The 2024 ABACUS report is now available on BookWeb, and stores who completed this year’s survey should have received their individualized reports!

If you’re not sure what to do with all this new information, join us for an ABACUS Workshop to review the key takeaways from the ABACUS report, identify opportunities for improving your store's profitability, and learn how you can use ABACUS in your advocacy efforts. 

There are two dates available for this workshop:

• Monday, October 13 at 5:00 pm ET
• Thursday, October 30 at 1:00 pm ET

The 13th annual Indies First will take place in just over a month, on Saturday, November 29!

Indies First is a national campaign of activities and events in support of independent bookstores that is held every year alongside Small Business Saturday. 

Whether it’s your first time celebrating or you’re a pro, we’ve collected several tips and resources to help you plan your Indies First celebration!

And don’t forget to take advantage of this year’s Indies First special publisher offers.

Want to recommend a bookseller for the ABA Board? Nominate them (or yourself!) now!

The ABA Board sets the Ends Policies for ABA, monitors the CEO’s performance, and futurecasts for industry trends to inform the membership and ABA’s work. Check out this infographic to learn more about the governance model that ABA follows, the Carver Method.

The deadline for nominations is Sunday, October 12. 

Join us on Wednesday, October 8, at 4:00 pm ET, for the ABA Board Office Hours!

Board Office Hours are an opportunity for booksellers and bookstore owners to talk directly with ABA Board members and share concerns or experiences related to their business and/or the industry. These conversations help the ABA Board in their governance of the organization and decisions pertaining to ABA’s Ends Policies.

The Indie Bookstore Day 2026 Exclusives Catalog is now available!

Check out all the exclusive items we’ve prepared for Indie Bookstore Day 2026, including special editions of select titles, t-shirts, totes, freebies, and more.

The order form for these exclusives will open on Thursday, October 9, at 1:00 pm ET.  

You can find details about the ordering process, key dates, and more in the catalog.

Join us on Monday, October 6, at 3:00 pm ET, for “Policy as an Advocacy Tool: Tips for Booksellers, Librarians, and Community Advocates.” 

In this webinar, American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) Associate Director Philomena Polefrone will join representatives from the American Library Association, National Coalition Against Censorship, and more to discuss how bookstores can use store policies on curation and conduct to protect free expression. 

Zingerman’s Training (ZingTrain) will be holding a webinar, “Celebrating the 10-4 Rule!: The First Step to Meaningful Connection,” on Thursday, October 2, at 1:00 pm ET.

This free webinar will discuss the 10-4 Rule, a customer service technique that ensures every single person who enters your orbit is acknowledged and greeted. Register now to take advantage of this free training and enhance your store’s customer service.

ZingTrain also offers discounts for ABA members. Visit the BookWeb Business Services page to learn more about our partnership with ZingTrain!

The recording of the September 25 “Back to Basics: Edelweiss Tools in the New View” session is now available!

This session was designed for stores that are new to the Edelweiss platform, and paid special attention to how to navigate the new Edelweiss user interface.