BookExpo America is the industry's premier trade show. Held annually, this is an invaluable opportunity to get a sneak peek inside the world of bookselling at the biggest national bookselling event of the year. Aside from the trade show floor (where publishers exhibit their fall titles), there are education and information sessions, author breakfasts and lunches, special events, many opportunities to network with booksellers and publishers, and much more.

The American Booksellers Association is a proud sponsor of BookExpo America. ABA sold the show in 1992 to Reed Exhibitions who manage and operate the show. ABA’s Town Hall and Annual Membership Meetings are held in conjunction with BEA, and ABA members are encouraged to attend not only the trade show, but also the myriad special events sponsored by the association and its partners throughout the week of BEA. ABA members get a discounted rate when they register BEA.

A new initiative announced by the American Booksellers Association and BookExpo America entitles all regular ABA bookstore and provisional members to at least one free admission to this year's trade show. In order to receive their free badges, stores must authorize ABA to share relevant information with BEA officials. (However, all specific sales data provided to ABA for dues calculation purposes will be kept strictly confidential.)

To claim their badges, members must COMPLETE A SIMPLE FORM. ABA is encouraging all bookstore and provisional members to complete the authorization form, whether they have already made the decision to attend this year's BEA or not. ABA members must register for the trade show via the BEA website--ABA is simply providing BEA with information about the number of free badges for which a member store is eligible.

AUTHORIZE ABA NOW to provide BEA with the # of free badges to which your bookstore is entitled. Offer exclusively for ABA Regular Bookstore and Provisional members.

SLEEP. READ. NETWORK.

Hotel ABA, the headquarters hotel exclusively for ABA bookseller
and provisional members, offers a great rate of $159/night, plus an expanded package of benefits.

Add your name to a waiting list for reservations by sending an e-mail to Sarah Rettger.

>More info on Hotel ABA.

ABA's Day of Education at BEA 2009 will take place on Thursday, May 28 at the Jacob K. Javits Center. View the full Day of Education schedule.

Thursday, May 28 - Sunday, May 31; Room 1E07/08 of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

>Read more about ABA's Bookseller's Lounge

Room 1E06, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
Instead of lugging books and belongings around the trade show floor, ABA member booksellers can conveniently drop their items in this room.

>Read more about ABA's Bag Check Room

Friday, May 29; 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Room 1E11, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
Led by outgoing ABA President Gayle Shanks and incoming President Michael Tucker, ABA's Annual Town Hall Meeting offers ABA member booksellers the opportunity to express opinions, ask questions and share ideas in a less formal setting than the ABA Membership Meeting, which follows. Booksellers are encouraged to ask questions and make suggestions on any topic of concern. In order to provide the opportunity for as many members as possible to speak during the Town Hall meeting, a sign-up sheet will be prominently displayed in the ABA Lounge at the convention center beginning Thursday morning, May 28. Sign up is on a first-come, first-served basis, though the Board will do its best to make sure all members with questions or issues have the opportunity to speak. Booksellers will be called upon in the order in which they sign up. Read more...

Friday, May 29; 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Room 1E09, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
Current and new members of ABA's Board of Directors and ABA's Chief Executive Officer, Avin Mark Domnitz, will be at the association's Annual Membership Meeting. The agenda includes the formal announcement of this year's election results for new officers and Board members; reports from the president and the CEO on the past year's activities; a membership and financial update; and the opportunity for members to bring old and/or new business to the Board's attention. This year, membership will also be asked to vote on proposed changes to Articles IV and VIII of the ABA Bylaws to allow the association to use electronic means to notify members about governance issues and for ballot distribution and voting. Currently, bookstore members must opt in to receive electronic notifications. The ABA Bylaws were written almost 10 years ago, before the massive growth in electronic communications, and they require that notification about governance issues and elections be conducted through the "mail." If the amendment is passed this year, it will allow next year's process to go forward electronically -- without the need for members to opt in. Voting cards will be available outside the meeting room two hours prior to the Annual Membership Meeting.

Friday, May 29; Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
A great opportunity to meet with and provide feedback to ABA staff on several ABA programs. These meetings have a proven track record of providing value to both booksellers and ABA staff and help set the future agenda of each program.

• 9:30AM - 10:30AM: ABA's IndieCommerce Users Group (Room 1E09)
• 9:30AM - 10:30AM: IndieBound Users Group (Room 1C04)
• 10:30AM - 11:30AM: ABA's Gift Card Program Users Group (Room 1E11)

Friday, May 29; Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
The centerpiece of the Celebration of Bookselling Luncheon (formerly the Book Sense Author Luncheon) will be the presentation of the 2009 Indies Choice Book Awards to the winning authors and illustrators as chosen by independent booksellers from throughout the country. The categories for the new awards reflect the spirit and expertise of indie booksellers. The Luncheon will also feature many other bookseller favorites whose works have been selected as Indie Next Picks during the past year. Attendance is limited and by reservation only. Two people from each member store can reserve a spot at the Celebration Luncheon; each bookseller who would like to attend should register individually as soon as possible via an electronic form on Bookweb.org. Questions regarding the luncheon may be addressed to ABA Senior Director of Publisher Initiatives Mark Nichols.

How the SBA and the Federal Stimulus Package Can Help Your Business
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon (Room 1E09, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center)
Ana M. Ma, chief of staff at the U.S. Small Business Administration, will address what the Small Business Administration is doing as part of the Recovery Act to help small businesses get access to much-needed capital. The recently enacted Federal economic stimulus package contains several provisions designed to help America's small businesses get back on their feet -- including eliminating fees on popular SBA loan programs and raising loan guarantees; providing new funding for SBA's Micorloan Program; and enacting provisions that allow come small businesses to "carry back" their losses for up to five years, effectively allowing them a rebate on taxes paid in previous years. Come hear a panel of experts describe these new initiatives and explain how they can help your business. Moderated by Oren Teicher, ABA COO.

>Read article from Bookselling This Week

Booksellers Connect: Bookseller Topical Discussions
2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Room 1E10, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center)
Following on the success of the "Sunday Morning Booksellers Cafe" at Winter Institute, ABA members are invited to attend these informal roundtable discussions. Tables will be organized by a wide variety of topics, including events coordinators, children's stores, technology, frontline booksellers, IndieBound, digital issues, social media, and more. This is a great way to capitalize on the material presented at ABA's Day of Education -- as well as your overall experience at BEA over the preceding two days -- with your fellow booksellers from across the country. Open to ABA member booksellers only.

Tuesday, May 26 - Thursday, May 28
Brooklyn Marriott Hotel (Hotel ABA) & Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
Retail Bookselling: Creating Foundations for Success is a workshop designed to assist anyone who wants to open a bookstore, buy an existing bookstore, or become an owner after working in a bookstore. Facilitated by the Bookstore Training Group of Paz & Associates and sponsored by ABA, trainees will invest a day and a half understanding best practices and the foundations of the business then participate in ABA’s Day of Education. For the full agenda and to register, visit PazBookBiz.com or call (800) 260-8605.

John Rubin, CEO and founder of Above the Treeline, will demonstrate Edelweiss, an online, interactive catalog system developed by Treeline for publishers and independent booksellers.

• Friday, May 29: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., Room 1E02
• Saturday, May 30: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., Room 1E02

Register for the BEA trade show (am I eligible for free BEA badges?) and for ABA's Day of Education, order tickets for BEA Author Breakfasts and Lunches and other special events, and more.

2010: Tuesday, May 25 - Thursday, May 27, New York, NY
2011: Tuesday, May 24 -Thursday, May 26, New York, NY
2012: Wednesday, May 30 - Friday, June 1, New York, NY