.

SIBA's Moveable Feast dinner event, where authors move from table to table and talk with diners about their books, will move to Sunday, September 30, at noon.

A statement from SIBA Executive Director Wanda Jewell explained, "[SIBA is] an organization for booksellers. Our primary goal is to serve their interests." Noting that the show's programs on Friday and Saturday will be devoted to bookstore tours, education, rep picks, and author panels, Jewell added, "Our goal is to give booksellers as much access as possible to all the wonderful resources offered by the show. I think this format will work better for everyone."

A full schedule can be found on the SIBA website. Registration for the show and reservations for exhibit space will open online on March 1. For more information, contact Jewell at [email protected].