Education Survey to Help Shape Future Programs

The American Booksellers Association is asking the owners and staff of all member stores to participate in its 2006 Education Survey. The results of the survey will provide guidance to the bookseller volunteers on ABA's Education Task Force as they begin formulating plans for the association's 2007 education offerings.

"Providing independent booksellers with access to the education, information, and business services they need to succeed in a changing world is the number-one goal of ABA's Strategic Plan," explained Len Vlahos, the association's director of education. "For the past two years, we've asked for member input and have used it to create the highly successful education programs at BookExpo America, the Winter Institute, the regional trade shows, and the spring forums. Now, we're beginning to develop plans for 2007, and we're again asking for member input to identify and prioritize programs that will be of the most help to the greatest number of booksellers."

The 2007 Education Survey can be completed in just a few minutes online or via downloadable PDF, both at BookWeb.org. Survey forms are also being sent to stores with Book Sense in the August Red Box mailing.

To enable ABA staff to compile the results for presentation to the Education Task Force this fall, booksellers are asked to submit the survey no later than Tuesday, September 5. All responses will be kept confidential.

Booksellers participating in the survey are eligible for a random drawing to win airfare and hotel accommodations to attend ABA's Second Annual Winter Education Institute to be held in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday and Friday, February 1 and 2, 2007.