ABA/GLBA Forum Program on March 20

The American Booksellers Association is inviting booksellers to a Booksellers Forum and Education Program to be held in conjunction with the Great Lakes Booksellers Association [1] in Aurora, Illinois, on March 20. The program, hosted by ABA Board member Becky Anderson of Anderson's Bookshops, will run from 9:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the Anderson's Book Fairs warehouse in Aurora.

All ABA and GLBA store owners and staff are welcome to participate in the free program, which also features ABA COO Oren Teicher, ABA Information Director Dan Cullen, and GLBA Executive Director Jim Dana.

Following registration and a tour of the Anderson's Book Fairs warehouse, at 10:30 a.m. ABA will present "Participating in the Digital Revolution." Everyday the news is rife with stories about how technology is changing the way people interact and especially about how they acquire and consume information. "Participating in the Digital Revolution" will explore such phenomena as digitization of content, social networking, and open source and distributed computing and their effect on independent booksellers now and in the future. Participants will hear about the latest developments in the technosphere and will learn how they can remain plugged in.

Booksellers will be treated to a free lunch during the noon "Booksellers Forum & Strategic Planning Session." Participants will get the latest updates on the association's program and initiatives and have an opportunity to voice concerns and to offer input on the future direction of ABA, which is currently formulating its next five-year strategic plan. The forum format fosters discussion of regional and national issues affecting independent booksellers, and ABA encourages all bookstore owners and staff to attend. The Booksellers Forum program can help provide a broader perspective on how individual stores fit into the larger industry, provide valuable information, and serve as an opportunity to meet and talk with fellow booksellers.

Following the forum, the focus will be on "Buy Local First" campaigns and GLBA Holiday Catalog news and resources.

For planning purposes, booksellers who will be attending are asked to contact either ABA's Margaret Nafz at margaret@bookweb.org [2] or (800) 637-0037, ext. 6614, or GLBA's Joan Janderosa at joanj@books-glba.org [3] or (800) 745-2460. Booksellers are also invited to contact Teicher [4] and Cullen [5] prior to the forum with questions, suggestions, or comments. Anderson's Book Fairs warehouse is located at 520 N. Exchange Court in Aurora; (630) 820-0044. For more information, contact GLBA's Dana or Janderosa at 800-637-0037, or by e-mail to glba@books-glba.org [6]. Accommodations are available at Fairfield Inn & Suites in Naperville [7].

For Great Lakes booksellers unable to attend the Aurora program, ABA will be hosting a forum in conjunction with both GLBA and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday, April 10. Look for details in an upcoming edition of Bookselling This Week.