ABA Seeks Bookseller Input at MSIBA, PNBA, SEBA This Weekend

This coming weekend is a busy one for booksellers as the Mid-South Independent Booksellers Association (MSIBA), Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA), and Southeast Booksellers Association (SEBA) all hold their fall trade shows. In addition to exhibiting at the shows, ABA is sponsoring a series of educational programs, which are free and open to all ABA member booksellers.

At ABA's booth at the shows, the focus will be on the Book Sense Gift Card Program. Booksellers will have the opportunity to see firsthand how the gift card program works, and as an incentive to try the gift card, ABA will waive the one-time $25 set-up fee for booksellers signing up at the shows.

Association staff will also be seeking bookseller input to help shape future ABA educational programming. The "ABA Education 2005 Survey" was sent to members via e-mail, is accessible at www.bookweb.org/read/7235, and will be available at the show. All ABA member booksellers who bring a completed educational survey to the booth -- or complete one at the booth -- will be entered into a raffle to win a color inkjet printer.

Here's a quick look at other ABA programming at this weekend's shows:

MSIBA
(September 9 - 12 at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans)

• The 2% Solution: Thursday, September 9 at 1:00 p.m. - 3: 00 p.m.
  
• Book Sense Gift Cards and BookSense.com: Friday, September 10 at 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  

For more about the MSIBA trade show, click here or go to www.msiba.org/.

PNBA
(September 10 - 12 at the Oregon Convention Center and Red Lion Hotel in Portland)

• Exit Strategies/Succession Planning: Friday, September 10 at 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
  
• Forming Local Business Alliances: Friday, September 10 at 1:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
  
• Book Sense Gift Card Users Group: Saturday, September 11 at 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  
• BookSense.com Users Group: Saturday, September 11 at 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  

For more about the PNBA trade show, click here or go to www.pnba.org/show.htm.

SEBA
(September 10 - 12 at the Cobb Galleria Center in Atlanta)

• Focused Small Store Issues: Friday, September 9 at 10:30 a.m. - noon
  
• The 2% Solution: Friday, September 10 at 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  
• Book Sense Gift Card Users Group: Saturday, September 11 at 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  

For more about the SEBA trade show, click here or go to www.sebaweb.org.