ABA Nominating Committee to Launch Call for Black Bookseller Nominations

American Booksellers Association member bookstores have approved three changes to the association bylaws; as a result, the nominating committee will be asking ABA member booksellers for nominations of Black bookstore owners or employees to join the ABA Board of Directors.

In a vote that concluded on July 14, bylaws motions passed that bring the number of board members to 13 (from 11) and that require the board to include at least four booksellers who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), at least two of whom are Black.

Later this week, the nominating committee will begin accepting nominations for two Black booksellers to be appointed to the ABA Board of Directors. Watch this week’s daily updates from ABA CEO Allison Hill for information about the nominating committee and how to nominate.

Any ABA member may nominate a qualified candidate, and self-nominations are also welcome.

A nominee for the ABA Board of Directors must:

• Be the owner or employee of an ABA member independent bookstore with a storefront location that is operated according to sound business principles
• Have at least three years of recent experience as the owner or employee of a member company

It is also desirable that nominees have at least two years’ experience as an active volunteer in ABA and/or in a regional association or other constituency organization. Qualifications are outlined in the “ABA Nomination and Election Guidelines” from the ABA Governance Policy Manual.

Once appointed, these booksellers will serve on the board until the next election, in April 2021, at which time they will be eligible for a three-year term.