Wi12 Attendees Encouraged to Bring Books to Swap and to Donate

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The American Booksellers Association is asking all Winter Institute 12 attendees to bring a favorite title that’s at least five years old to share at the Backlist Book Swap Party and to donate a book of any age to benefit one of three Minneapolis-area literacy groups.

Participants who come with a copy of a favorite backlist title to share with friends and colleagues at the Backlist Book Swap Party will leave with someone else’s favorite. Books should be still in print. Suggested topics include regional titles, books with strong female characters, and books set in winter, but books on any topic are welcome.

Wi12 attendees who are planning to participate in the Book Swap are asked to let ABA know in advance what title they will be bringing by completing the Backlist Book Swap form available here. Booksellers should include a store bookmark — with contact information — in their book so they can find out who picked their swap.

In addition to the bookmark left in their swap book, booksellers are encouraged to bring 50 or more store bookmarks to share with their colleagues. ABA will display the bookmarks at the party so participants have the opportunity to exchange, borrow, and steal good ideas for bookmark designs.

The Backlist Book Swap Party, once again featuring a photo booth, will be held from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27, in the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Exhibit Hall. The party is sponsored by HarperCollins and Harlequin.

The second opportunity to share a favorite title is a book drive to benefit local Minneapolis-area charities. All Winter Institute attendees are encouraged to bring a book to donate to one of these local charities: the Minneapolis Community Education – Adult Education North Campus Day Program, the Hennepin County Medical Center’s Children’s Literacy Program, and the Women’s Prison Book Project. Book genres sought by each organization can be found here.

Donation tables will be open on Saturday, January 28, and Sunday, January 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Monday, January 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency Exhibit Hall. Booksellers are encouraged to write a blurb ahead of time for the title they bring, but pens and note paper will also be provided.

“The book drive is an easy way for us to create a community service project for booksellers to support local Minneapolis readers in need,” said ABA Education Manager Lisa Winn. “It’s a way for ABA and booksellers to give back to the city that is hosting Winter Institute.”

More information on the charities and the book genres sought is available here.

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