ABA Announces Plans for 2007 Winter Institute

Building on the success of this past January's inaugural event, the American Booksellers Association has announced plans to hold its Second Annual Winter Institute on Thursday and Friday, February 1 and 2, 2007, in Portland, Oregon.

The 2007 Winter Institute will once again feature two full days of free educational programming for the owners and staff of ABA member stores, special events, and meal functions, as well as hotel accommodations at a great price.

"We hope ABA members will mark their calendars now, to allow for arrival in Portland on January 31," said the director of ABA's education program, Len Vlahos. "We're planning two days packed with educational seminars, meetings, and social events. To take advantage of all we'll have to offer, booksellers should plan to hit the ground running early on Thursday and plan to stay through the whole day on Friday."

The first Winter Institute, in Long Beach, California, drew rave reviews from the approximately 360 booksellers from across the country who participated in 25 education sessions covering an array of professional experience. For the 2007 program, ABA will cap the total number of registrants at 500 to ensure the intimacy of the gathering -- which, according to first-year participants, was one of the key hallmarks of the event.

Registration for the Second Annual Winter Institute will open sometime in August. Watch for announcements in Bookselling This Week.