ABA Booksellers Forums Set for MPBA and PNBA Regions on March 14

The American Booksellers Association will be holding Booksellers Forums on Friday, March 14, in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) Spring Show, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and in conjunction with the Mountains & Plains Booksellers Association (MPBA) Spring Meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Additional ABA programming at the PNBA show, which runs from March 14 - 16, at the Coeur d'Alene Resort, will include a Book Sense Workshop, a "Budgeting & Monitoring Workshop," and an ABACUS "Sneak Preview." At MPBA's Spring Meeting, which will be held at the Radisson Santa Fe, from March 14 -16, ABA programming will also include a BookSense.com Users Group Meeting and a Book Sense Update.

PNBA

The ABA/PNBA Booksellers Forum will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., followed by a workshop on the Book Sense marketing program, from 10:15 a.m. - 11: 45 a.m. ABA Board member Russ Lawrence of Chapter One Bookstore in Hamilton, Montana, and ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz will conduct the forum and workshop.

At the ABA Booksellers Forum, attendees will get an update on association business, as well as an opportunity to ask questions and to provide input to shape future programs and association initiatives. The Book Sense workshop will take a look at "Where We've Been, Where We're Going."

In the afternoon, from 1:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Domnitz will conduct a "Budgeting & Monitoring Workshop" for booksellers. Attendees will be see a demonstration of a series of worksheets that will allow them to integrate into their operations a system of financial controls, which will enable them to predict bookstore performance and then to measure outcomes against those predictions.

Domnitz will also meet with booksellers who have already submitted their financial data to the ABACUS survey or who bring the data with them to the meeting, to preview data gathered since ABA reintroduced the study last year. A proven financial research tool, ABACUS provides independent booksellers with a wide range of bookselling-specific financial breakdowns and analyses. A time has not yet been set for the ABACUS "Sneak Preview"; watch BTW for details.

For booksellers who have not already submitted their financial data for the ABACUS survey, an online form and instructions are available online at www.bookweb.org/read/5786, or booksellers may bring their data to the preview session. Questions about submitting ABACUS data should be addressed to Domnitz at avin@bookweb.org.

To RSVP or for more information about ABA programming, contact Kristen Gilligan at ABA [(800) 637-0037, ext. 1286 or kristen@bookweb.org]. For more information about PNBA programming and trade show accommodations, visit the PNBA Web site at http://www.pnba.org/show.htm, or contact PNBA at (541) 683-4363 or info@pnba.org.

ABA programming at the MPBA Spring Trade show in Santa Fe starts with a BookSense.com Users Group Meeting from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 14, featuring Len Vlahos, director of BookSense.com. Booksellers will learn about the newest features of BookSense.com, as well planned enhancements. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

Later in the day, from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Vlahos will be joined by representatives of the ABA Board at the ABA/MPBA Booksellers Forum to provide an update on association business and initiatives, as well as give booksellers a chance to voice their opinions and concerns.

On Saturday, March 15, a Book Sense Update will be held from 4:15 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. This session will explore what's new at Book Sense for 2003. Topics will include a possible gift card program, a new Reading Group 76, and regional bestseller lists.

To RSVP or for more information about ABA programming, contact Len Vlahos at ABA [(800) 637-0037, ext. 1215 or len@booksense.com]. For information about MPBA programming and trade show accommodations, visit the MPBA Web site at http://www.mountainsplains.org/ (booksellers-only section), or contact MPBA at (800) 752-0249 (within the region); (970) 484-5856; or info@mountainsplains.org.