Win a scholarship for Winter Institute 2026! Complete the ABACUS survey for a chance to win.
Stay up to date with the world of independent bookselling.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
July is Margins Bookselling Month
Check Out the Find Waldo Local Map
Join the National Book Foundation's Summer Reading Adventure
Shop Indie: July 8–11 and Every Day!
Ditch the Algorithms and Shop Indie This Pr*me Day!
 

This July 8–11, let’s show readers that their choices matter. 

Inspire your readers to choose Indie this Pr*me Day with these new assets! 

These assets highlight the impact of supporting local businesses over Am*zon.

Don’t forget to let your customers know how they can shop with your store — whether in-person, online, or both!
 
Download Assets
Mahmoud v. Taylor Updates
 

The US Supreme Court is likely to issue a ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor tomorrow, June 26, or Monday, June 30. 

The case will determine whether public schools must allow parents to opt their children out of assigned readings they feel violate their religious beliefs, particularly implicating LGBTQ+ content. 

If you would like to create displays or otherwise raise awareness, here are the titles named in the case:
 
TLDR: This Week's Action Items:
 

Too Long, Didn't Read (TLDR?) Here's a few action items to focus on if you don't have time to read the full issue!
 
Save the date for these upcoming events:
 
 
Visit Events Calendar
 
ABACUS 2024: Help shape the indie future!
Finish Your ABACUS Survey By Tuesday, July 8

The deadline to submit the ABACUS survey has been extended until 11:59 pm ET on Tuesday, July 8. 

We need more stores to report to ABACUS before the deadline in order to have viable results. 

Stores that complete the ABACUS survey will also be entered into a raffle to win a full scholarship to Winter Institute 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA!

Not sure how to get started? Check your inbox for emails from [email protected] or with “ABACUS” in the subject line for the survey link! You can also watch this ABACUS Workshop recording for step-by-step instructions.

If you’ve already started this year's ABACUS, completing the survey could be as easy as logging in and hitting “Submit.”
Watch ABACUS Workshop
Black megaphone on a white and red background
Heads Up, New York Bookstores!

The Retail Worker Safety Act (NYS Labor Law, Section 27-e) requires all employers who employ 10 or more retail employees in New York State to implement strategies to reduce the risk of workplace violence and increase employee safety.

These employers must have a retail workplace violence prevention policy and provide employees with retail workplace violence prevention training. 
Ci2025 in Portland, OR
Fill Out Your Ci2025 Post-Event Survey

Thank you for joining us in Portland for Children’s Institute 2025! 

If you have not already, please take a moment to fill out the Ci2025 post-event survey by Monday, June 30.

The post-event survey link was emailed to bookseller attendees on June 15 from [email protected]. 
Best Books for Young Readers Catalog
Last Chance to Nominate Titles for Best Books for Young Readers Catalog

The annual ABA Children’s Group Best Books for Young Readers catalog features titles for children and teens recommended by ABA member bookstores and supported by ABA member publishing partners. 

Booksellers at all ABA member stores are encouraged to submit title recommendations through the BookWeb submission form. (Booksellers may also submit titles via Edelweiss.)

The deadline for nominations is June 27!
Nominate Titles
Bookstore Romance Day
Sign Up for Bookstore Romance Day

We’re just six weeks away from Bookstore Romance Day!

Created and organized by Billie Bloebaum and the Bookstore Romance Day team, Bookstore Romance Day is a day designed to give independent bookstores an opportunity to celebrate Romance fiction — its books, readers, and writers — and to strengthen the relationships between bookstores and the Romance community. Any store that sells Romance titles is encouraged to participate.

Sign up now to participate and to be included in the Bookstore Romance Day map!
Sign Up
Sisters in Crime
Sisters In Crime We Love Bookstores Award

Sisters In Crime, an international organization of crime writers and readers, invites bookstores to apply for the We Love Bookstores Award. The winning bookstore will receive $500!

Visit the Sisters In Crime website to see the full guidelines and apply for the We Love Bookstores Award.
Apply Now
RiseWithUs
Register Now for RISE Circles

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!

RISE Circles are designed to offer a space to navigate hard conversations. You can sign up now for these upcoming sessions:

Remember, RISEWITHUS offers a discount for ABA members, which you can use when registering for these sessions! Log in to BookWeb to view the discount code.
Register Now
July Indie Next List Top Pick, "The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy" by Brigitte Knightley
A Q&A with Brigitte Knightley, Author of July Indie Next List Top Pick “The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy”

Independent booksellers across the country have chosen Brigitte Knightley’s The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy as their top pick for the July 2025 Indie Next List. 

Here, Bookselling This Week and Knightley talk about The Irresistible Urge To Fall For Your Enemy.
Read Interview
Indies Introduce author, Sam Prentice-Jones, next to his debut title, "Arcana: The Lost Heirs."
Indies Introduce Q&A with Sam Prentice-Jones

Sam Prentice-Jones is the author of Arcana: The Lost Heirs, a Summer/Fall 2025 Indies Introduce Kids’ selection. Here, Prentice-Jones and Heather Albinson of Wild Rumpus in Minneapolis, MN, discuss Arcana: The Lost Heirs.

You can also visit the ABA podcast, BookED, to listen to this interview.
Read Interview
Our History, In Our Words
 

As Pride Month comes to a close, let’s take a look back at queer history. 

Here are a few recent and upcoming titles to remind you that we’ve always been here, and we always will.
Advocacy Updates
Advocacy Updates
 

Vermont Booksellers: Oppose Amazon Warehouse

Vermont booksellers should have received an email this week urging them to email their lawmakers about a proposed Amazon warehouse in Essex, VT. 

The proposed warehouse could negatively impact local Vermont businesses (and the state’s residents). With a distribution hub in Essex, Amazon would make it harder for all local businesses, regardless of their town, to compete on convenience and price. 

Please write to your officials today!

Ready for Banned Books Week?

Banned Books Week isn’t until October 5–11 this year, but it’s not too early to start planning. Some things to think about:

And if you’re interested in carrying merch at your store, watch this space! 
 
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