• Start your 2025 ABACUS! (Need help? Register for a workshop and/or office hours!)
• Check out the Summer/Fall 2026 Indies Introduce titles!
• View the full list of Ci2026 authors and speakers.
• Download the 2026 Q3 marketing calendar handouts!
• Register now for ABA’s Annual Meeting and Community Forum!
• New Hampshire booksellers: Contact your representatives about SB 434!
  

ABACUS, ABA’s annual benchmarking survey of member sales and financial data, opened on Monday, May 4!

Visit abacusbenchmarking.com and log in to get started!

If you’re new to ABACUS (or need a refresher!), register now for our ABACUS Workshop and/or Office Hours!

ABACUS How-To Workshop
Thursday, May 14, at 3:00 pm ET
This interactive webinar, led by ABA CFO Lauren Ciborski, will include a complete walkthrough of the survey and tips to simplify the process. Bring your questions! Visit BookWeb now to register.

ABACUS Office Hours
Join these open help sessions for live support. ABA CFO Lauren Ciborski will be available to answer questions, clarify requirements, and help you find the information you need to complete your survey!

• Thursday, May 21, at 6:00 pm ET
• Tuesday, June 16, at 4:00 pm ET
• Thursday, June 18, at 12:00 pm ET

ABACUS is a valuable tool for both ABA members and staff! Stores that participate in ABACUS receive individual “report cards” with key performance indicators that can help you with benchmarking and financial decision-making. The survey also provides invaluable insight which helps the ABA team decide how best to support our members.

Please complete ABACUS by Friday, July 3.

ABA is proud to announce the Summer/Fall 2026 Indies Introduce titles!

This year’s list includes 10 adult debut titles and 10 kids' debut titles chosen by a panel of booksellers from across the country.

As usual, publishers are offering specials on all titles appearing on the lists! Check out the Indies Introduce page on BookWeb to learn more about these promotions.

• Tuesday, May 12 at 3:00 pm ET: New Member Series: Meet the Partners
• Thursday, May 14 at 3:00 pm ET: ABACUS How-To Workshop
• Tuesday, May 19 at 3:00 pm ET: ShopTalk
• Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 pm ET: ABACUS Office Hours
• Thursday, May 28 at 2:00 pm ET: ABA’s Annual Meeting and Community Forum
• Friday, May 29 at 3:00 pm ET: Ci2026 Virtual Institute Orientation #1

You’ve seen the amazing keynote speakers we have lined up for Ci2026, now we’re thrilled to announce the other speakers and authors who will be attending!

Visit the Children’s Institute website to see the full list of guest speakers and authors, review the keynote speakers, look at the event schedule, and start planning your time in Schaumburg.

Want to join us in Schaumburg, IL? Booksellers can still register for Ci2026!

New Hampshire Censorship Bill Passes Committee

On May 4, 2026, the House Education Policy and Administration committee of the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 10-8 to pass an amended version of SB 434, a bill that would require every school district to adopt and publicly post a new policy for addressing complaints about public school materials alleged to be “harmful to minors” or “age inappropriate.” The bill passed through the Senate in February and now heads to the full House of Representatives. 

Joining a coalition statement opposing the bill, ABA’s Associate Director of Advocacy Philomena Polefrone said, “The New Hampshire legislature has once again passed a bill nearly identical to one that has already been vetoed, contains provisions disliked by a majority of Granite Staters, and would lessen young readers’ access to books statewide. On behalf of our New Hampshire members, ABA asks Governor Ayotte to veto this bill for a second time if it makes it to her desk.”

The best way to encourage a veto right now is to ensure strong opposition to the bill in its House floor vote, which could happen any day. Email your state representative today!