Nomination Process Underway for Black Booksellers to Join ABA Board

American Booksellers Association member booksellers have until Tuesday, August 4, at 11:59 p.m. ET to nominate Black booksellers to be appointed to the ABA Board of Directors. Members are encouraged to nominate a qualified bookseller now; self-nominations are also welcome.

Earlier this month, bookstores approved three changes to the association bylaws; 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. As a result, the board is seeking two Black booksellers to join the board immediately.

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.