Generous Community and Giving Thanks

In my notes for SIBA’s annual meeting last week, I brought attention to an aspect of SIBA’s membership that is particularly strong and so important, now and always: our community. We have such a supportive community among our stores, our industry partners, and our author friends. Many of you have shared that this is what sustains you when you face challenges. Challenges like book bans and curation pushback that affect your business’s work on book fairs and author visits, and your staff’s morale and sense of personal safety. Challenges like cash flow concerns that feel overwhelming, recovery from a weather event that has impacted your store and community, or dealing with the emotional labor that comes with engaging customers around politics or other thorny issues. It’s so helpful to have folks to turn to who know what you’re going through, have often been there themselves, and can offer you solid tips or simply a hug and encouraging words.

In the American Independent Business Alliance’s recent newsletter, they mention the idea of “generous community.”  This was in reference to their Shop Indie Local Holiday promotion, which encourages giving back to nonprofits, neighbors, and other initiatives that we care about. They go on to say, “While every act of generosity counts, when we give where we live the generosity multiplies.” I love that sentiment, “when we give where we live, the generosity multiplies.”  The generosity of our community, expressed in the many ways we help each other by providing expertise, leading each other to resources, or celebrating accomplishments, is what saves us from despair and can help us do more than simply sustain our work and businesses. It can energize us to thrive and be our best selves. The staff and Board of SIBA want to be there for you when you need us and when you want us to share and amplify your victories. We also thank YOU for all you give to us throughout the year – words of support, feedback on how we’re doing, your kindly presence at our in-person and virtual events, and, yes, the hugs! So, please, keep in touch with us and let us know when you need help or want to brag a bit about something great that you helped make happen. Let’s continue to give where we live and raise each other up.

Linda-Marie Barrett
Executive Director
Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance