MBA Launches New Bookstore Events Site

This month, the Midwest Booksellers Association (MBA) launched a new Book & Author Events website that provides consumers with a searchable list of events at MBA member bookstores. The website also presents MBA member stores with a new venue to publicize upcoming events.

Said Susan Walker, MBA's executive director, "The idea is intended to be another way the consumer can find out what is going on [at their local bookstore]," she told BTW. A customer can search by date, location, and event category and the website lists events up to 30 days in advance.

Walker noted that the idea for the Book & Author Events page has been in the works for over a year now, but she was waiting for the right technology. While the site looks to make finding bookstore events easy for consumers, it also aims to make it easy for booksellers to keep event information up-to-date. MBA members can update their information simply by logging in using their MBA Login ID and password, she explained.

Booksellers can choose from a range of about 15 category events. "And if they don't see the event category they want there, they can get in touch with us," said Walker. She noted that there is a link to the new events page from Booksigningsusa.net, an author events portal.

In the future, Walker said, she hopes to sell banner ads geared toward consumers using the website.

For more information on MBA, go to http://www.midwestbooksellers.org/.