Task Forces Provide Important Insights

By Rosemary Hawkins on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

In conjunction with recent Booksellers Forums in Illinois and Massachusetts, the American Booksellers Association convened task forces to gather member input on its digital initiatives and educational programming, respectively.

“We rely on booksellers’ feedback to guides us in all our initiatives, to ensure that we are providing members with the most effective programs possible,” said ABA CEO Oren Teicher. “Our sincere thanks go out to all the booksellers who took time from their busy schedules to share their thoughts and recommendations with ABA senior staff at our recent task force meetings.”

Education Task Force

The Education Task Force met on April 19 in Naperville, Illinois, to offer ABA staff input on educational resources and programming at upcoming events including the Winter Institute, BookExpo America, and the fall regional trade shows, as well as to brainstorm topics for future one-day institutes, such as next month’s ABA Children’s Institute at BEA.

Participating Education Task Force members were:

  • ABA President Becky Anderson, Anderson’s Bookshops, Naperville, Illinois 
  • Sue Boucher, Lake Forest Book Store, Lake Forest, Illinois
  • Linda Bubon and Ann Christophersen, Women & Children First, Chicago, Illinois
  • Lanora Hurley, Next Chapter Bookshop, Mequon, Wisconsin
  • Roberta Rubin, The Book Stall at Chestnut Court, Winnetka, Illinois
  • Terry Whittaker, Viewpoint Books, Columbus, Indiana
  • Arlene J. Lynes, Read Between the Lynes, Woodstock, Illinois
  • Robert Sindelar, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, Washington

ABA Digital Task Force

The Digital Task Force met on April 25 in the Boston/Medford area of Massachusetts to provide input on the growth and future direction of IndieCommerce, to discuss ABA’s e-book and digital content initiatives, and to offer suggestions regarding technology education, POD, and more.

 Participating Digital Task Force members were:

  • Bradley Graham, Politics & Prose, Washington, D.C.
  • John Hugo, Hugo Bookstores, Massachusetts
  • Jeff Mayersohn, Harvard Book Store, Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Jack McKeown, Books & Books Westhampton Beach, Westhampton Beach, New York
  • Chris Morrow, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, Vermont
  • Matt Norcross, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, Michigan
  • Annie Philbrick, Bank Square Books, Mystic, Connecticut
  • Miriam Sontz, Powell’s, Portland, Oregon
  • Suzy Staubach, UConn Co-op, Storrs, Connecticut
  • Neil Strandberg, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, Colorado
  • Dale Szczeblowski, Porter Square Books, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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