BookExpo

ABA bookstore members should watch the mail for an envelope containing ballots for the 2003 ABA Board of Directors and the 2003 Book Sense Book of the Year (BSBY) Awards, as well as the program of ABA events at BookExpo America, May 28 - June 1. This material is being mailed to all ABA bookstore members on Friday, March 28.

Thursday, May 29, at BookExpo America will be replete with activities of interest to children's booksellers, beginning with the annual meeting of the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC). Registration and box-lunch pick up will begin at 11:45 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. All those pre-registered for the meeting can pick up a free box lunch.

Participating Booksellers Will Receive Bonus Reports Booksellers attending this year's BookExpo America (BEA) will have the opportunity to attend a special session on the ABACUS project on Friday, May 30, from 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. The session will present an in-depth report on the project's first year's results, and all ABA members are invited to the session.

There are still rooms available for BEA at the Hotel California -- the Radisson Wilshire Plaza, where ABA bookstore members can book an exclusive deal of $111 a night from May 25 to June 7. However, the rooms are going fast, and booksellers are encouraged to book quickly (see end of story for details). The Radisson Wilshire Plaza is a comfortable, recently renovated business-style hotel located fewer than 15 minutes from the Los Angeles Convention Center.

ABA member booksellers planning to attend BookExpo America (BEA), May 28 - June 1, in Los Angeles, can still take advantage of an exclusive, money-saving hotel deal put together by ABA and BEA.

Ellen DeGeneres to Appear at Benefit Performance BookExpo America (BEA) has announced speakers for its special events at this year's trade show, including its annual Book & Author Breakfasts. BEA will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, May 28 - June 1, 2003.

At a time when more retail space is devoted to selling books than ever before and an increasing number of consumers are turning to Internet retailers, sustaining and growing a profitable bookstore business requires that each person in a management role fully understand the fundamentals of running a business.

Once again, booksellers at BookExpo America will have the opportunity to attend a special day of educational programming designed specifically for them. Organized and sponsored by American Booksellers Association, the full day of bookseller education panels and seminars is set for Thursday, May 29, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Last year, when ABA's day-long bookseller education programming debuted at BEA in New York City, the panels and seminars were extremely well received.

When making travel plans for this year's BookExpo America in Los Angeles, booksellers are encouraged to keep in mind that on Thursday, May 29, from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., ABA will once again be sponsoring a full day of bookseller educational programming. The special educational programming, taking place the day before the BEA trade show floor opens, will include in-depth sessions on: