A Final Letter From Outgoing ABA President Becky Anderson

As ABA President Becky Anderson prepares for her last Board meeting, she looks back at some of the changes over the past seven years, reminds booksellers of some work yet to be done, and extends sincere thanks to both her fellow Board members and bookselling colleagues.

ABA at BEA: An Overview of Next Week’s Programming

Don’t miss out on any of ABA’s programming at BEA. Here’s an overview of educational sessions, plenaries, author signings, special events, and bookseller-related BEA programs running from Tuesday, May 28, through Saturday, June 1. 

New Service Aims to Help Members Save Money on Credit Card Processing

ABA has signed an agreement with Independent Merchant Group Inc., an independent merchant services auditing and consulting firm that will put its extensive knowledge of the credit card industry to work for booksellers to achieve the best possible rates with a store’s current credit card processor.

Appointments Available to Discuss Advocacy Issues at BEA

Booksellers attending BEA who would like to discuss key advocacy issues affecting their businesses with ABA staff are encouraged to contact Senior Public Policy Analyst David Grogan this week to schedule an appointment.

Signup for Fall Debut Authors Promotion Ends June 8

With this fall’s promotion celebrating debut authors, ABA members will be able to introduce their customers to 22 of the best new writers for children and adults while taking advantage of publisher specials. A panel of booksellers selected the featured titles from dozens submitted by publishers in the categories of adult fiction and nonfiction and children’s books, all publishing between August and November 2013.

Swipe Fee Filing Deadline May 28

Booksellers are reminded that the deadline to respond to the class action settlement notice in the federal antitrust lawsuit over rapidly rising Visa and MasterCard credit card swipe fees is next Tuesday, May 28.

2012 – 2011 ABA Financial Statements Available to Bookstore Members

The American Booksellers Association, Inc. and subsidiaries consolidated financial statements (with the independent auditors’ report) are available to ABA bookstore members in PDF format on BookWeb.org.

Books of Wonder & SCBWI to Host Open House at BEA

Books of Wonder and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators invite all ABA member booksellers to an “Open House” at Books of Wonder on Tuesday, May 28, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The event at the iconic children’s store is an opportunity for booksellers to relax and meet many of the children’s book authors and artists who will be attending BEA over the following days.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Extends Terms of Payment

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is changing its retail payment terms from net 30 days from the date of invoice to net 90 days from the date of invoice, beginning June 1. 

Sherman Alexie, Laurie Halse Anderson Star in ABFFE Videos

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression has released several videos of bestselling authors Sherman Alexie and Laurie Halse Anderson discussing how to fight the censorship of young adult books.

Study Finds No Technical Reasons for Closed E-Book Ecosystems

At its annual conference held last Thursday, May 16, in Brussels, the European & International Booksellers Federation released a study commissioned from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, which found no technical or functional obstacles to an open e-book ecosystem.

World Book Night Participants Highly Satisfied

The results of a World Book Night survey are in, and 98 percent of this year’s book givers reported being very satisfied with the experience. 

ABFFE Receives Royalties From Read This!

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression has received an initial royalty check from sales of the Coffee House Press title Read This! Handpicked Favorites From America’s Indie Bookstores, compiled and edited by Micawber’s Books owner Hans Weyandt.

Bestseller List Reporting Period Extended

Due to the Memorial Day holiday, next week’s Indie Bestseller reporting period will be extended.

Community Bookstore to Open Terrace Books

Next month, Community Bookstore, located in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood, will be opening a new store in the former Babbo’s Books. Terrace Books will function primarily as a used bookshop and will serve the neighborhood of Windsor Terrace, which lies roughly one mile southeast of Park Slope.

Around Indies

Main Point Books set to open; Modern Times Bookstore seeks community’s help

The Indie Mystery & Thriller Bestseller List

Based on sales at hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending May 19, 2013.