The American Booksellers Association ( ABA ) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1900 that promotes independent bookstores in the United States. ABA's core members are key participants in their communities' local economy and culture, and to assist them ABA creates relevant programs; provides education, information, business products, and services; and engages in public policy and industry advocacy. The Association actively supports and defends free speech and the First Amendment rights of all Americans, without contradiction of equity and inclusion, through the American Booksellers for Free Expression . A volunteer board of 13 booksellers governs the Association. Previously headquartered in White Plains, New York , ABA became a fully remote organization in 2024.
7-466: The American Booksellers Association hosts two conferences each year, known as Institutes. Institutes typically last several days and consist of tours of several independent bookstores in the host city, education sessions, author signings, and networking opportunities. Winter Institute lasts four days and is typically held in late January of early February. It is the larger of the two events, with more 1,000 people in attendance in 2024. Children's Institute
14-542: A particular genre, are published less frequently. The Indie Bestseller Lists are released by IndieBound as XML feeds. The Indie Next List (published monthly) and the Kids' Indie Next List (published every other month) feature new releases nominated by booksellers across the country. The ABA collects these bookseller nominations and compiles the Indie Next Lists. Each year, owners and employees of ABA stores have
21-552: Is a three-day long event, typically held in the summer, with education and sessions geared towards booksellers who carry children's books. Independent Bookstore Day, celebrated the last Saturday in April, is a celebration of independent bookstores. The American Booksellers Association organizes this annual celebration, creates assets and resources for booksellers to use, and coordinates with publishers to create exclusive items booksellers can sell for this event. Independent Bookstore Day
28-667: The American Booksellers Association . With resources designed to encourage readers to shop at independent bookstores, it promotes fiscal localism . IndieBound is home to the Indie Bookstore Finder, an interactive map that allows visitors to find independent bookstores across the country. IndieBound also hosts curated reading lists like the Indie Next List and Kids' Indie Next Lists as well as Indie Bestseller Lists. IndieBound
35-533: Was introduced in 2015, following the success of a regional California Bookstore Day. Though it started as a collaboration of the regional associations, Independent Bookstore Day was eventually handed over to ABA to organize. The ABA's membership has varied over time: The ABA sponsored the Book Sense marketing program and associated BookSense.com web site, intended to preserve a connection between consumers and local independent bookstores. In June 2008, Book Sense
42-677: Was launched in June 2008 to replace a prior marketing program for independents called Book Sense. IndieBound does not sell books directly, instead it directs customers to nearby independent bookstores who sell online through their own e-commerce sites. The Indie Bestseller Lists show the top selling titles in independent bookstores nationwide. Indie Bestseller Lists are published weekly for hardcover fiction, hardcover nonfiction, trade paperback fiction, trade paperback nonfiction, mass market paperback, "children's interest," children's illustrated, and children's fiction series. Category lists, which focus on
49-644: Was replaced by IndieBound , a new program and website. In November, 2010, the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC), a non-profit trade association supporting the business of independent children's bookselling, agreed to merge with the American Booksellers Association. The former ABC is now a membership group within the ABA. Book Sense IndieBound is a marketing movement for independent bookstores launched in 2008 by
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