Last week’s Winter Institute session “E-Books: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going” presented data on e-book sales growth and trends among IndieCommerce websites and a look at some of the creative ways indie booksellers are drawing customer attention to promote sales.

HarperCollins kicked off its Comprehensive Backlist Program today with a ceremonial first-run print-on-demand copy of Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett at nine indie bookstores with Espresso Book Machines®.

George Fox Rishel, the proprietor of The Sly Fox in Virden, Illinois, recently shared his thoughts on the future of bricks-and-mortar bookstores in a letter to ABA CEO Oren Teicher. Published here, with permission, is his letter and ABA’s response.

December brought double-digit sales improvements to some indie booksellers, increased online sales to others, and the reversal of a negative trend to another.

Representatives of Google will take part in next month’s Winter Institute at two sessions on Google Analytics and at the Ask ABA Table at the Consultation Station, all on Thursday, January 19.

Here’s a roundup of some of the reaction from booksellers, authors, and the media to last weekend’s promotion for the Amazon price comparison app.

Common Good Books to move to Macalester College; The Galaxy Bookshop heads to Main Street; Former story-hour kids return as river’s end booksellers; 4 Kids holds successful Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day; Accent on Books thanks customers; The Clintons shop (and sign) local; Boswell’s Stacie Michelle Williams rocks

How to maneuver your way through the holidays with balloons, parades, great visuals, and some friendly visits from your congressional representatives.

Big or small, three years old or 100-plus, many independent bookstores reported robust sales for Black Friday weekend, ranging from five to 250 percent over the same period last year.

On Monday, November 21, Random House instituted “2-Day Transit,” a new shipping policy aimed at helping independent booksellers during the holiday season.