On Monday, April 22, the White House endorsed the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 (S.743). Later that day, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to move the bill to the Senate floor for debate.

On April 21, the Marketplace Fairness Coalition, a diverse array of trade associations and businesses, including the American Booksellers Association, wrote to members of the U.S. Senate to dispute erroneous assertions made by  eBay President and CEO John Donahoe about the Marketplace Fairness Act (S.736).

Today, the American Booksellers Association announces the winners of the 2013 Indies Choice Book Awards and the E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards, as voted by independent booksellers nationwide.

In her bimonthly letter to members, ABA President Becky Anderson looks at some of this spring’s opportunities for booksellers to come together to learn, share ideas and concerns, and take part in special events.

Promotional materials are now available to all ABA member stores  participating in Give Me Summer! Give Me Books! a national summer reading program for kids. Six titles tailored to children in each of three age groups — Kindergarten–Grade 2, Grades 3–5, and Grades 6–8— are featured.

A special section of this year’s Children’s Book Art Silent Auction at BEA will honor the late Maurice Sendak, the beloved author and illustrator of classic children’s titles and a passionate defender of free speech. A number of illustrators will be creating special artworks commemorating Sendak that will be auctioned off at the event.

From April 15 through May 13, any Kobo eReader device purchased at an ABA member bookstore will come with a free copy of the Algonquin eBook What My Mother Gave Me: Thirty-one Women on the Gifts That Mattered Most, edited by Elizabeth Benedict.

World Book Night has released a list of the towns, cities, and regions that are home to the most volunteer givers per capita.

As the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 continues to gain momentum in the U.S. Congress, three more states are considering enactment of sales tax fairness legislation that would level the playing field for Main Street retailers.

BookExpo America is right around the corner, and booksellers who want to take advantage of free trade show badges, exclusive parties at Hotel ABA, and special programming for ABC Children’s Group members, as well as be a part of the Celebration of Bookselling and Author Awards Lunch  and the Bookseller/Publisher Focus Groups, must be current on their ABA dues.

Six e-book promotions were recently added to the IndieCommerce Publisher Promotions page. Categories include humor, teen reads, great leaders, thrillers, and steals and deals.