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.

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

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
Education, Events, and Networking
ABC Children’s Institute Yes Yes Yes Yes
Marketing and Technology Meetups Yes Yes Yes Yes
Monthly ShopTalks Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fall Trade Shows - ABA Education Yes Yes Yes Yes
IndieCommerce Institute (for current users) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Year-round Education Programs + Webinars Yes Yes Yes Yes
Spring Forums - ABA Education Yes Yes Yes Yes
Winter Institute Yes Yes Yes Yes
On Demand Learning Yes Yes Yes Yes
Access to Archived Educational Videos Yes Yes Yes Yes
Industry Studies & Stats Yes Yes Yes Yes
ABC Children’s Group*
ABC ShopTalks Yes Yes Yes Yes
ABC Best Books Catalog for Young Readers  Yes N/A N/A N/A
ABC Discord Community Yes Yes Yes Yes
ABC Kids Poster (one-time mailing, physical retail spaces only) Yes N/A N/A N/A
Summer Reading Printed POP Yes Yes N/A N/A
Quarterly Children's Box Mailing (new inventory physical retail spaces only) Yes N/A N/A N/A
Advocacy
Antitrust Action Kit Yes Yes Yes Yes
New Localism Tool Kit Yes Yes Yes Yes
Free Speech (ABFE) Resources Yes Yes Yes Yes
Publisher Relations Yes Yes Yes Yes
Federal, State, and Local Small Business Advocacy + Support Yes Yes Yes Yes
VoterVoice Grassroots Advocacy Software Yes Yes Yes Yes
Banned Books Week marketing materials Yes Yes N/A N/A
First Amendment Support Yes Yes Yes Yes
Association Governance
Volunteer Board, Councils and Task Forces Yes N/A N/A N/A
Voting Yes N/A Yes N/A
Business Services & Savings
2020 Vision USA Yes Yes Yes Yes
Above the Treeline/Edelweiss Yes Yes Yes Yes
Biblio Yes Yes Yes Yes
Business Insurance Program Yes N/A Yes N/A 
ChicoBag Company Yes Yes Yes Yes
Constant Contact Email Newsletters Yes Yes Yes Yes
Crowdcast Yes Yes Yes Yes
Eventbrite Yes Yes Yes Yes
Gravity Payments (Merchant Services) Yes Yes Yes Yes
LIG Health Insurance Program Yes Yes Yes Yes
NetGalley Digital Box Yes Yes Yes Yes
PartnerShip Yes Yes Yes Yes
Paz & Associates Bookstore Training Group Yes Yes Yes Yes
Publisher's Weekly (one-year free subscription) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Satisfactory Printing Yes Yes Yes Yes
W.G. Ellerkamp Paper Company Yes Yes Yes Yes
eCommerce
IndieCommerce and IndieLite websites (US only; addl. fees) Yes Yes No No
Partner Marketplace (ebooks, audiobooks) (US only) Yes Yes No No
Bookshop Affiliate Program (separate criteria applies)  Yes Yes N/A Yes
Financial Tools
ABACUS Benchmarking Report Yes Yes Yes Yes
ABACUS participation & customized benchmarking reports Yes Yes N/A  N/A 
Business Planning Curricula Yes Yes Yes Yes
Marketing
IndieBound Marketing Program Yes Yes Yes N/A
Advance Access Email Yes Yes Yes N/A
Digital Marketing & Social Media Assets Yes Yes Yes Yes
National Marketing Campaigns and Press Coverage  Yes Yes Yes Yes
Independent Bookstore Day Yes Yes Yes N/A
Indie Bestseller List Yes Yes Yes Yes
Indie Next List Fliers Yes N/A  N/A N/A
Indie Next List E-newsletters Yes Yes Yes N/A
IndieBound.org Customer Referrals Yes Yes Yes N/A
IndieBound.org Store Finder Yes Yes Yes N/A
Publisher Supported Promotions (Indies First, Indies Introduce) Yes N/A Yes N/A
Bi-Monthly Box Mailings (additional critera applies)  Yes N/A N/A N/A
Eat, Sleep, Read window poster (one-time mailing, physical retail spaces only) Yes Yes N/A  N/A
News and Information
Book Buyer’s Handbook Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bookselling This Week (open subscription)  Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bookseller-to-Bookseller Forums Yes Yes Yes Yes
Free classified ad listings Yes Yes Yes Yes

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 and mailing lists. 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

PRESS CONTACT: Dan Cullen (dan@bookweb.org)

MEMBER and MEMBERSHIP INQUIRIES: info@bookweb.org

INDIECOMMERCE: staff@bookweb.org

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: info@BookWeb.org

 

 

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