ABA Booksellers Lounge: The Place to Chat, Relax, Learn

By Rosemary Hawkins on Tuesday, May 29, 2012

The ABA Booksellers Lounge (Room 1E07/08 of the Javits Convention Center) at BookExpo America will once again be the place for member booksellers to have their questions answered by ABA and IndieCommerce staff, learn about products and services, have a snack, and relax in a comfy chair. This year’s lounge features free WiFi, and for those who have left their computers at home, a computer station for checking e-mail, sponsored by ABA IndieCommerce.

Lounge hours are:

  • Monday, June 4: 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
     
  • Tuesday, June 5: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (The lounge closes at 3:00 p.m. for the ABA Town Hall and Annual Membership Meeting.)
     
  • Wednesday, June 6: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
     
  • Thursday, June 7: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

ABA’s Member Relationship Managers and IndieCommerce Service Reps will be available to answer booksellers questions at the lounge’s Ask ABA Bar. Representatives of ABA-partner business services and product providers, including LIBRIS, Asset MarketPlace, Bank of America, PartnerShip, W.G. Ellerkamp, OnDemand Books, and the National Association of College Stores, will also be in the lounge at various times throughout the show to meet with members.

So, too, will be World Book Night U.S. Executive Director Carl Lennertz, who wants to hear booksellers’ comments on this year’s inaugural event as well as suggestions for 2013.

On Monday and Tuesday, the lounge will include the ABC Children’s Institute Welcome Desk and Check-In for previously registered booksellers. The institute is booked to capacity, and no new registrants are being accepted.

New this year in the Booksellers Lounge, ABA will host the E.B. White Read-Aloud and Indies Choice Book Award Author Reception on Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m., immediately following the Celebration of Bookselling Luncheon. The list of participating authors is available here. A limited number of each author’s books will be available for signing at the reception, which is open exclusively to ABA member booksellers. This event, like the entire Booksellers Lounge, is open exclusively to ABA member booksellers.

Also on Tuesday in the lounge, Maryann McFadden will be signing copies of the May 2012 Indie Next List Great Read The Book Lover (Three Women Press), from 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Booksellers interested in learning more about ABA’s new video campaign, “Why Indies Matter,” will be able to pick up a “Why Indies Matter” button and a flier that explains what they can do to spread the word. A video of authors (many from Winter Institute 7) sharing their thoughts on why indies matter will also be playing on a continuous loop.

To provide an opportunity for as many members as possible to speak during Tuesday’s ABA Town Hall Meeting, a sign-up sheet will be prominently displayed in the lounge starting Monday morning. Booksellers will be called upon in the order in which they sign up.

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