New ABA Trade Website Offers Interactive Services

A week after the American Booksellers Association launched its completely redesigned and enhanced trade website, www.BookWeb.org, at BookExpo America, user feedback has been very positive -- and helpful. ABA is responding to questions and suggestions from booksellers and is working to ramp up such new features as the Booksellers' Wiki and blog. The new BookWeb.org also features a fully redesigned online Book Buyer's Handbook, the definitive guide to vendor's trade terms.

BookWeb.org gives members access to a wealth of information about ABA initiatives and services, including those in education, advocacy, and the Book Sense marketing program. It also offers access to the association's newsletter, Bookselling This Week; a wide range of resources on free speech and legislative issues; and links to regional trade associations, shop local initiatives, and other book-related groups.

The new site is also the home of ABA's new blog, "Omnibus," a regular update on bookselling, authors, and issues related to retail and technology, among other topics. A Booksellers' Wiki has been added to the site by ABA in hopes that it will develop into a valued source of bookselling information, generated by users.

The Book Buyer's Handbook has several new features that allow booksellers to customize the database, including the ability to add user's notes and to create their own "hot list" of vendors.

"It's been great hearing from users of the new site," said Dan Cullen, the director of ABA's Information Department. "Many have said how much better they think the site is, and we are also very grateful to those who took the time to e-mail to offer suggestions about how we might improve the available content and navigability of the site."

Questions about the new BookWeb.org and suggestions regarding content may be sent via e-mail to Cullen at [email protected]. Questions and comments about the Book Buyer's Handbook should be addressed to [email protected].