Last Call to Register for Children’s Institute; Deadline Extended to July 3

Booksellers now have until July 3 to register for the American Booksellers Association’s virtual Children’s Institute (Ci8), which will be held July 15–16 in the Eastern time zone. Furloughed booksellers are also welcome to register (note the separate registration form).

This year, a number of programs will feature American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services from Handwriter Ink. See last week’s BTW article for details.

Newly added to the schedule is a session featuring bestselling and award-winning authors Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft. Other program highlights include:

• A bookseller panel on “Representation in Science Fiction and Fantasy Young Adult and Middle Grade Books”
• A presentation of the Indies Introduce the Best Middle Grade and Young Adult Debuts, featuring bookseller panelists and authors
• A workshop on “White Anti-Racist Allyship: What Is our Role in the Struggle?” led by Cultures Connecting (get on the waitlist here but please be sure to register for Ci8 first)
• A panel on “Store Voice, Online Sales, and Profitability,” during which bookstore owners and social media managers will share how they developed their store’s voice, got loud, and captured new customers and drove online sales
• A keynote featuring author and bookstore champion Isaac Fitzgerald
• A virtual hangout with colleagues (at which booksellers may see a guest appearance by Fitzgerald)
• Virtual Rep Picks, where booksellers will meet with publishing reps and have access to a virtual galley room
• IndieCommerce and IndieLite virtual one-on-ones

The virtual Children’s Institute is open to all ABA member booksellers and costs $20; visit BookWeb.org now to register. Registration closes July 3.

Children’s Institute will resume in person on June 16–18, 2021, at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona. Questions about the institute should be directed to [email protected].