As always, the American Booksellers Association’s Member Lounge at BookExpo 2018 [6] will be the exclusive place for booksellers to relax, have a snack, and meet with their colleagues from across the country.

This year’s lounge, located in Booth 721 on the Javits Convention Center’s trade show floor, will offer a galley room (with a bonus section featuring books written by indie booksellers), information on ABA programs and services from affiliated business partners, and one-on-one meetings with IndieCommerce staff.

Booksellers visiting the lounge can meet with:

• Michael Becher of Industry Insights [7], which assists ABA in creating the annual ABACUS financial survey for independent bookstores
• Judi Yacovazzi and Whitney Balaun of LIBRIS [8], which offers tailored, affordable insurance coverage for bookstores
• Kristianne Huntsberger and Neil Strandberg of Shelf Awareness [9], who will be sharing information about the Indie Next List e-newsletter program
• WG Ellerkamp Paper & Packing Specialists [10], the supplier of IndieBound recycled bags, reusable totes, biodegradable plastic bags, and specialized gift wrap
• Author James Mustich, who will be on hand from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, June 1, to talk about his upcoming book 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List [11] (Workman, October 2)
• Bookseller members of the ABA Diversity Task Force [12]
• Pam French of the Book Industry Charitable Foundation [13] (Binc), which provides financial assistance to booksellers in need
• Jeff Brodsly and Sarah McKee of credit card processor Chosen Payments [14], a new ABA affinity partner that is offering a $100 signing bonus as a show special
• Mark Pearson of Libro.fm [15], which enables independent stores to sell digital audiobooks through a co-branded experience
• Carey Cranston and former bookseller Roberta Rubin of the American Writers Museum [16] in Chicago
• Directors from the various regional independent bookseller associations

Also on hand will be staff from a number of ABA departments, including Education Manager Lisa Winn; ABC Children’s Group Manager Gen de Botton; Member Relationship Managers Liz Roberts and Daniel O’Brien; Dave Grogan and Maria Peroni from Advocacy and the American Booksellers for Free Expression; and IndieCommerce staff, who will be holding one-on-one sessions [17] and discussing the IndieCommerce and IndieLite platforms.

In addition, booksellers can meet ABA’s new membership and office assistant, Kate Brennan [18], who will be staffing the lounge’s reception desk, and ABA’s new social media team, Mary Cate Stevenson and Noah Nofz of Two Cats Communications [19], who will be conducting interviews and taking photos in the lounge as part of ABA’s upcoming #BookstoresAcrossAmerica social media campaign.

ABA Member Lounge hours are:

• Wednesday, May 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Thursday, May 31, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed from 2:15 to 4:15 p.m. for the ABA Annual Membership Meeting and Town Hall)
• Friday, June 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Booksellers can register for free badges to BookExpo [20] by providing their ABA member ID number during the registration process. More information about ABA’s programming at BookExpo can be found on BookWeb.org [21].