About ABA

Booksellers are invited to attend an ABA Booksellers Forum to be held in Storrs, Connecticut, at the UConn Co-op, on Thursday, May 1, from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The forum will follow a meeting of the New England Children's Booksellers Association and a reception for booksellers.

As a result of a change in underwriter, LIBRIS insurance policyholders are receiving a "Notice of Nonrenewal of Insurance" from Fireman's Fund Insurance regarding their business owners package and workers' compensation coverage. "There is no reason for concern," said Michael Hoynes, ABA marketing officer.

ABA members visiting BookWeb.org will note new and updated information on the Book Sense program. Among the most notable changes are:

On Tuesday, April 8, ABA held a Booksellers Forum, in conjunction with programming of the Mid-South Independent Booksellers Association (MSIBA), in Katy, Texas. ABA and MSIBA members met with MSIBA president and ABA Booksellers Advisory Council member Tamra Dore of Katy Budget Books and ABA COO Oren Teicher.

Even an April snowstorm failed to chill the enthusiasm of independent booksellers at the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) Spring Retreat, held on April 6 - 7 at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel in Philadelphia, where the focus was on sharing successful ideas and energizing store operations.

The American Booksellers Association will be holding a Booksellers Forum in conjunction with the New England Booksellers Association (NEBA) on Thursday, May 1, at the UConn Co-op in Storrs, Connecticut.

May 7 is the deadline for ABA bookstore members to cast their ballots for the 2003 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards and for the ABA Board of Directors elections. Both ballots were mailed to bookstore members at the end of March. The ballot for the ABA Board of Directors must be returned in the special postage-paid envelope addressed to KPMG, and must be postmarked by April 30. Ballots sent directly to ABA will not be counted.

Independent bookstores participating in the Book Sense marketing program reported that total 2002 book sales were slightly ahead of the results for 2001, reflecting the mixed experiences of the entire book industry during 2002.

As part of its extensive educational programming at BookExpo America (BEA), ABA is sponsoring a three-day booksellers school, facilitated by Donna Paz and Mark Kaufman of Paz & Associates. The school program is designed to enhance the skills of anyone thinking about opening or buying a bookstore, as well as those of booksellers who are new to the business or who are new to, or aspiring to, management and leadership roles, and industry professionals who want a better understanding of book retailing.

The Southeast Booksellers Association (SEBA) held its Spring Seminar and Book Awards on April 4 - 5 at the Park Road Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. The weekend's programming included an ABACUS "Sneak Preview" and an ABA/SEBA Booksellers Forum. Representing ABA at the meeting were ABA COO Oren Teicher and BookSense.com Director Len Vlahos.