American Booksellers Association

Last updated
American Booksellers Association
AbbreviationABA
Founded1900;124 years ago (1900)
Type nonprofit trade association
13-5676641 [1]
Legal status 501(c)(6) [2]
PurposeTo help independently owned bookstores grow and succeed. [2]
CEO
Allison K. Hill [3]
Tegan Tigani [4]
Subsidiaries Booksellers Order Service Inc [2]
Revenue (2021 [5] )
$5,299,148 [5]
Expenses (2021)$4,498,252 [5]
Employees42 [5] (in 2021)
Volunteers (2021)
12 [5]
Website www.bookweb.org

The American Booksellers Association (ABA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1900 that promotes independent bookstores in the United States. ABA's core members are key participants in their communities' local economy and culture, and to assist them ABA creates relevant programs; provides education, information, business products, and services; and engages in public policy and industry advocacy. The Association actively supports and defends free speech and the First Amendment rights of all Americans, without contradiction of equity and inclusion, through the American Booksellers for Free Expression. [6] [7] A volunteer board of 13 booksellers governs the Association. Previously headquartered in White Plains, New York, ABA became a fully remote organization in 2024. [8] [9]

Contents

Winter Institute and Children's Institute

The American Booksellers Association hosts two conferences each year, known as Institutes. Institutes typically last several days and consist of tours of several independent bookstores in the host city, education sessions, author signings, and networking opportunities.

Winter Institute lasts four days and is typically held in late January of early February. It is the larger of the two events, with more 1,000 people in attendance in 2024. [10] [11]

Children's Institute is a three-day long event, typically held in the summer, with education and sessions geared towards booksellers who carry children's books. [10] [12]

Independent Bookstore Day

Independent Bookstore Day, celebrated the last Saturday in April, is a celebration of independent bookstores. The American Booksellers Association organizes this annual celebration, creates assets and resources for booksellers to use, and coordinates with publishers to create exclusive items booksellers can sell for this event. [13]

Independent Bookstore Day was introduced in 2015, following the success of a regional California Bookstore Day. [14] Though it started as a collaboration of the regional associations, Independent Bookstore Day was eventually handed over to ABA to organize.

Membership

The ABA's membership has varied over time:

The ABA sponsored the Book Sense marketing program and associated BookSense.com web site, intended to preserve a connection between consumers and local independent bookstores. In June 2008, Book Sense was replaced by IndieBound, a new program and website. [42] [43]

Association of Booksellers for Children

In November, 2010, the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC), a non-profit trade association supporting the business of independent children's bookselling, agreed to merge with the American Booksellers Association. [44] The former ABC is now a membership group within the ABA. [44]

IndieBound

IndieBound is a marketing movement for independent bookstores [45] launched in 2008 by the American Booksellers Association. With resources designed to encourage readers to shop at independent bookstores, it promotes fiscal localism.

IndieBound is home to the Indie Bookstore Finder, an interactive map that allows visitors to find independent bookstores across the country. IndieBound also hosts curated reading lists like the Indie Next List and Kids' Indie Next Lists as well as Indie Bestseller Lists.

Launch

IndieBound was launched in June 2008 to replace a prior marketing program for independents called Book Sense. IndieBound does not sell books directly, instead it directs customers to nearby independent bookstores who sell online through their own e-commerce sites.

Indie Bestseller Lists

The Indie Bestseller Lists show the top selling titles in independent bookstores nationwide.

Indie Bestseller Lists are published weekly for hardcover fiction, hardcover nonfiction, trade paperback fiction, trade paperback nonfiction, mass market paperback, "children's interest," children's illustrated, and children's fiction series. Category lists, which focus on a particular genre, are published less frequently. The Indie Bestseller Lists are released by IndieBound as XML feeds.

Indie Next Lists

The Indie Next List (published monthly) and the Kids' Indie Next List (published every other month) feature new releases nominated by booksellers across the country.

The ABA collects these bookseller nominations and compiles the Indie Next Lists.

Indies Choice Book Awards

Each year, owners and employees of ABA stores have the opportunity to vote for the Indies Choice Book Awards, which is issued in four categories. The winning authors are honored at a banquet at BookExpo America. BookExpo was "retired" in 2020, in part due to the pandemic. [46] The Indie Choice Book Awards has not been held since.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barnes & Noble</span> American bookseller and retailer

Barnes & Noble Booksellers is an American bookseller with the largest number of retail outlets in the United States. The company operates approximately 600 retail stores across all 50 U.S. states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tattered Cover</span> Independent bookstore chain in Colorado, United States

Tattered Cover is a bookstore chain in Denver, Colorado. It is one of the largest independent bookstores in the United States. Tattered Cover is open seven days a week at all branches, hosts prominent book signings, and is known for its customer service. Together, the stores maintain an inventory of over half a million books. Its LoDo store houses an events space that can seat over 250 persons, while its East Colfax store can seat around 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent bookstore</span> Retail bookstore which is independently owned

An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned. Usually, independent stores consist of only a single actual store. They may be structured as sole proprietorships, closely held corporations or partnerships, cooperatives, or nonprofits. Independent stores can be contrasted with chain bookstores, which have many locations and are owned by corporations which often have divisions in other lines besides bookselling. Specialty stores such as comic book shops tend to be independent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bookselling</span> Business of selling and dealing with books

Bookselling is the commercial trading of books which is the retail and distribution end of the publishing process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kepler's Books</span>

Kepler's Books and Magazines is an independent bookstore in Menlo Park, California. It was founded on May 14, 1955 by Roy Kepler, a peace activist who had endured multiple internments as a conscientious objector during World War II. Kepler previously had worked as a staff member of radio station KPFA, listener-supported and based in Berkeley. The bookstore "soon blossomed into a cultural epicenter and attracted loyal customers from the students and faculty of Stanford University and from other members of the surrounding communities who were interested in serious books and ideas."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BookPeople</span> Bookstore in Austin, TX

BookPeople is an independent bookstore in Austin, Texas, and the largest bookstore in the state of Texas. It was founded in 1970 and has been voted the best bookstore by the Austin Chronicle every year since 1995 as of 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Apple Books & Music</span> Bookstore in San Francisco

Green Apple Books & Music is an independent bookstore in the Richmond District of San Francisco, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. B. White Read Aloud Award</span> Literary award

The E. B. White Read Aloud Award was established in 2004 by The Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC) to honor books that its membership felt embodied the universal read aloud standards that were created by the work of the author E. B. White.

The Indies Choice Book Award is an American literary award that was inaugurated at BookExpo America 2000. The American Booksellers Association (ABA) rededicated the award in recognition of a new era in bookselling, as well as the important role the Book Sense Picks List has played for independent booksellers in discovering and spreading the word about books of quality to all stores, and readers, nationwide. Throughout the year, Book Sense independent booksellers from across the country nominate for inclusion in the monthly Book Sense Picks the books that they most enjoyed hand-selling to their customers. The books on each list represent a combined national and local staff pick selection of booksellers' favorites from more than 1,200 independent bookstores with Book Sense.

American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) is a non-profit organization operating as the advocacy wing of the American Booksellers Association (ABA) to promote free speech and expression in the United States. The organization was founded in 1990 as the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE). In 2015, the ABFFE merged with the ABA and became ABFE. The organization works at both the national level and at local levels to support individuals who voice opposition to book challenges and bans. ABFE also provides resources and education to booksellers, politicians, the press, and the public on the importance of free expression.

Andrew Laties is an American writer and bookseller born in Baltimore, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Google Play Books</span> Digital distribution service for ebooks

Google Play Books, formerly Google eBooks, is an ebook digital distribution service operated by Google, part of its Google Play product line. Users can purchase and download ebooks and audiobooks from Google Play, which offers over five million titles, with Google claiming it to be the "largest ebooks collection in the world". Books can be read on a dedicated Books section on the Google Play website, through the use of a mobile app available for Android and iOS, through the use of select e-readers that offer support for Adobe Digital Editions, through a web browser and reading via Google Home. Users may also upload up to 2,000 ebooks in the PDF or EPUB file formats. Google Play Books is available in 75 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Writer's Block</span> Bookseller publisher in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

The Writer's Block is an independent bookseller, publisher, and literacy educator in downtown Las Vegas. It is the first independent bookstore in Las Vegas and second in the state of Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Left Bank Books (St. Louis)</span> Independent bookstore in St. Louis, Missouri

Left Bank Books is an independent bookstore located at 399 N. Euclid Street in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. It is the oldest independently operated bookstore in St. Louis. It was founded by students in 1969 as a leftist collective to sell underground, counter-cultural, feminist, and anti-establishment books, newspapers, and magazines—the first to do so in the St. Louis region. It was the first bookstore with its name in the United States, and the first exhibiting gallery for children's book illustrator Mary Engelbreit. Left Bank Books sponsors reading groups, book signings, author appearances, and community literary activities. In 2015 the Washington Post named it one of the best bookstores in the United States and in 2017 Real Simple magazine has called Left Bank Books the best bookstore in the state of Missouri.

Bookshop.org is an online book marketplace launched in January 2020. Its stated mission is "to financially support local, independent bookstores."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Books of Wonder</span> Independent bookstore based in Manhattan

Books of Wonder is an independent bookstore and publisher based in Manhattan. It was established in 1980 by Peter Glassman and James Carey and is focused on selling antique, classic and new children's books. It has been called "New York City's oldest children's-only bookstore" still in activity.

Ryan T. Higgins is an American author and illustrator of children's books. He is best known for his Mother Bruce and Penelope Rex series, both of which have had a book on The New York Times Best Seller List and have won the E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture Books.

Moon Palace Books is an independent bookstore in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 2012 by Angela and Jamie Schwesnedl, it sells rare and used books and, after having moving twice since its establishment, is currently located on Minnehaha Avenue near Lake Street.

Book Thug Nation is a Brooklyn independent bookstore in Williamsburg. Founded in 2009, it sells used books, primarily fiction, and occasionally hosts events ranging from book readings to film screenings.

References

  1. ↑ "American Booksellers Association Inc". Tax Exempt Organization Search. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, 2016". Tax Exempt Organization Search. Internal Revenue Service. September 30, 2017.
  3. ↑ "American Booksellers Association Announces Selection of New CEO". American Booksellers Association (Press release). 2019-10-10. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Board of Directors". American Booksellers Association. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, 2021" (PDF). Tax Exempt Organization Search. Internal Revenue Service . Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  6. ↑ Robertson, Imogen. "Shelf Awareness for Friday, November 21, 2014". www.shelf-awareness.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  7. ↑ "FAQ: First Amendment, Free Expression and ABA's Ends Policies, determined by the ABA Board of Directors". American Booksellers Association (Press release). 2022-02-24. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  8. ↑ Milliot |, Jim. "American Booksellers Association to Close Its Headquarters". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  9. ↑ "ABA Officially Closing White Plains Office". the American Booksellers Association (Press release). 2024-01-24. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  10. 1 2 "ABA Education for Booksellers". the American Booksellers Association. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  11. ↑ Kirch, Claire; Beeck |, Nathalie op de. "Winter Institute 2024: Moments from the Show". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  12. ↑ Kirch, Claire; Beeck |, Nathalie op de. "What's on Tap at Children's Institute 2023". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  13. ↑ Kirch, Claire; Beeck |, Nathalie op de. "Independent Bookstore Day 2024: 'An Indie Bookseller's Christmas'". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  14. ↑ Sultana, Nusrat. "It's Independent Bookstore Day—here's how to celebrate". USA Today. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  15. 1 2 Singer, Penny (January 17, 1999), "Independent Bookstores Harvest Their Zeal", New York Times
  16. 1 2 Kawaguchi, Karen (July 24, 2000), "Feminist Feast And Famine", Publishers Weekly
  17. 1 2 Mutter, John (May 5, 2002), "BEA Show Daily: ABA Loses Members, Money", Publishers Weekly, archived from the original on December 20, 2013
  18. ↑ Spearie, Steven (August 14, 2008), "A novel approach to selling books", Norwich Bulletin, archived from the original on January 30, 2013
  19. 1 2 "A Plethora of New Independent Bookstores Open in 2006". American Booksellers Association (Press release). 2007-01-08. Retrieved January 8, 2007.
  20. ↑ "115 New Independent Bookstores Open in 2007". American Booksellers Association (Press release). 2008-01-14. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  21. 1 2 Italie, Hillel (May 21, 2010). "Independent Bookstores Get A Boost: American Booksellers Association Membership Up Since Last Year". Huffington Post . Archived from the original on 2010-06-02.
  22. 1 2 3 Italie, Hillel (May 26, 2015). "Independent booksellers continue to add new stores". AP News . Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  23. ↑ "40 ABA Member Stores Open in 2009". American Booksellers Association (Press release). January 14, 2010.
  24. ↑ Schechner, Karen (February 24, 2011). "25 ABA Member Stores Open in 2010". American Booksellers Association (Press release).
  25. ↑ "ABA Annual Meeting Report". American Booksellers Association. June 5, 2012.
  26. ↑ "41 ABA Member Stores Open in 2011". American Booksellers Association (Press release). January 10, 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-01-08.
  27. ↑ Schechner, Karen (August 19, 2010). "ABA President Michael Tucker Sends Important Update]". American Booksellers Association (Press release).
  28. ↑ "ABA Annual Meeting Report". American Booksellers Association. May 30, 2013
  29. ↑ "43* ABA Member Stores Open in 2012". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Annual Meeting Report". American Booksellers Association. May 30, 2013.
  31. ↑ "45 ABA Member Stores Open in 2013*". American Booksellers Association (Press release). February 19, 2014.
  32. ↑ Button, Liz (2015-02-05). "59 ABA Member Stores Open in 2014, 29 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release).
  33. ↑ Button, Liz (February 17, 2016). "61 ABA Member Stores Open in 2015; 16 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release).
  34. ↑ Jarrard, Sydney (January 25, 2017). "87 ABA Member Stores Open in 2016; 15 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  35. ↑ Jarrard, Sydney (February 9, 2018). "75 ABA Member Stores Open in 2017; 22 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  36. ↑ Jarrard, Sydney (2018-06-20). "ABC Children's Institute: A Celebration of Diversity, Activism, and Kids' Lit". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  37. ↑ Button, Liz (2019-01-15). "99 ABA Member Stores Open in 2018; 28 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  38. ↑ O'Brien, Chris (September 30, 2019). "Shop Local, Buy Online". Alta Journal. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  39. ↑ Jarrard, Sydney (2020-01-29). "111 ABA Member Stores Open in 2019; 25 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  40. ↑ Behnke, Emily (June 4, 2021). "2021 ABA Annual Meeting and Town Hall". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  41. ↑ "ABA 2022 Annual Report". the American Booksellers Association. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  42. ↑ Grogan, David (June 4, 2008). "BookSense.com Becomes ABA E-commerce Solution" (Press release). American Booksellers Association. Archived from the original on 2016-02-04. Retrieved October 2, 2008.
  43. ↑ "ABA Rolls Out New Campaign". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  44. 1 2 Rosen, Judith (23 Nov 2010). "ABC Booksellers Overwhelmingly Approve Merger With ABA". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  45. ↑ Paul Swydan (2019-08-09). "IndieBound Needs a Makeover If It's Going to Fight Amazon". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  46. ↑ Milliot |, Jim. "BookExpo and BookCon Are No More". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.