[7]The American Booksellers Association’s upcoming ABC Children’s Institute [7] is totally oversubscribed, but thanks to a grant from author James Patterson the event’s plenary and breakout education sessions, as well as interviews of keynote and reception authors, will be available to all ABA member booksellers on video in the weeks following the event. Patterson is providing the grant to ABA separate from his pledge to give $1 million dollars to indie bookstores [8] that are committed to promoting childhood literacy.

“We are extremely grateful to James Patterson for his continuing support of both independent booksellers and childhood literacy,” said ABA CEO Oren Teicher. “Thanks to his generosity, all ABA member booksellers will have access to the Children’s Institute’s important educational programming, which, in turn, will help them in their efforts to meet the needs of young readers.”

Highlights of the institute include an opening plenary featuring author Brad Meltzer and presentations by graphic designer and author Chip Kidd, author and social media expert Austin Kleon, and professional storyteller Anastasia McKenna. In addition, the Children’s Institute breakout session lineup features booksellers, authors, publishing professionals, university professors, and librarians offering insights on everything ranging from expanding author events and managing successful bookfairs to selling picture books in the wake of age compression and engaging customers through the use of social media.

Registered booksellers who are no longer planning to attend the sold-out event are asked to contact ABC Group Manager Matthew Zoni [9], so waiting booksellers can fill their places. The Children’s Institute conference fee is nonrefundable.

For full details, including session descriptions, rooms, and times, visit BookWeb.org/ci2014 [7].