Health Care Reform Focus of ABA Program at SIBA Show

The fall regional trade show season kicks off with the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance at the Sheraton New Orleans from Friday, September 20, through Sunday, September 22. ABA staff, including CEO Oren Teicher, Senior Program Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, and Member Technology Director Neil Strandberg, will be there to meet with booksellers on the trade show floor and to present a special education session on the Affordable Care Act and what it means for bookstore owners and their employees.

At the ABA booth (R10), booksellers will have the opportunity to discuss their concerns with staff; learn about member services, new initiatives, and upcoming educational events, including Winter Institute 2014; and enter a drawing for a second chance to win a scholarship to the Winter Institute. In addition, booksellers who are not members of ABA will be able to sign up for a free trial membership.

All SIBA attendees are invited to “Health Care Reform and the Bookstore: How It Effects You Now” on Friday, September 20. The program, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. in the Sheraton’s Bayside C, is being presented by ABA in conjunction with the Small Business Majority.

The Affordable Health Care Act was passed by Congress in 2010 and includes an individual mandate that requires everyone to have health insurance or to pay a penalty. On October 1, enrollment in the new health insurance marketplaces is scheduled to start across the country.

ABA’s presentation at SIBA will focus on what the law means for small businesses and their employees. Detailed, actionable information tailored for states in the SIBA region will be provided to help booksellers understand how the law works, how to evaluate their options, and how to take advantage of provisions of the law already in place.

Topics to be discussed include small business tax credits (available to businesses and tax-exempt non-profits); health insurance marketplaces; cost containment; and tools and resources for booksellers interested in learning more.

Just prior to the show, on Thursday, September 19, ABA will be offering a full-day IndieCommerce Institute for stores that have active IndieCommerce websites. Full details, including opportunities for one-on-one sessions, and a registration form, are available here.

SIBA programming kicks off on Thursday evening, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with the fundraiser Trivia for Cheaters benefitting the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc) and its mission to assist booksellers in financial need. Baker & Taylor is sponsoring a special appearance by John Densmore, former drummer for The Doors, who will rally attendees and speak about his recent book, The Doors: Unhinged, published by Percussive Press and distributed by Baker & Taylor.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the SIBA schedule is packed full of education sessions ranging from “Using Edelweiss Creatively” and “What We Have in Common: Common Core Goals for Bookstores, Schools, and Students” to  “Working with Publishers to Get on Their Radar for Events” and “Be Prepared:  What Booksellers Can Do to Defend Kids’ Books and the Freedom to Read.” The latter will feature bestselling author Lauren Myracle, whose books are frequently challenged; Mitchell Kaplan of Books & Books in Miami; and Acacia O’Connor, coordinator of the Kids’ Right to Read Project in a discussion moderated by Chris Finan, president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression.

SIBA programming also features roundtable discussions, dozens of authors, and the SIBA annual meeting. The trade show floor will be open on Saturday and Sunday. For full details and registration and hotel information, visit the SIBA website.