Forum Previews: San Francisco, New York, and Medford, Massachusetts

The American Booksellers Association will host Booksellers Forum programs in San Francisco, New York City, and Medford, Massachusetts, on April 3, 5, and 6, respectively. The programs are part of 11 Booksellers Forums [1] that ABA senior staff is conducting between February 24 and April 26 in conjunction with the regional booksellers associations. Upcoming, this weekend, is an ABA Booksellers Forum in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, in conjunction with the Great Lakes [2] and Midwest [3] booksellers association. (Learn more. [4])

ABA education at all of the spring Booksellers Forums is made possible by the generous support of the Ingram Content Group.

San Francisco, California • April 3

ABA and NCIBA member booksellers are invited to join ABA CEO Oren Teicher, COO Len Vlahos, and Technology Director Matt Supko at an ABA Booksellers Forum, presented in conjunction with the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association’s Spring Gathering & Author Reception [5] on Sunday, April 3

The ABA portion of the daylong program at the Thoreau Center in Presidio National Park [6] includes:

• ABA Booksellers Forum: 8:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
  Booksellers are invited to join ABA for a continental breakfast and an open forum and discussion of industry issues. The ABA Board and staff want to know what is on members’ minds, and the forum provides a direct way for the association to listen to booksellers’ concerns and to answer questions and exchange ideas on industry issues and ABA’s programs and initiatives. Attendees are encouraged to come with questions and comments.

• IndieCommerce and E-books: The Why and How of It: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  This session is for stores interested in learning more about selling e-books and print books online and how IndieCommerce can help. If you don’t have an IndieCommerce website or have one that you haven’t done a lot with, this session is worth attending. Presented by ABA COO Len Vlahos.

• IndieCommerce and E-books: A User’s Group: 2:40 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  This session is designed for IndieCommerce users who want to discuss ways to sell more books online, how to market and sell e-books, and how to maximize their website’s marketing capabilities. ABA Technology Director Matt Supko will facilitate the user’s group and offer success stories from IndieCommerce users in other parts of the country. While non-IndieCommerce users may attend, this is not a beginner’s session.

Registration for the Spring Gathering & Author Reception is required by March 28. The full schedule and a registration form [5] are available on the NCIBA website [7].

New York, New York • April 5

ABA and NAIBA member booksellers are invited to join ABA CEO Oren Teicher, Technology Director Matt Supko, and Member Relationship Manager Kaitlin Pitcher at an ABA Booksellers Forum, presented in conjunction with the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association [8], on Tuesday, April 5, at Google’s offices in New York City.

Here’s what’s on tap:

• IndieCommerce: 10:30 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
  This demo and Q&A session will look at e-books; the relationships between Google Local Shopping, IndieCommerce, and Above the Treeline; the HarperCollins E-Commerce Support Program; future plans for IndieCommerce; and more. Intended for new and current users alike.

• ABA Booksellers Forum: 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
  After lunch in the Google cafeteria, booksellers are invited to join ABA for an open forum and discussion of industry issues. The ABA Board and staff want to know what is on members’ minds, and the forum provides a direct way for the association to listen to booksellers’ concerns and to answer questions and exchange ideas on industry issues and ABA’s programs and initiatives. Attendees are encouraged to come with questions and comments.

The program will be in Google’s fourth offices at 76 Ninth Avenue (between 15th & 16th streets) in New York City.

In order for ABA to comply with Google’s building security requirement, booksellers who will be attending must RSVP to Kaitlin Pitcher via e-mail [9] or at (800) 637-0037, ext. 6666, no later than March 28. A photo ID will be needed in order to enter the building.

Medford, Massachusetts • April 6

ABA and NEIBA member booksellers are invited to join ABA COO Len Vlahos and Member Relationship Manager Kaitlin Pitcher at an ABA Booksellers Forum, presented in conjunction with the New England Independent Booksellers Association’s All About the Books! Author Luncheon and Spring Education Program [10].

The ABA portion of the program, which will be held on Wednesday, April 6, at Springstep in Medford, Massachusetts, includes:

• How to Sell E-Books:  A Practical Discussion: 1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  What are the new opportunities for booksellers in the world of digital books? At this session, booksellers will get the latest updates on Google eBooks™, e-readers and apps, and how to sell digital.

• ABA Booksellers Forum: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  Booksellers are invited to join ABA for an open forum and discussion of industry issues. The ABA Board and staff want to know what is on members’ minds, and the forum provides a direct way for the association to listen to booksellers’ concerns and to answer questions and exchange ideas on industry issues and ABA’s programs and initiatives. Attendees are encouraged to come with questions and comments.

Registration for NEIBA’s All About the Books program is required by March 23. Program details and a registration form are available on the NEIBA website [10].

Springstep [11] is located at 98 George P. Hassett Drive in Medford.