From the Archive: Recorded virtually on March 9, 2022 for Winter Institute 2022 (Snow Days)

Your strategic plan is the business map that leads to the success of your store and staff, and the stability of your business. If you don't have a strategic plan, or if you need to refresh the plan you have, you will benefit from this planning session. Attendees will be guided through the process of stepping back from day-to-day operations to ask where their business is headed and what its priorities should be. This event will include a worksheet for strategic planning to guide attendees and designated time in the session for attendees to begin the process of creating a plan.

Session Video & Resources

Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org.

Theme song by Constant Companion

From the Archive: Recorded on January 25, 2016 at Winter Institute 2016 (Wi11) in Denver, CO

More than any retailer in the past 20 years, Amazon.com has transformed the industry. In a groundbreaking study, Civic Economics -- a leader in research related to local economies and the impact of shopping decisions -- has for the first time quantified the real costs and ramifications of Amazon's expansion. Joining Dan Houston and Matt Cunningham of Civic Economics will be Stacy Mitchell, of the the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, who will discuss important local and national policy considerations regarding an equitable and sustainable economy.

• Dan Houston, Principal, Civic Economics (Austin, TX)
• Matt Cunningham, Principal, Civic Economics (Chicago, IL)
• Stacy Mitchell, Co-Director, The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (Portland, ME)
• Oren Teicher, ABA (White Plains, NY)

Session Video & Resources

Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org.

Theme song by Constant Companion

Free Expression Friday is an interview series from ABA's American Booksellers for Free Expression celebrating the amazing work of booksellers, organizers, and book people in general fighting for the right to read.

For this week's This Week in Book Challenges, Philomena provides updates on book challenge activity and the early pre-filed bills that are raising ABFE's concern. Spoiler: it's not looking good. States discussed: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia

Follow the American Booksellers for Free Expression on Instagram at @ABFEFreeExpression to keep up with ABFE's advocacy efforts and tune into their Free Expression Friday series. Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org.

Theme by Constant Companion

ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting short talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they've made in their stores. On January 9, 2025, Annie Jones of The Bookshelf (Thomasville, GA) discussed Reader Retreats.

Session Video & Resources

Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org.

Theme by Constant Companion

From the Archive: Recorded on January 22, 2020 at Winter Institute 2020 (Wi15) in Baltimore

New technologies and shifting consumer buying behaviors have reshaped the business landscape. In this Wi15 keynote event, Ryan Raffaelli (@RyanLRaffaelli), associate professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, will present his groundbreaking research on how longstanding industries can increase their odds of achieving sustained growth in the face of new business threats. Professor Raffaelli will also preview findings from his forthcoming academic paper on the renewed strength of the independent bookstore channel. Drawing on eight years of in-depth field observations of bookstores in 25 states, more than 200 interviews and focus groups, and analysis of extensive archival data, the study examines the decline and subsequent rise of the U.S. independent bookselling sector from 2005 to today. Professor Raffaelli will highlight "3Cs" of reinvention – community, curation, and convening – and offer broader insights for local businesses and communities responding to current significant threats from online and corporate retail competition.

Session Video & Resources

Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org.

Theme song by Constant Companion

ABA's Indies Introduce interview series spotlights debut authors handpicked by booksellers from around the country. In each episode, a bookseller from the Indies Introduce panel interviews an author featured in the program to celebrate the release of their book.

In this episode, Morgan Haywood-Joy of Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY interviews Trisha Tobias, author of Honeysuckle and Bone, available January 14, 2025, at your local independent bookstore.

Theme by Constant Companion

From the Archive: Recorded virtually on September 1, 2021 for Children's Institute 2021 (Ci9)

Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime conversation between bestselling authors Hanif Abdurraqib (Random House), Tiffany D. Jackson (Katherine Tegen Books), and Jason Reynolds (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books), moderated by Tami Charles (Scholastic Press). During this keynote, the bestselling authors will discuss the intersection of music and books, representation, and the powerful impact on a young Black person when their experiences and belief system are mirrored by the words of Black artists.

Session Video & Resources

Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org.

Theme song by Constant Companion

From the Archive: Recorded March 3, 2020 for ABA's Technology Meetup series

This session focuses on using Ingram's ipage for book orders and features a demonstration from Ingram's Marsha Wood.

Session Video & Resources

Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org.

Theme song by Constant Companion

From the Archive: Recorded virtually on February 18, 2021 for Wi2021 (Wi16)

Led by Amber Cabral, author of Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture (Wiley Press), in conversation with Dr. Stephanie Pinder-Amaker and Dr. Lauren Wadsworth, authors of Did That Just Happen?!: Beyond "Diversity" ― Creating Sustainable and Inclusive Organizations (Beacon Press), this session will guide booksellers in recognizing harmful practices and creating necessary steps around dismantling a culture of white supremacy in the workplace.

Session Video & Resources

Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org.

Theme song by Constant Companion

ABA's Indies Introduce interview series spotlights debut authors handpicked by booksellers from around the country. In each episode, a bookseller from the Indies Introduce panel interviews an author featured in the program to celebrate the release of their book.

In this episode, Jessica Hahl of Books Inc in San Leandro, CA interviews Kaitlyn Cavalancia, author of Mystery Royale, available January 7, 2025, at your local independent bookstore.

Theme by Constant Companion