Banned Books Week is October 4-10, 2026, and this year's theme is “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.” We've included printable and digital assets for you to share with your community:
8.5" x 11" counter card
Social Media assets
Censorship bookmark
Sense Sensibility Censorship sticker
Share these assets from the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) for the Shop Indie Local Holiday Campaign!
First Day of School, Bookstore Edition
First day of school, but make it bookish. Repurpose these chalkboard templates and have your store and readers celebrate the start of their Back to School season! Whether there are printed ‘chalkboards’ in store or shared on social media, customers (and the store’s booksellers) can join the Back to School festivities!
#BackToBooks2026
Customizing our asset templates using Canva:
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Open your free Canva account or create one.
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Click on ‘Create’ and choose size of the graphic (Instagram Post 4:5 for example)
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In the left toolbar, click ‘Uploads’ > ‘Upload files’ and select downloaded asset
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Once asset is uploaded, click the graphic to add to the canvas area, then drag corners to fit.
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To add your customizations, use the tools on the left side to add:
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Your copy under ‘Text’
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Photos, shapes and other graphics under ‘Elements’
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Your own photos or other graphics under ‘Uploads’
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Position, enlarge, rotate to your liking!
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Once you’re finished, click ‘Share’ in the upper right corner, then click ‘Download’ at the bottom of box. File saves a PNG file, ideal for sharing on social media.
Monthly lists of holidays and observances with caption examples for your store!
July's Indie Next List #1 top pick is Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves. Share these assets on social media letting your customers know they can purchase this and other titles at your store!
July/August's Kids' Next List top pick is The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott. Share these assets on social media letting your customers know they can purchase this and other titles at your store!
June's Indie Next List #1 top pick is Whistler by Ann Patchett. Share these assets on social media letting your customers know they can purchase this and other titles at your store!
May's Indie Next List #1 top pick is Make Believe by Mac Barnett. Share these assets on social media letting your customers know they can purchase this and other titles at your store!
To counter Am*zon Prime Day deals and promotions throughout the year (June and October), we've created this brand new campaign to
- Interrupt Am*zon Prime sale day habits by positioning indie bookstores as offering value such as expertise and curation, beyond discounts and impersonal algorithms,
- Provide indie bookstores with language, tools, and assets to communicate their value clearly and consistently during Am*zon Prime sale periods, and,
- Attract new customers who might value the indie bookstore proposition but are in the Am*zon habit.