Membership

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:

Businesses that primarily sell new books and define themselves as a new bookstore, though they might also sell used books (store inventory is over 50% new books vs used)
Businesses that primarily sell new books (over 50% of store inventory consists of new books vs. non-book merchandise)
Businesses that sell new books in the physical world, as opposed to the digital world. This includes traditional bookstores, pop-up bookstores, mobile stores, book event businesses, and other non-traditional bookselling that’s primarily conducted in the physical world.
Businesses that create community through bookselling.

When joining the American Booksellers Association, please be aware of our commitment to antiracism, inclusion, representation, and diversity as outlined in our ends policies .

Become an ABA Member

Bookstore Members (Core)

Businesses that primarily sell books in the physical world and create community through bookselling. Traditional bookstores, pop up bookstores, mobile stores, book event businesses, and other non-traditional bookselling that’s primarily conducted in the physical world. These members are eligible for the 30% Bookshop affiliate rate and Bookshop pool. These members are eligible to vote on issues of ABA governance.

Used Bookstore Members

Businesses that primarily sell used books in the physical world and create community through bookselling. Traditional bookstores, pop up bookstores, mobile bookstores, book event businesses, and other non-traditional bookselling that’s primarily conducted in the physical world. These members are eligible for the 30% Bookshop affiliate rate and Bookshop pool. These members are not eligible to vote on issues of ABA governance.

Online Bookstore Members

An online-only business operates primarily in the digital domain. These members are eligible for the 10% Bookshop affiliate rate, in accordance with Bookshop’s mission. These members are eligible to vote on issues of ABA governance. Online bookstore members must have their own dedicated e-commerce enabled website outside of a Bookshop.org affiliate page.

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.

"I've been a business owner in other industries for 25 years, and I can honestly say that I've never worked with an industry partner that has provided more valuable information and quick service as the ABA. Our membership has already been money very well spent!"

Angela Pursel, The Next Chapter Bookstore

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Benefits & Resources

Bookstores
Publishers, Distributors, Vendors, and Friends

Education, Events, and Networking
See descriptions of membership types at bottom of table.	BOOKSTORE MEMBER REGULAR $199 First Year; Renewal dues based on gross sales JOIN	USED BOOKSTORE MEMBER USED $199 First year, $225 thereafter) JOIN	ONLINE BOOKSTORE MEMBER ONLINE $199 First Year; Renewal dues based on gross sales JOIN	PROVISIONAL MEMBER PROVISIONAL $350 First Year (up to three year renewal) JOIN
ABC Children’s Institute
Marketing and Technology Meetups
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
ABC Children’s Group*
ABC ShopTalks
ABC Best Books Catalog for Young Readers		N/A	N/A	N/A
ABC Discord Community
ABC 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)		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
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 Business engaged in the retail sale of books in the United States or Canada (New stores/members dues $199/yr; renewal dues based on gross sales; box mailings for storefronts only) USED BOOKSTORE Business engaged in the sale of books in which 75% or more of inventory is used books ($225/yr) PROVISIONAL MEMBER Individuals planning to open a bookstore ($350/yr) INTERNATIONAL MEMBER Any business engaged in the retail sale of books outside of the United States and Canada ($350/yr)

Associate Membership ($400/yr)

Publishers, distributors, wholesalers, and other industry vendors have access to multiple marketing and sponsorship opportunities as ABA Associate Members. These opportunities include Box insertions, event sponsorships, title submissions for catalogs and marketing campaigns, and access to bookstore members through advertising. See the For Publishers and Advertising sections for more details. JOIN ABA

Friend of Bookselling ($200/yr)

Businesses and individuals that support independent bookselling and are not book retailers make up the Friends of Bookselling. Enjoy IndieBound marketing designs, advocacy resources including the Antitrust Action Kit and New Localism tool kit, and business services from ABA's affinity partners. JOIN ABA

Become an ABA Member

About ABA

The American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization, works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.

Independent bookstores act as community anchors; they serve a unique role in promoting the open exchange of ideas, enriching the cultural life of communities, and creating economically vibrant neighborhoods.

Contact

Phone: 800-637-0037
E-mail: info@BookWeb.org (preferred contact method during COVID-19)
Individual Staff Contacts

MEMBER and MEMBERSHIP INQUIRIES: info@bookweb.org

PRESS INQUIRIES: ray@bookweb.org

INDIECOMMERCE: staff@bookweb.org

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: info@BookWeb.org

Copyright 2023 American Booksellers Association. BookWeb is a registered trademark of ABA.
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Regional Associations

California Independent Booksellers
Great Lakes Independent Booksellers
Midwest Independent Booksellers
Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers
New Atlantic Independent Booksellers
New England Independent Booksellers
Pacific Northwest Independent Booksellers
Southern Independent Booksellers

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