SIBA promotes six new books every month to readers, the customers of our member stores, in our Southern Bookseller Review(SBR) Bookshelf promotion. These titles appear at the top of our weekly SBR newsletter. We also feature them on our SBR Facebook page, with buy links promoted to our 15,000 Facebook friends, and on our Instagram and Twitter accounts. A different member store is featured with the titles on every new shelf.
For publishers looking to promote their new titles out to readers across the South, the SBR Bookshelf is our greatest value because of high visibility and engagement across multiple platforms. Contact us for more information or to get your titles on “The Shelf” in coming months.
The schedule for the New Voices New Rooms August event features three days of education, networking, and rep picks bookended each morning and evening by an Author Breakfast and Author Dinner.
The August Schedule will be posted the first week of July. But in the meantime here is a sneak peak at the authors you will be able to meet:
Monday, 8/8
Breakfast at 9:00 AM: We are Here: Centering our Black and Brown Community
with Tami Charles, Linda Sarsour, and Maria Hinojosa
Dinner at 7:00 PM Look Who's In Town
with A.M. Homes, Ross Gay, Matthew Quick, and Kristina McMorris
Tuesday 8/9
Breakfast at 9:00 AM: Big Ideas for Little Readers: Storytelling Through Picture Books
with Desiree Cooper, Karina Nicole Gonzalez, Constance Lombardo, Helen Docherty and Kate DiCamillo
Dinner at 7:00 PM YA Suspense, Magic & Horror Dinner
with Justina Ireland, Tracy Deonn, Tiffany D. Jackson, and Lamar Giles
Wednesday 8/10
Breakfast at 9:00 AM: Alternate Futures: Four Scenarios
with Silas House, Lucinda Roy, Ewan Morrison, and Ruthanna Emrys
Dinner at 7:00 PM Memoir
with Carell Augustus, Craig Morgan and Rabia Chaudry
By now, you've probably all heard about the rise in books being banned and challenged. What's happening in the state of Virginia is particularly alarming, especially for independent bookstore owners like myself.
My name is Emily and I own The Violet Fox Bookshop in Virginia Beach. I've been working on ways to fight the book bans, especially those with the potential to affect what privately owned, independent bookstores have the right to sell. Many other organizations, indie bookstores, authors, and citizens have also been speaking out and taking action, but our fight is far from over.
In case you're not already aware, a Virginia judge is currently reviewing two books (Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe and A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas). The judge ordered the authors and publishers of the books to present more evidence to evaluate whether the books are appropriate to be sold or possessed in Virginia, by either minors or adults. The case was initiated under a state law by two Republican politicians, Tim Anderson (a Virginia state delegate) and now former congressional candidate Tommy Altman, that allows any Virginia citizen to file a complaint against any book sold in the state. The petitioners have also asked for a preliminary injunction against booksellers to prevent sales of the books. If the judge does issue a temporary restraining order, Virginia booksellers won’t be able to obtain copies of the books from the publishers and authors. And if the court finds the books to be obscene (or obscene for minors), they’ll also be at risk of criminal prosecution if they decide to sell them.
The repercussions of this are extensive. Owning, lending, displaying, or even transporting these books would be a crime if this court case proceeds. And Tim Anderson, the Virginia state delegate, has stated that there are many other books that they could and may pursue the same legal action against in the future. Book banning has already succeeded in at least 23 different school districts throughout Virginia, including Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Chesapeake City Public Schools, Suffolk City Public Schools, Loudoun County Schools, and many others.
I believe we need to speak out to ensure that this doesn't happen and to make it clear to our representatives and our community that this is not okay. It doesn't matter what titles or authors are on the chopping block - banning books in any way, shape, or form is censorship, plain and simple. Banning one or two books opens the door for many, many others to be banned as well. And this issue is not just about the state of Virginia either, because if this happens, it sets the precedent for other states to do the same thing.
If you agree, I'd like to ask you to please take action.
Share this information with your community whether that's in person or online.
Sign the petition calling for a stop to book bans in the state of Virginia here: https://chng.it/Sx4b267nKz
And contact your representatives and ask them to take a stance!
It's important to note that The National Coalition Against Censorship, along with American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Virginia, American Booksellers for Free Expression, American Library Association, Association of American Publishers, Authors Guild, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Freedom to Read Foundation, National Council of Teachers of English, PEN America, Virginia Association of School Librarians, and Virginia Library Association, released a statement on June 1st, 2022 condemning this effort to ban books in the state of Virginia. You can read the full statement here: https://ncac.org/news/virginia-legal-threat-freedom-to-read. And On June 22, 2022, the ACLU of Virginia and their clients —local bookstores Prince Books, Read Books, One More Page Books, and bbgb tales for kids, as well as American Booksellers for Free Expression, Association of American Publishers, Inc., Authors Guild, Inc., American Library Association, Virginia Library Association, and Freedom to Read Foundation—filed motions seeking to dismiss obscenity proceedings against two books, highlighting the unconstitutional nature of the proceedings and noting that the books are not obscene as a matter of law. Read more here:
We are a community of diverse individuals and our bookshelves should reflect that. Please stand with me and the rest of the readers in Virginia to resist book bans.
Apply for a Travel Grant to Join SIBA at our New Orleans Gathering in September. Binc, Ingram, and a growing list of publisher partners are sponsoring bookseller grants to attend our gathering in New Orleans on Sept 7-8. To qualify for a grant, you must currently work for a SIBA member bookstore in good standing. The grants are good for up to $300 towards hotel and transportation expenses (mileage, bus fare, plane fare, etc.) Grantees will be reimbursed for expenses upon receipt of documentation. Please only apply if you are able to travel to the event, and if applicable, have permission from your store owner or manager to attend the event. Recipients will not be eligible to receive another Travel Grant for three years.Application deadline is Friday, July 29, 2022. Send a letter of interest in a bookseller grant to lindamarie@sibaweb.com.
It may seem self evident but it bears repeating: the responsibility for addressing workplace equity and inclusion falls first and foremost upon the employer. A hiring policy to increase the diversity of staff is an obvious visible step in transforming a workplace, but it must be accompanied by a commitment to change workplace culture. It is not uncommon for organizations to wait for complaints or issues raised by their BIPOC employees before attempting to address (or indeed even noticing) racism in the workplace -- placing the burden of change on the people already being harmed. The burden and responsibility is not on BIPOC employees. It is first and always on the employer.
"Inclusive leaders provide BIPOC employees with the space for them to be true to who they are and cultivate an environment where their ideas and perspectives are respected and valued."
The toolkits contain resources and strategies for things like:
Avoiding BIPOC Burnout and Overburdening.
How to onboard BIPOC Employees.
How to mitigate the impact of Code Switching.
See the full toolkit here: Supporting BIPOC Staff from Toolkits for Equity in Scholarly Publishing Project Volunteers
In order to demonstrate the collective clout of independent bookstores and booksellers in the South SIBA has developed the Circle of Sites Banner-for-Dues program for its members. Core Bookstore members can receive a FREE membership (a $125 value) if they allow SIBA to place a single banner ad on the homepage of their website. As long as the banner is running, your store is considered a current SIBA member.
The banner always promotes a book in print and available at industry standard terms, and always clicks through to the hosting store's own e-commerce for purchase, so no sales or site traffic is ever lost. Banners change every week and can be in horizontal, vertical, or box formats -- whatever integrates most seamlessly with the store's own website design.
The program is popular with publishers, who appreciate the chance to have their title promoted on store websites across the South.
To take part in the banner-for-dues program, stores must have a compatible e-commerce option available on their store website. Both IndieCommerce and Bookshop.org e-commerce platforms are eligible. In fact, since the launch of Bookshop, participation in Circle of Sites has grown and now more than half of the 60+ participating stores use Bookshop.
There are about 115 bookstores listed on what has become to be affectionately called "Bookstore Row" at New Voices New Rooms. But that represents only about two-thirds of the stores represented at NVNR programming. If you don't see your store listed, register now for NVNR August or contact Nicki about adding your store to the list.
Bookstore Row acts as both a store directory and a resource for NVNR attendees and publishers. As a public directory it is a wonderful showcase of SIBA and NAIBA bookstores. But the detailed view available to NVNR attendees provides much more information, such as a place to provide press kits for publishers to download, the option to list contact information for staff who have important roles in the shop like "Children's Buyer" or "Event Manager."
The detailed version of Bookstore Row is available at the NVNR Attendee Hub and currently shows the list of stores that attended NVNR May. On July 1st, the list will update to show stores that will be attending NVNR August, so if you haven't done so, now is the time to register!
Read This Next! July is now available, featuring the perfect collection of independent reads for "Independents Month!"
Southern indie booksellers have selected five books, their hand-sell favorites for the upcoming month, as July 2022 Read This Next titles. The chosen books all release in July and represent the full range of reader interests of the southern bookselling community. Each of the selected titles has the enthusiastic support of southern booksellers, making Read This Next! the ultimate "You've got to read this!" reading list for avid readers looking to discover great new books.
Here are what booksellers are saying about this month's list:
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
This was the perfect sweet, feel good and easy summer read! I fell in love with Hannah and Jack. Watching Hannah grow as a person was real life. It shows real is so much better than fake. --Mandy Harris from Angel Wings Bookstore in Stem, NC
The Kingdoms of Savannah by George Dawes Green I loved The Kingdoms of Savannah. It read like a dark, gothic Conroy novel, concerned as much with the grit of the city as the moonlight and magnolias. The Musgrove family are some rare birds. --Ashley Warlick from M Judson, Booksellers in Greenville, SC
Berry Song by Michaela Goade This beautiful ode to family and land and the indelible connection between them is a delight to read. Rhythmic text and soft, bright illustrations bring the foraging Tlingit family's love for each other and the land they inhabit to vivid life. --Hannah DeCamp from Avid Bookshop in Athens, GA
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers Once again, Becky Chambers has crafted a book that is just as philosophically resonant and wonderfully generous as its predecessor. Dex and Mosscap have become two of my favorite characters in all literature and I will love them till my dying day. --Caleb Masters from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
The Crane Wife by CJ Hauser This book! I loved it! Hauser made me feel less alone in the world, with her wit and frank yet conversational tone, she lets the reader know that life is messy and doesn't always go as planned, and not only is that ok, it can be wonderful. --Jessica Osborne from E. Shaver, bookseller in Savannah, GA
Current Read This Next! books and what SIBA booksellers have to say about them can always be found at The Southern Bookseller Review
SIBA is holding its next New Booksellers Orientation on July 20th at 1 pm. Booksellers who have recently become members (or any member who would like a refresher on all our association has to offer), are invited to a friendly session of presentation and Q & A. SIBA staff will provide an overview of SIBA programming and member benefits. Nathan Halter, Programming Manager for Batch for Books US, will join us for the second half of the hour to discuss Batch for Books, a company providing bookstores with an efficient way to manage payments to US vendors. REGISTER HERE
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Updated: Thursday, June 23, 2022
Don't Risk Silence. Speak Up.
It is one thing to make a statement or adopt a policy. To pledge a commitment to anti-racist practices. To set a goal of creating an inclusive, equitable space in your store.
It is another thing altogether to respond to the many unthinking or casually bigoted things said by people you know -- your customers, your friends, even your family. How do you speak up to the people who are close to you? Who you like or even love?
"And you stand there, in silence, thinking, "What can I say in response to that?" Or you laugh along, uncomfortably. Or, frustrated or angry, you walk away without saying anything, thinking later, "I should have said something." --SPLC
The Southern Povery Law Center has gathered hundreds of stories of everyday bigotry and created a guide for people on how to speak up in similar situations:
What Can I Do Among Family? is one topic. What Can I Do About Workplace Humor? About Sour Social Events? About a Teacher's Bias? About Retail Racism?
Each topic has some examples and strategies to try when you are faced with someone's casual racism or -- just as importantly -- when someone calls you on your own.
These stories all echo each other, notes the SPLC, don't risk silence.n
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Updated: Thursday, June 23, 2022
More fun facts from the 2022 SIBA Census! One section of the cencus dealt entirely with store operations: staffing, hours open, point-of-sales systems and ecommerce systems, etc.
Store Hours The most common hours of operation for SIBA Bookstores (over 50%) is from 10 AM to 5 or 6 PM Monday through Saturday, and the same again or slightly shorter on Sunday. But 11 stores are closed on Sundays, whereas 16 are closed on Mondays. The earliest any of the responding stores opened was 7 AM, and the latest any stayed open was 10 PM.
Staffing
Staff numbers ranged from 30 at the maximum down to just 1 (including the store proprietor). In fact 10 stores had just one employee!
Most SIBA stores though, about 40%, have 2-5 employees.
30% had more than 5 staff, and 14% had more than 10. Three stores listed more than 20 employees.
Point of Sales
Although one store proudly noted they still used a 1918 Cash Register at checkout, by and large most bookstores have invested in a point of sales system that tracks their inventory. Only three stores said they operated without a point of sales system at all.
The three most popular POS systems are Anthology (13%), Basil (21%), and Square (17%). But there were fully 18 different POS systems listed by census participants.
E Commerce
The vast majority of SIBA stores do have some kind of e-commerce system on their website to handle online sales. Many have multiple systems to handle multiple product categories -- one system for new books, one or more listing service for used books, another system for audiobooks, and another again for ebooks. 23 different ecommerce systems were listed in the census altogether, and only 9 stores said they had no ecommerce ability at all.
Of the ecommerce systems designed to sell new books, Bookshop.org and Indiecommerce/Lite are by far the most popular. 34% of responding stores have an IndieCommerce site, whereas over half, 52%, maintain a Bookshop.org site. A dozen responding stores maintain both.
There is no question that Bookshop.org's launch just prior to the pandemic and subsquent lockdown initiated a sea-change in SIBA bookstores' adoption of ecommerce and online sales. Prior to 2020, only about 50% of SIBA bookstores had a functional ecommerce option on their websites. Now that figure is closer to 90%
After Bookshop and IndieCommerce, the most common ecommerce options listed were Square, Shopify, Squarespace, Chrislands, and WooCommerce
The most common systems for Used and Rare Books were ABEBooks,
Biblio,
and Alibris
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Updated: Thursday, June 23, 2022
Nominations have opened for the 2022 VIndies Awards, celebrating the best of independent bookstore video.
Launched in 2021 by New Voices New Rooms, the collaborative partnership for virtual and hybrid programming created by the New Atlantic Booksellers Association (NAIBA) and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA), The VIndies recognize the spirit and creativity of independent bookstore videos.
Nominated videos will be judged by a panel drawn from the bookselling community and winners will be announced at a special VIndies Award Ceremony on October 13, 2022.
To be eligible, videos must have been created by a SIBA or NAIBA member bookstore and must have been publicly exhibited – appearing on the store’s website, in their social media channels, or in their store newsletters — between October 2021 and October 2022. Nominations may come from independent bookstores or any fan of independent bookstores.
For its second season, The VIndies have expanded the categories videos may be submitted for. Added for 2022 are:
"Around the Store" for videos showcasing a bookstore’s shop floor and storefront
"Community Work" for videos documenting bookstores’ engagement with their community
"Staff Picks & Book Recommendations" for store videos focused on specific book recommendations
"Trending Sounds," acknowledging the growing popularity and unique character of TikTok videos which use viral “trending” sounds and music
The VIndies proved to be one of the highlights of NVNR's 2021 event, featuring screening of finalists and on-screen appearances of store staff and videographers. See the 2021 finalists and winners
“Where Love is Shared as Much as Stories!” is The Book Worm Bookstore motto. Something everyone at the bookstore takes very serious. Last week when I was scrolling through my social media feed, I noticed that Autism Career Pathways offered a Sensory Inclusive Certification. Right away I knew that it was something I needed to make happen.
Inclusivity is very important to me as a person and business owner. The team and I pride ourselves in carrying a diverse set of books and making everyone feel welcomed. To me, this certification is just a necessary expansion on that. Immediately, I reached out to Maisie at Autism Career Pathways to see what the next steps would be.
The process is simple and rewarding. Block out an hour to go through the application, resources and videos. While I am familiar with autism and sensory concerns, there was so much eye opening information to go through. It makes you look at some every day things differently. Even now that the process is completed I find myself thinking of one particular video that we reviewed when I make certain decisions. To have insight into what someone with sensory concerns experiences during a simple walk through the mall was enough to have me make as many accommodations as possible.
To me the accommodations are not only simple, but quite frankly things business owners should try to do anyway. From providing tools like something to write on to turning the volume down on a door chime when asked. For someone who is nonverbal pen and paper may be the only way to communicate. Even temporarily removing a door chime could comfort someone who just endured countless uncomfortable noises just to make a trip to your store.
Autism Career Pathways will provide you with a checklist of items and schedule a zoom call to discuss possible changes or additions you and your business could make. The zoom call should take place in your bookstore so you can walk around and discuss some of the options.
Maisie was not only friendly, but open about some of her own personal experiences having being diagnosed with Autism herself. What was disheartening to hear was that not everyone is open to becoming Sensory Inclusive Certified. When Maisie mentioned that adults were requesting an autism focused book club, my immediate response was - “What do you need me to do?” Needless to say June 22, 2022 will be The Book Worm’s first Austim-led Book Club meeting.
I would encourage all bookstore owners to contact Autism Career Pathways to at a minimum review the resources to learn more about autism neurodivergent inclusivity. While I hope that all bookstores would take the journey to becoming Sensory Inclusive Certified, I would be happy just to see many review the resources. Bookstores are not only a big part of the communities they are in, but a place where memories are made. Just think how much of a difference you could make by making sure everyone has an opportunity to read a good book.
We’re excited to host the exclusive virtual launchon 5/24 for James Lee Burke’s new novel, Every Cloak Rolled in Blood. James Lee Burke is a New York Times bestselling author, two-time winner of the Edgar Award, and the recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts in Fiction. He’ll be in conversation with Reader Meet Writer host and SIBA’s 2022 Southern Book Prize winner for fiction, Wiley Cash. We’d love your store to join us as a co-host!
We want this to be a success for you, and to help you sell books! When folks register to attend, they are asked to specify their indie bookstore of choice. After our event, stores can request lists of attendees linked to their store, in order to follow up with purchases. The publicist for Mr. Burke also has signed bookplates if you’d like to offer that to your customers. One store is live-streaming the event to her customers, in-store, on a big screen. Want to do that, too? Let us know so we can let you in early to make sure you’re good to go at showtime.
More info to market this event can be found at the Bookseller tab for Reader Meet Writer, (which requires you log in). I’d love to hear if you’re part of the circle of stores co-hosting, and to answer any questions! Contact lindamarie@sibaweb.com for more information.
We can’t wait to see you in historic Winston-Salem, NC as we “Come Together” for SIBA’s first in-person gathering in more than 2.5 years. It will be a fabulous day of networking, bookstore tours and author events.
The bookstore tour of Winston-Salem & Greensboro will include four bookstores and a tour of the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro. The museum's exhibits commemorate the 1960 lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro and place them in the context of the Civil Rights Movement. Please, no photos inside the museum.
The tour will have us visit Wonderland Bookshop in Greensboro (@wonderlandbookshopnc on Instagram & Facebook), Scuppernong Books in Greensboro (@scuppernongbooks on Instagram & Facebook, @ScupBooks on Twitter), Boomerang Bookshop (@nomadchapter on Facebook, @boomerangbookshop on Instagram, and @boomerangbkshop on Twitter) is a mobile store and will meet us at Scuppernong, and Bookmarks in Winston-Salem (@bookmarksnc on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). Our local bookstores are excited to welcome you and show off their stores.
It's always groovy when the SIBA community gets to meet. We’ll have an event photographer taking snaps, but we also want to see and share your social media posts before, during and after the event.
As we get ready to attend “Come Together,” show us what you’re packing and the books you’re bringing. Tag SIBA at @SouthernIndependentBooksellersAlliance on Facebook, @siba_books on Instagram and @SIndies on Twitter. Event hashtags are #ComeTogetherSIBA & #SIBAbooksellers.
Our author event, Noir at the Bar will be hosted by screenwriter, novelist, and filmmaker Eryk Pruitt (on Twitter @reverenderyk) will feature eight crime, thriller, and mystery authors as well as literary-themed cocktails and a fun, raucous environment for readers and writers alike. You’ll have a chance to meet:
Benjamin Gilmer, The Other Dr. Gilmer: Two Men, a Murder, and an Unlikely Fight for Justice (Ballantine Books, March 2022) @theotherdrgilmer on Instagram
Alison B. Hart, The Work Wife (Graydon House, July 2022) @alisonbhart on Twitter, @alisonhart800 on Instagram
Misha Lazzara, Manmade Constellations (Blackstone Publishing, August 2022) @mishalazzara on Instagram
Megan Miranda, The Last to Vanish (Scribner/Marysue Rucci Books, July 2022) @MeganLMiranda on Twitter and Instagram, @AuthorMeganMiranda on Facebook
Valerie Nieman, In the Lonely Backwater (Regal House/Fitzroy Books, May 2022) @valerienieman1 on Facebook, @valnieman on Instagram and Twitter
Deb Rogers, Florida Woman (Hanover Square Press, July 2022) @debontherocks on Twitter
B. A. Shapiro, Metropolis (Workman Publishing/Algonquin Books, May 2022) @BAShapirobooks on Facebook, @ba_shapiro on Instagram and Twitter
Emily Thiede, This Vicious Grace (St. Martin's Publishing Group/Wednesday Books, June 2022) @ektwrites on Instagram and Twitter.
After the event, keep the energy going by sharing what you learned (maybe a new display idea, event plan or other tips and tricks), share a review of one of the participating author’s books (we’re always looking for what you loved for the Southern Bookseller Review!) or show off your event t-shirt when it comes (get yours here, it benefits Binc).
Bookstores already know that they must place their 2022 Holiday Catalog orders by May 15th. But if your store is planning on using the direct mail option to send catalogs to your customers or to targeted zip codes and postal routes in your area, you have to start your order by May 1. That is only 2 weeks away.
Stores that used direct and saturation mailing last year can use your 2021 orders as a starting point for placing your orders for 2022. Start the process now. People from RAMP will walk you through selecting your targeted areas and determining how many catalogs you will need to cover everyone you want to reach. Click below to watch the handy slideshow:
Deadline for nominations is end of day, May 31.
It’s that time again to pick the bookseller leaders that will move SIBA forward. SIBA’s Board Members are a hard‐working bunch. Serving on the SIBA Board is both rewarding and enlightening. Consider someone today for a board position. Self‐nominations are encouraged. Anyone can nominate. Candidates must be from a SIBA core member in good standing. SIBA functions under The Carver Method. Board terms are three years.
Board members do not get paid for service but expenses incurred are generally covered by the organization. The position requires attendance at board meetings plus a Carver training session. Adequate preparation for all meetings is also required. The board seeks persons from the core membership taking into account the following: relevant Policy Governance skills (including the ability to work within group decisions, to use conceptual categories of Ends and Means, to judge performance only against previously stated expectations), relevant industry skills and knowledge, geography, and store size.
SIBA’s current Board members will assess interest among potential candidates. A slate will be determined from the potential candidates by the Board of Directors and presented for vote by the membership before the fall annual meeting.
Imagine sitting down for an open conversation with someone whom you just don't understand or perhaps don't agree with.
The Human Library is a remarkable, and frankly beautiful organization dedicated to bettering our understanding of diversity in order to help create more inclusive and cohesive communities across cultural, religious, social and ethnic differences.
It's "books" are human beings willing and eager to talk to others about their experience. Every "human book" from this library represents a group that faces prejudice or stigmas because of their lifestyle, ethnicity, beliefs, or disability.
At a Human Library event, people can "borrow" these people who are open books for a one on one conversation where it is safe to ask hard questions, as long as those questions are asked with respect.
The idea is to challenge our inherent stereotypes by putting a human face on them and listening to their real, lived experiences, including things like homelessness, drug addiction, being an alcoholic. But also topics like being transgender, or embracing body modification, or being Muslim or atheist.
The Human Library was founded 20 years ago by Ronni Abergel, a Danish human rights activist interested in creative nonviolent activism. He says he based his idea on his own town library -- "the one truly inclusive institution" in his town.
From its inception the idea has grown to hold events in more than 8o countries, and has more the 1000 human books in circulation in more than 50 languages. With the onset of the pandemic, the Human Library has also adapted to using virtual session.
RSS
By now, you've probably all heard about the rise in books being banned and challenged. What's happening in the state of Virginia is particularly alarming, especially for independent bookstore owners like myself. 
Supporting Your BIPOC Staff
Nominations have opened for the 2022 VIndies Awards, celebrating the best of independent bookstore video.
We want this to be a success for you, and to help you sell books! When folks register to attend, they are asked to specify their indie bookstore of choice. After our event, stores can request lists of attendees linked to their store, in order to follow up with purchases. The publicist for Mr. Burke also has signed bookplates if you’d like to offer that to your customers. One store is live-streaming the event to her customers, in-store, on a big screen. Want to do that, too? Let us know so we can let you in early to make sure you’re good to go at showtime.
We can’t wait to see you in historic Winston-Salem, NC as we “Come Together” for SIBA’s first in-person gathering in more than 2.5 years. It will be a fabulous day of networking, bookstore tours and author events.
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