About ABA

President Barack Obama, an avid supporter of independent bookstores and bestselling author of the recent memoir A Promised Land (Crown), will open the 2021 Winter Institute with a personal video message to independent booksellers.

Booksellers have until Friday to register for Winter Institute, which will feature bestselling authors Lauren Groff, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Colson Whitehead, as well as futurist and author David Johnson.

Over the past seven days, IndieCommerce and IndieLite stores saw a 9.24 percent increase in sales revenue.

Following the American Booksellers Association Board of Directors’ meeting this month, new association ends policies have been posted on BookWeb.

The calendar features books with added value, such as signed copies and exclusive merchandise, as well as big titles that have good pre-order potential.

The Annual Meeting will take place at 2:00 p.m. ET with the Town Hall immediately following. ABA will provide details about the digital platform in the coming weeks.

Membership with ABA ends on January 31, 2021, so booksellers are encouraged to complete their dues renewal form on BookWeb to ensure a continuation of benefits. 

Nominations and self-nominations are due by 11:59 p.m. ET today, Wednesday, January 20. 

Booksellers have until February 5 to sign up to participate in Independent Bookstore Day (April 24) and/or place orders for special literary-themed merchandise to sell during the event.