ABA/Book Sense Lounge to Be Center of ABA Presence at BEA

In a break from the past, ABA's presence at this year's BookExpo America (BEA) will be centralized in the ABA/Book Sense Lounge rather than split between the lounge and a booth on the trade show floor. The ABA/Book Sense Lounge, in Room 401, will feature all the usual information and services provided at ABA's trade floor booth, as well as a place to kick back, relax, and check e-mail. The Lounge is situated close to all of ABA's educational programming.

The Book Sense Lounge will offer a continuous Book Sense at Five Birthday Party.

"We're trying something different at this year's show," explained ABA COO Oren Teicher. "We're centralizing our presence at BEA in one place -- the ABA/Book Sense Lounge -- which will be bigger and better than ever. In addition to its usual role as a place for our members to relax, socialize, and check e-mail, it will now feature all the materials and information usually found in the ABA booth, Book Sense author autographing, and more, in a very comfortable environment."

The Lounge will be open from Thursday, June 3, through Sunday, June 6, and will offer a continuous Book Sense at Five Birthday Party. (The Lounge will close on Friday at 3:00 p.m. for the ABA Town Hall and Annual meetings and on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. for the Book Sense at Five Birthday Bash.)

The Book Sense Lounge will include:

• Live demonstrations of the Book Sense Gift Card Program, Book Sense Bestseller List reporting, BookSense.com, BookWeb.org -- and all of its features; etc.;
  

• A place where ABA members can log onto computers or plug in laptops, sponsored by BookLog;
  

• A comfortable, convenient place to kick back with other booksellers or talk with ABA Board members and staff, and enjoy some coffee and iced tea;
  

• Book Sense author autographing (look for a schedule of authors in an upcoming issue of BTW);
  

• A display of the "Best Books: The Best of Book Sense From the First Five Years";
  

• Representatives from ABA/Book Sense affinity programs and partners including FedEx, Nielsen BookScan, The History Channel, and ABA's LIBRIS insurance program; and
  

• A number of ABA/Book Sense partners offering prizes and giveaways in the Lounge (watch next week's BTW for more information).