Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Q3! Start your Q3 off strong with our Top 10 Checklist. Now available in the bookstore resource library.
Stay up to date with the world of independent bookselling.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Note: There will be no BTW on June 11. See you at Children’s Institute! 
Don’t forget to use #ABAChildrensInstitute when sharing your Ci2025 photos on social media!

Can’t make it to Portland? Video/audio recordings of select sessions will be made available after the event.
Partner Discounts for ABA Members!
ABA's 2024 Annual Report
Check out ABA's 2025 Q3 Marketing Calendars
Find Waldo Local
Find Waldo Local
 

The 2025 Find Waldo Local map is now live! Viewers can search the map by state or shop name to find participating stores. 

Participating stores can now access the Find Waldo Local Toolkit on BookWeb. This toolkit has everything you’ll need as you prepare for Find Waldo Local, including guidelines, sample social media posts and press releases, printables, and more.

The 13th annual Find Waldo Local is offered in partnership with Candlewick. This event will run throughout the month of July. 
 
Get the Toolkit
 
Save the date for these upcoming events:
 
 
Visit Events Calendar
 
Children's Institute 2025
7 Days Until Ci2025
 

We can’t wait to see you in Portland in just one week!

As you prepare to travel to Ci2025, here are a few reminders:

Pack a TSA-Approved ID!

  • As of May 7, 2025, your driver’s license/state ID must be REAL ID compliant if you want to use it to fly. 
  • If you do not have a REAL ID, make sure you bring another TSA-approved form of identification to the airport.

Download the Ci2025 Event App!

Read the Resource and Accessibility Guide
 
Question of the Week
 

When will Winter Institute 2026 scholarship applications open?

Winter Institute 2026 (Wi2026) scholarship applications will open at the beginning of July! We’ll announce the application period (and other Wi2026 deadlines) here in BTW, so check back each week for more info.
Pride Month
Indie Bookstores Celebrate Pride

Happy Pride Month! 

Check out how some of our member stores are celebrating Pride this year!

Thank you to these stores for sharing their Pride Month plans.

We’ll continue to update this page as the month goes on. Email [email protected] to tell us your plans (photos are welcome) and we’ll add them to this list!
See Pride Events
Happy Juneteenth: Thursday, June 19
Happy Juneteenth

We’re two weeks away from Juneteenth. Whether you’re holding events, attending local celebrations, or taking a well-deserved rest, we hope you enjoy the holiday.

As you prepare for your Juneteenth celebrations, revisit the Wi2025 keynote, From Resistance to Resilience: The Legacy and Future of Black-Owned Bookstores. This keynote featured four renowned Black bookstore owners in discussion about the pivotal role Black bookstores have played and continue to play in the literary world and their communities.
Watch Now
ABACUS 2024
Why Should I Complete ABACUS? A Q&A with ABA CFO PK Sindwani

With just a few weeks left to complete the latest ABACUS survey, ABA CFO PK Sindwani sat down with Bookselling This Week to share his experiences using ABACUS as a bookseller, helping to develop the survey, and why you should take the time to complete your ABACUS.

The 2024 ABACUS survey is currently live! The deadline to submit your survey has been extended to June 21.
Read Interview
RiseWithUs
Navigating Conflict with Courage & Clarity

RISEWITHUS is a consulting agency that specializes in helping organizations better understand and implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles. You may recognize them, as these talented facilitators have offered training at several Institutes!

Recently, RISEWITHUS has introduced a new public offering, RISE Circles. Rather than a webinar, RISE Circles is designed to offer a space to navigate hard conversations.

The next circle, Navigating Conflict with Courage & Clarity will be held on June 6 and June 13 via Zoom.

Visit the event page now to learn more and register.
Register Now
July Indie Next List #1 pick, "The Irresistible Urge To Fall For Your Enemy" by Brigitte Knightley.
July Indie Next List Preview

Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the July 2025 Indie Next List flier. Top pick? The Irresistible Urge To Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley.

And, to mark the start of a new month, June Indie Next List and May/June Kids’s Indie Next List social media assets are live on BookWeb.
See List
July/August Kids' Indie Next List #1 pick, "Best of All Worlds" by Kenneth Oppel.
July/August Kids’ Indie Next List Preview

Here is a preview of the titles on the July/August 2025 Kids’ Indie Next List flier, arriving at stores in the upcoming Kids’ Box mailing.

Top pick? Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel.
See List
Circana
Circana’s US Children’s Book Market Insights

Check out the US Children’s Book Market Insights webinar presented by Circana! This on-demand webinar features Circana’s Brenna Connor (Director, Industry Analyst of US Books) and Chloe DeFilippis (Account Manager, Client Development of US Books) presenting an analysis of the current children’s book market and identify trends and areas of growth.

Register now to watch the on-demand session. 
Watch Now
ABA, PEN America, and Authors Against Book Bans
“So You’re Planning a Book Event…” Security Webinar Recording Available

On May 20, Associate Director of ABFE Philomena Polefrone joined author Samira Ahmed, PEN America’s Digital Safety and Free Expression Consultant Yemile Bucay participated in a safety webinar hosted by PEN America’s beck haberstroh.

The recording is now available for ABA members.
Watch Now
Indie Romance Bestseller "Great Big Beautiful Life" by Emily Henry.
Indie Romance Bestseller List

Here is the Indie Romance Bestseller List, based on sales at independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending June 1.
See Bestsellers
Advocacy Updates
Advocacy Updates
 

Legislative Action Needed: Free Expression

New Hampshire: Governor Ayotte has HB 324, a book ban bill that would toss the Granite State schools headfirst into the culture wars, sitting on her desk. It’s up to you to make sure she vetoes it. EveryLibrary polling has shown just how unpopular the bill is.

Contact her today and urge her not to sign this bill!

Nevada: Great news! Assembly Bill 416, a bill that would institute common-sense guidelines to prevent book banning, passed the Senate and is headed to the Governor. But it is one of 200 bills on his desk, and pressure is needed to make sure he signs it.

Write to him today to let him know you support this bill and urge him to sign it as soon as possible.

North Carolina: HB 636, a bill that would rapidly expand the number of book bans in North Carolina, passed the House in April; it could soon begin moving in the Senate. Pressure is needed to make sure it doesn’t have the votes to pass. 

If you are interested in helping push back against this bill, email [email protected] to let us know, including your name, store, role, and ZIP code. 
 
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