- MEMBERSHIP
- Join
- Renew
- About Membership
- Membership Types
- Benefits Chart
- Dues Information
- Opening a Bookstore
- Member Directory
Why Become a Member
Each independent book retailer is uniquely independent. The American Booksellers Association is the common connection to the larger book industry. Backed by the strength of its membership, ABA gives voice to thousands of booksellers, influencing publishers and advocating for small businesses. ABA events and workshops bring members together, creating communities that learn, network, and form bonds. ABA member resources offer support and solutions for the day-to-day operations of today’s independent bookseller.
ABA's core membership consists of:
When joining the American Booksellers Association, please be aware of our commitment to antiracism, inclusion, representation, and diversity as outlined in our ends policies.
Provisional Members
Businesses or individuals anticipating opening a bookselling company in the near-future. Provisional members planning to open a physical bookstore location in the coming calendar year are eligible for up to one year of the 30% Bookshop affiliate rate. Provisional members are expected to open a bookstore within two years of membership, at which point they will be eligible for the corresponding benefits (see above). Provisional members are not eligible to vote on issues of ABA governance.
See descriptions of membership types at bottom of table. |
BOOKSTORE MEMBER REGULAR $199 First Year; Renewal dues based on gross sales |
USED BOOKSTORE MEMBER USED $199 First year; $235 thereafter |
ONLINE BOOKSTORE MEMBER ONLINE $199 First Year; Renewal dues based on gross sales |
PROVISIONAL MEMBER PROVISIONAL $350 First Year (up to three year renewal) |
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Education, Events, and Networking | ||||
ABA Children’s Institute | ||||
Monthly ShopTalks | ||||
Fall Trade Shows - ABA Education | ||||
IndieCommerce Institute (for current users)** | ||||
Year-round Education Programs + Webinars | ||||
Spring Forums - ABA Education | ||||
Winter Institute | ||||
On Demand Learning | ||||
Access to Archived Educational Videos | ||||
Industry Studies & Stats | ||||
ABA Children’s Group* | ||||
ABA ShopTalks | ||||
ABA Best Books Catalog for Young Readers | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
ABA Children's Group Discord Community | ||||
ABA Kids Poster (one-time mailing, physical retail spaces only) | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Summer Reading Printed POP | N/A | N/A | ||
Quarterly Children's Box Mailing (new inventory physical retail spaces only, additional criteria applies) | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Advocacy | ||||
Antitrust Action Kit | ||||
New Localism Tool Kit | ||||
Free Speech (ABFE) Resources | ||||
Publisher Relations | ||||
Federal, State, and Local Small Business Advocacy + Support | ||||
VoterVoice Grassroots Advocacy Software | ||||
Banned Books Week marketing materials | N/A | N/A | ||
First Amendment Support | ||||
Association Governance | ||||
Volunteer Board, Councils and Task Forces | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Voting | N/A | N/A | ||
Business Services & Savings | ||||
2020 Vision USA | ||||
Above the Treeline/Edelweiss | ||||
Biblio | ||||
Business Insurance Program | ||||
ChicoBag Company | ||||
Constant Contact Email Newsletters | ||||
Crowdcast | ||||
Eventbrite | ||||
Gravity Payments (Merchant Services) | ||||
LIG Health Insurance Program | ||||
NetGalley Digital Box | ||||
PartnerShip | ||||
Paz & Associates Bookstore Training Group | ||||
Publisher's Weekly (one-year free subscription) | ||||
Satisfactory Printing | ||||
W.G. Ellerkamp Paper Company | ||||
eCommerce | ||||
IndieCommerce and IndieLite websites (US only; addl. fees)** | ||||
Partner Marketplace (ebooks, audiobooks) (US only) | ||||
Bookshop Affiliate Program (separate criteria applies) | N/A | |||
Financial Tools | ||||
ABACUS Benchmarking Report | ||||
ABACUS participation & customized benchmarking reports | N/A | N/A | ||
Business Planning Curricula | ||||
Marketing | ||||
IndieBound Marketing Program | N/A | |||
Advance Access Email | N/A | |||
Digital Marketing & Social Media Assets | ||||
National Marketing Campaigns and Press Coverage | ||||
Independent Bookstore Day | N/A | N/A | ||
Indie Bestseller List | ||||
Indie Next List Fliers | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Indie Next List E-newsletters | N/A | |||
IndieBound.org Customer Referrals | N/A | |||
IndieBound.org Store Finder | N/A | |||
Publisher Supported Promotions (Indies First, Indies Introduce) | N/A | N/A | ||
Bi-Monthly Box Mailings (additional critera applies) | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Eat, Sleep, Read window poster (one-time mailing, physical retail spaces only) | N/A | N/A | ||
News and Information | ||||
Book Buyer’s Handbook | ||||
Bookselling This Week (open subscription) | ||||
Bookseller-to-Bookseller Forums | ||||
Free classified ad listings | ||||
REGULAR MEMBER USED BOOKSTORE PROVISIONAL MEMBER INTERNATIONAL MEMBER |
Publishers, distributors, wholesalers, and other industry vendors have access to multiple marketing and sponsorship opportunities as ABA Associate Members. These opportunities include insertions for boxed mailings, event sponsorships, and title submissions for catalogs and marketing campaigns.
Publishers: Eligible companies (parents or subsidiaries) must have at least five book titles available for sale to independent bookstores; each of those book titles must be written by an individual author; at least two of the titles must be available in both print and e-book formats; and books by one author must make up less than 10% of your overall list. See the For Publishers section for more member benefit details. JOIN ABA
Businesses and individuals that support independent bookselling and are not book retailers make up the ABA Supporter category. Enjoy IndieBound marketing designs, advocacy resources, and business services from ABA's affinity partners. JOIN ABA
**Additional requirements may need to be met for participation with IndieCommerce and Indielite. Both services are currently on hiatus from accepting new members.
American Booksellers Association is a national trade association that supports and advocates for the success of independent bookstores. We provide members with education, networking opportunities, advocacy, resources, and technology. In turn our members support local schools through book fairs, donations and author visits; promote literacy; provide inclusive community centers; connect readers and books; add character to neighborhoods; champion and center diverse and new voices; and contribute to the local economy. We feel honored to support them in their work.
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