Three-Month Bookseller Action List: December 2005 - February 2006

Here are important reminders related to ABA and Book Sense programs and events for the period December 2005 through February 2006. The list may also be downloaded in PDF format.

For details about any of these items, visit BookWeb.org or look for details in upcoming editions of BTW. General questions should be addressed to Kristen Gilligan, ABA's associate director of programming and constituent groups liaison, at kristen@bookweb.org.

DECEMBER 2005

• Register for ABA's First Annual Winter Institute
  Register for the comprehensive education event at www.bookweb.org/institute. Hotel Room Rate: Thursday and Friday - $112/night; Wednesday night sold out at event rate.
  
  
• Hotel ABA Reservations Open and Going Fast!
  Book your room now for Hotel ABA at May's BookExpo America in Washington, D.C. Rooms are going fast, and we anticipate selling out very soon. For more information and to reserve a room, visit www.bookweb.org/read/8230. Hotel Room Rate: $129/night.
  
  
• The Yellow Hat Arrives!
  Stores will receive materials for a special Curious George promotion in a special "Yellow Box" mailing to arrive by December 9. The promotion ties into the movie release scheduled for February. A pamphlet detailing new books and tie-in editions is also included in the box.
  
  
• Watch for Lincoln Promo Materials
  Stores will receive materials in their December Red Box for The History Channel's January 16 marquee event, Lincoln. As a part of the promotion, booksellers will have the option to collect pennies to benefit their local mental health association.
  
  
• Book Sense Best Children's Books Now Available
  Order Book Sense Best Children's Books: 240 Favorites for All Ages Recommended by Independent Booksellers from Newmarket Press, distributed by W. W. Norton, ISBN: 1557046794, trade paperback, $14.95. For more information, visit newmarketpress.com.
  
  
• Nominate to the Picks List
  A Book Sense Picks nomination form is available at www.bookweb.org/read/6305. This month's deadlines are:
  * December 2: February 2006 Picks
  * December 9: Valentine's Day 2006 Top Ten
  
  
• Deadline Extended for Visa Check/MasterMoney Claims
  Class members that received a claim form, which includes an estimated cash payment, now have until December 28, 2005, to submit the claim form or to challenge the estimated cash payment amount. Read more about it at news.bookweb.org/read/3941.
  
  
• Special Bank of America Promotion
  Bank of America is waiving the $75 application fee for ABA member bookstores that sign up for its merchant services by December 31, 2005. For more information, contact Paul Kelly at Bank of America at (800) 955-8488 or Paula.R.Kelly@bankofamerica.com.
  
  
• Special 2005 Book Sense Bestseller List
  Watch BTW for an announcement when this special downloadable PDF is available on BookWeb.
  
  
• Display the Winter 2005 - 2006 Children's Picks and the 2005 Highlights Lists
  Stores are receiving fliers in December box. If you need extra copies of these or other Book Sense fliers, send an e-mail to mark@booksense.com.
  
  
• Contact Local Media for the Holidays
  Now is the time to contact your local media for some free publicity. Offer them the Book Sense Bestseller List, information on special promotions, store events, etc. For template press releases, go to www.bookweb.org/education/marketing/pubkit/.

JANUARY 2006

• Nominate to the Picks List
  A Book Sense Picks nomination form is available at www.bookweb.org/read/6305. This month's deadline is:
  * January 6: March Picks

FEBRUARY 2006

• Nominate to the Picks List
  A Book Sense Picks nomination form is available at www.bookweb.org/read/6305. This month's deadline are:
  * February 3: April Picks
  * February 10: Easter / Passover Top Ten
  * February 10: Poetry Top Ten

ONGOING & OTHER REMINDERS

• Watch for Patriot Act Updates
  Read BTW for late-breaking news and watch for special flashes with updates on the USA Patriot Act renewal.
  
  
• Sign Up for Constant Contact
  All ABA member bookstores can sign up for Constant Contact, a leading provider of services to manage e-mail marketing campaigns. For details, visit news.bookweb.org/read/3359.
  
  
• Are You Ready?
  Contact your bookstore POS (inventory control system) vendor and ask about their 13-digit ISBN readiness plan. For a downloadable PDF, visit www.bisg.org/isbn-13/for.dummies.html.
  
  
• Display & Distribute
  Put out this month's Book Sense Picks fliers and print and display the weekly Book Sense Bestseller List.
  
  
• Report to the Book Sense Bestseller List
  Report each week from 3:00 p.m. EST on Saturday through 3:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday. Go to bestsellers.bookweb.org.
  
  
• Sign-up for Book Sense Gift Cards
  Visit www.bookweb.org/read/6303 for details.
  
  
• Update BookSense.com Co-op Affidavit
  Each month at the announcement of that month's titles fill out the affidavit to participate in the BookSense.com co-op program. Online at www.booksense.com/coop-program.