About ABA

Free expression issues, main street alliances, and continuing education were the focus of ABA's programming on Saturday, June 4, day three of BookExpo America. And for many, after a tiring day on the trade show floor, the Book Sense Reading Room and the BookSense.com Spelling Bee were stimulating, yet relaxing ways to end the day in the company of colleagues.

Independent Retailing in the U.S. Today

Friday, June 3 -- Day 2 of BookExpo America at New York City's Jacob Javits Convention Center was a busy mix of business and pleasure. The trade show floor opened for business, and in places the aisles became so crowded they were nearly impassable. Schedules were full as well. Many booksellers began the day at the Children's Book & Author Breakfast, shared lunch with favorite authors at the Book Sense Picks Author Lunch, and ended the day at the celebration of the spirit of independent booksellers -- ABA's Celebration of Bookselling.

ABA Educational Programming Packs 'Em In

Dear Bookseller,

The "American Booksellers Association, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules -- September 30, 2004 and 2003 (With Independent Auditors' Report Thereon)" has been posted on BookWeb.org and is accessible to ABA bookstore members. For a downloadable PDF format, click here.

Two companies participating in ABA's affinity program have announced important new updates for ABA member booksellers. According to PartnerShip, which offers a money-saving freight program exclusively for members of the American Booksellers Association, rates for shipping by different carriers have increased an average of 5.75 percent. On the bright side, Bank of America Merchant Services is decreasing its rates for credit card and check card transactions, effective June 1.

Rate Decreases for Credit Card and Check Card Transactions

In a letter dated May 23 to Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts and Vice Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV, booksellers and free speech groups, including ABA, the Association of American Publishers (AAP), and the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) expressed their opposition to granting the FBI in national security investigations "administrative subpoena" powers. Administrative subpoenas would allow the FBI to write its own search and disclosure orders with no judicial approval.

ABA is currently seeking to determine the demand for a 2005 print edition of the ABA Book Buyer's Handbook. Since the launch of the ABA Book Buyer's Handbook online at handbook.bookweb.org/ in April 2002, publishers, distributors, and wholesalers have been updating their company data on an ongoing basis.

On Wednesday, May 18, the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA) hosted a large group of booksellers for a preview of one of the courses in ABA's new education program developed for BookExpo America (BEA) 2005. The meeting was held at the NCIBA offices in The Presidio in San Francisco.

2004 Figures Surpass Previous Two Years' While Industry Remains Flat

The American Booksellers Association recently launched a new membership marketing campaign with the goals of reaching as many potential new members as possible and improving the products and services available to current members.

To help in these efforts, the association has hired a new full-time membership marketing associate, Anita Mozayeni, who will be working with Membership Marketing Director Meg Smith, on bookstore outreach to ensure consistent evaluation of products and better delivery of services.

The American Booksellers Association is seeking member input for its BookExpo America "All-Day Education Program" session "The Bookstore as a Third Place: Making Your Store a Community Center Through Innovative Events." The event, which will be held from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. and again at 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., on Thursday, June 2, will focus on creating events to position the bookstore as a center for community and political action.

Results of the 2005 ABA Board of Directors elections, which concluded on May 4, were recently certified by the association's election inspector, KPMG. Candidates chosen by ABA bookstore members to serve as directors, with terms ending in 2008, were Russ Lawrence of Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton, Montana; Michael Tucker of Books Inc.

Just Three Weeks & Counting

This week, BTW shines a spotlight on special events sponsored by ABA and Book Sense at this BookExpo America. BEA will be held from Thursday, June 2, to Sunday, June 5, at New York City's Jacob Javits Convention Center.

The Third Annual "What Are You Reading/Publishing?" Lunch

Next Wednesday, May 18, ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz will be presenting "Increasing Margin: An Advanced Course in Growing Your Bottom Line" at the offices of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA) at The Presidio in San Francisco. The course, part of ABA's new education program developed for BookExpo America 2005, is free and open to all ABA and NCIBA bookstore members.