American Booksellers Association

Trade association for independent bookstores

American Booksellers Association

Abbreviation| ABA
Founded| 1900; 125 years ago (1900)
Type| nonprofit trade association

Tax ID no.

| 13-5676641[1]
Legal status| 501(c)(6)[2]
Purpose| To help independently owned bookstores grow and succeed.[2]

CEO

| Allison K. Hill[3]

President

| Tegan Tigani[4]
Subsidiaries| Booksellers Order Service Inc[2]
Revenue| $5,299,148[5] (2021[5])
Expenses| $4,498,252[5] (2021)
Employees| 42[5] (2021)
Volunteers| 12[5] (2021)
Website| www.bookweb.org

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.[6][7] A volunteer board of 13 booksellers governs the Association. Previously headquartered in White Plains, New York, ABA became a fully remote organization in 2024.[8][9]

In 1947, ABA launched the American Booksellers Association Convention and Trade Show, later known as BookExpo America (though ABA had held conventions as early as 1901).[10]

## Winter Institute and Children's Institute

[edit]

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.[11][12]

Children's Institute is a three-day long event, typically held in the summer, with education and sessions geared towards booksellers who carry children's books.[11][13]

## Independent Bookstore Day

[edit]

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.[14]

Independent Bookstore Day was introduced in 2015, following the success of a regional California Bookstore Day.[15] Though it started as a collaboration of the regional associations, Independent Bookstore Day was eventually handed over to ABA to organize.

## Membership

[edit]

The ABA's membership has varied over time:

* 1991 — 5,200 members[16]
* 1995 — 5,500 members with 7000 stores[17]
* 1998 — 3,300 members[16]
* 2000 — 3,100 members with 4000 stores[17]
* 2001 — 2,794 members[18]
* 2002 — 2,191 members[18]
* 2005 — 1,702 members,[19] "more than 90" member bookstores opened[20]
* 2006 — 97 member bookstores opened[20]
* 2007 — 115 member bookstores opened[21]
* 2008 — ABA published no data
* 2009 — 1,401 members[22] with 1,651 stores,[23] 40 member bookstores opened,[24] 26 of which were listed by Google Maps as "permanently closed" in December 2018.
* 2010 — 1,410 members, first increase in almost two decades.[22] 26 member bookstores opened,[25] 14 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps as of December 2018.
* 2011 — 1,512 members with stores in 1823 locations,[26] 41 member bookstores opened,[27] Used bookstores are now eligible for membership, annual dues of smaller stores are lowered.[28]
* 2012 — 1,567 members with stores in 1,900 locations,[29] 43 member bookstores opened,[30] 17 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps in December 2018.
* 2013 — 1,632 members with stores in 1,971 locations,[31] 45 member bookstores opened,[32] 16 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps in December 2018.
* 2014 — 1,664 members with stores in 2,094 locations,[23] 59 member bookstores opened,[33] 15 of which were no longer members and listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps in December 2018.
* 2015 — 1,712 members with stores in 2,227 locations,[23] 61 member bookstores opened,[34] 14 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps in December 2018, 3 others are marked "online only" in ABA's list.
* 2016 — 87 member bookstores opened[35]
* 2017 — 75 member bookstores opened[36]
* 2018 — 1,835 members with stores in 2,470 locations,[37] 99 member bookstores opened[38]
* 2019 — 1,887 members with stores in 2,524 locations,[39] 111 member bookstores opened[40]
* 2020 — no numbers published
* 2021 — 1,700 members with stores in 2,100 locations[41]
* 2022 — 2,178 members with stores in 2,593 locations[42]

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 was replaced by IndieBound, a new program and website.[43][44]

## Association of Booksellers for Children

[edit]

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.[45] The former ABC is now a membership group within the ABA.[45]

## IndieBound

[edit]

This section relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources.
Find sources: "American Booksellers Association" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2020)

|

IndieBound is a marketing movement for independent bookstores[46] launched in 2008 by 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.

### Launch

[edit]

IndieBound 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.

### Indie Bestseller Lists

[edit]

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 a particular genre, are published less frequently. The Indie Bestseller Lists are released by IndieBound as XML feeds.

### Indie Next Lists

[edit]

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.

### Indies Choice Book Awards

[edit]

Each year, owners and employees of ABA stores have the opportunity to vote for the Indies Choice Book Awards, which is issued in four categories. The winning authors are honored at a banquet at BookExpo America. BookExpo was "retired" in 2020, in part due to the pandemic.[47] The Indie Choice Book Awards has not been held since.

## See also

[edit]

* List of independent bookstores
* Murder at the ABA, a novel by Isaac Asimov
* List of booksellers associations
* Books in the United States

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "American Booksellers Association Inc". Tax Exempt Organization Search. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
2. ^ a b c "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, 2016". Tax Exempt Organization Search. Internal Revenue Service. September 30, 2017.
3. ^ "American Booksellers Association Announces Selection of New CEO". American Booksellers Association (Press release). 2019-10-10. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
4. ^ "Board of Directors". American Booksellers Association. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
5. ^ a b c d e "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, 2021" (PDF). Tax Exempt Organization Search. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
6. ^ Robertson, Imogen. "Shelf Awareness for Friday, November 21, 2014". www.shelf-awareness.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
7. ^ "FAQ: First Amendment, Free Expression and ABA's Ends Policies, determined by the ABA Board of Directors". American Booksellers Association (Press release). 2022-02-24. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
8. ^ Milliot |, Jim. "American Booksellers Association to Close Its Headquarters". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
9. ^ "ABA Officially Closing White Plains Office". the American Booksellers Association (Press release). 2024-01-24. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
10. ^ "Past And Future". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. 31 May 1998. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
11. ^ a b "ABA Education for Booksellers". the American Booksellers Association. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
12. ^ Kirch, Claire; Beeck |, Nathalie op de. "Winter Institute 2024: Moments from the Show". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
13. ^ Kirch, Claire; Beeck |, Nathalie op de. "What's on Tap at Children's Institute 2023". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
14. ^ Kirch, Claire; Beeck |, Nathalie op de. "Independent Bookstore Day 2024: 'An Indie Bookseller's Christmas'". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
15. ^ Sultana, Nusrat. "It's Independent Bookstore Day—here's how to celebrate". USA Today. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
16. ^ a b Singer, Penny (January 17, 1999), "Independent Bookstores Harvest Their Zeal", New York Times
17. ^ a b Kawaguchi, Karen (July 24, 2000), "Feminist Feast And Famine", Publishers Weekly
18. ^ a b Mutter, John (May 5, 2002), "BEA Show Daily: ABA Loses Members, Money", Publishers Weekly, archived from the original on December 20, 2013
19. ^ Spearie, Steven (August 14, 2008), "A novel approach to selling books", Norwich Bulletin, archived from the original on January 30, 2013
20. ^ a b "A Plethora of New Independent Bookstores Open in 2006". American Booksellers Association (Press release). 2007-01-08. Retrieved January 8, 2007.
21. ^ "115 New Independent Bookstores Open in 2007". American Booksellers Association (Press release). 2008-01-14. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
22. ^ a b Italie, Hillel (May 21, 2010). "Independent Bookstores Get A Boost: American Booksellers Association Membership Up Since Last Year". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 2010-06-02. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
23. ^ a b c Italie, Hillel (May 26, 2015). "Independent booksellers continue to add new stores". AP News. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
24. ^ "40 ABA Member Stores Open in 2009". American Booksellers Association (Press release). January 14, 2010.
25. ^ Schechner, Karen (February 24, 2011). "25 ABA Member Stores Open in 2010". American Booksellers Association (Press release).
26. ^ "ABA Annual Meeting Report". American Booksellers Association. June 5, 2012.
27. ^ "41 ABA Member Stores Open in 2011". American Booksellers Association (Press release). January 10, 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-01-08.
28. ^ Schechner, Karen (August 19, 2010). "ABA President Michael Tucker Sends Important Update]". American Booksellers Association (Press release).
29. ^ "ABA Annual Meeting Report". American Booksellers Association. May 30, 2013
30. ^ "43* ABA Member Stores Open in 2012". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved January 17, 2013.
31. ^ "Annual Meeting Report". American Booksellers Association. May 30, 2013.
32. ^ "45 ABA Member Stores Open in 2013*". American Booksellers Association (Press release). February 19, 2014.
33. ^ Button, Liz (2015-02-05). "59 ABA Member Stores Open in 2014, 29 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release).
34. ^ Button, Liz (February 17, 2016). "61 ABA Member Stores Open in 2015; 16 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release).
35. ^ Jarrard, Sydney (January 25, 2017). "87 ABA Member Stores Open in 2016; 15 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved March 30, 2017.
36. ^ Jarrard, Sydney (February 9, 2018). "75 ABA Member Stores Open in 2017; 22 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved April 7, 2018.
37. ^ Jarrard, Sydney (2018-06-20). "ABC Children's Institute: A Celebration of Diversity, Activism, and Kids' Lit". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved September 22, 2021.
38. ^ Button, Liz (2019-01-15). "99 ABA Member Stores Open in 2018; 28 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved March 26, 2020.
39. ^ O'Brien, Chris (September 30, 2019). "Shop Local, Buy Online". Alta Journal. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
40. ^ Jarrard, Sydney (2020-01-29). "111 ABA Member Stores Open in 2019; 25 Sold to New Owners". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved March 26, 2020.
41. ^ Behnke, Emily (June 4, 2021). "2021 ABA Annual Meeting and Town Hall". American Booksellers Association (Press release). Retrieved September 22, 2021.
42. ^ "ABA 2022 Annual Report". the American Booksellers Association. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
43. ^ Grogan, David (June 4, 2008). "BookSense.com Becomes ABA E-commerce Solution" (Press release). American Booksellers Association. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2008.
44. ^ "ABA Rolls Out New Campaign". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
45. ^ a b Rosen, Judith (23 Nov 2010). "ABC Booksellers Overwhelmingly Approve Merger With ABA". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
46. ^ Paul Swydan (2019-08-09). "IndieBound Needs a Makeover If It's Going to Fight Amazon". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
47. ^ Milliot |, Jim. "BookExpo and BookCon Are No More". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-10-21.

## External links

[edit]

* official website
* IndieBound.org website
* A program created and sponsored by ABA the Book and Author Luncheon, can be heard at The WNYC Archives. It ran from 1938 to 1974. (See also the Book and Author Luncheon.)
* Book Sense (archived)

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