ABA Updates Independent Business/Shop Local Notable Title List

The American Booksellers Association has updated its list of notable titles about the importance of building and strengthening vibrant local economies. First compiled in September 2006, the new list features 26 titles, 12 accompanied by recommendations from independent booksellers nationwide.

Including books by bestselling authors Barbara Kingsolver and Bill McKibben and such experts on sustainable economies and independent retailing as Stacy Mitchell and Michael Shuman, the list provides a wide range of informative titles on such topics as the true cost of chain mega-retailers, the importance of supporting local agriculture, and strategies regarding how retailers can work to create profitable businesses that help build strong local communities. All of the titles chosen were highlighted by independent booksellers as timely and significant.

"We are extremely grateful to all of the booksellers who helped us compile this update of our list of titles on independent businesses and sustainable local economies. We believe that the result is an even more helpful shortlist for booksellers' own reading and, importantly, a marketing tool to update and expand 'local first' sections and title displays in their stores," said ABA COO Oren Teicher. "Since the publication of ABA's debut Local First list, consumer awareness of this topic has grown by leaps and bounds. In scores of communities nationwide, independent booksellers have been early and effective leaders in expanding awareness of the importance of locally owned, independent businesses to the health and diversity of our villages, towns, and cities, and we hope the new list will help them continue this effort."

The title list is available to ABA members on BookWeb.org in a PDF format, suitable for black-and-white or color reproduction. It presents 12 titles with jacket images, full bibliographic information, and booksellers' quotes. The list also highlights 14 additional titles with full bibliographic information. Space has been provided at the top of the list for bookstore branding.

Since the late 1990s, the number of independent business alliances (IBAs) and local first organizations (LFOs) has grown steadily -- some affiliated with the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) or the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) and others unaffiliated. There are currently 68 organizations, and 49 (more than 70 percent) include ABA bookstore members -- a clear indication that booksellers are at the forefront of the movement to preserve independent businesses and the uniqueness of their communities.

Additional information about IBAs and LFOs, recent economic studies, and more is available on ABA's trade website, BookWeb.org.