(updated April 2023)

The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance values the dignity, diversity, and inclusion of everyone with whom we interact. Our safety and anti-harassment policies are critical to ensuring that this core value guides what we do and say. All participants at SIBA events are required to adhere to SIBA's code of conduct, as described below. This includes booksellers, SIBA staff, exhibitors, speakers/presenters, guests, sponsors, volunteers, and all affiliated attendees.  SIBA is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience and environment for everyone, regardless of race; sex; national origin; religion (or lack thereof); age; ethnicity; color; gender; gender identity and/or expression; neurodiversity; sexual orientation; marital, civil union, or domestic partnership status; past or present military service; physical, mental, or sensory disability; national, social, or ethnic origin; pregnancy; family or parental status and/or genetic information (including family medical history); physical appearance; or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or other unwelcome or unlawful behavior on the basis of any of these characteristics.

Harassment includes but is not limited to:

• Offensive verbal comments related to, or that reinforce social structures of dominations related to, any protected category above

• Inappropriate, unwanted, and/or unsolicited physical contact

• Sexual propositions or posted/texted sexual images

• Unwelcome sexual attention or comments

• Obscene jokes, remarks, or gestures

• Any other words or conduct of a sexual nature that makes the recipient or observer uncomfortable

• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following

• Sustained disruption of talks or other events

• Unwelcome photography or recording

• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

SIBA also takes every precaution to make our virtual events safer and harassment-free for participants by requiring registration, monitoring chats, and/or using best safety practices for the virtual platforms we utilize.

SIBA expects all event participants to follow established rules throughout both official event offerings and related social gatherings, including this policy. SIBA takes any violation of this policy very seriously. Accordingly, participants who violate this policy may, in the judgment and discretion of SIBA, be asked to stop; may be expelled from a SIBA event, without refund if applicable; may be prevented from attending future SIBA events; and may have SIBA membership and future participation privileges revoked.

If you are being harassed, observe someone else being harassed, or have concerns about potential violations of this policy, please notify SIBA event organizers immediately. In the case of an emergency, call 911 or hotel security. In all other cases, email siba@sibaweb.com and SIBA will respond. SIBA will take all appropriate action in response to protect anyone affected by violations of this policy.

All reports are confidential except to the extent that the SIBA staff person taking a report may need to involve other event staff or SIBA management to ensure that a report is properly managed and that the appropriate action is taken to protect the individual reporting a violation, or others. All efforts will be made to keep reports confidential though and the number of people involved in following up on any reports will be limited as much as possible. SIBA will only involve law enforcement or security at a victim’s request.

SIBA recognizes that although some behavior may not be intended as harassment and may not be considered harassment by some, comments or actions that subtly and often unconsciously and unintentionally express prejudice against a marginalized group or a bias towards groups with the most power, also known as “microaggressions,” can still have a negative impact and may prevent an event from feeling inclusive to all.

SIBA will treat these incidents as educational opportunities rather than violations, following up with the person who committed the microaggression to discuss the impact of their actions with the goal of ensuring that everyone is supporting an inclusive environment. SIBA believes these can be opportunities to help our community grow together toward the goal of equity and inclusivity. Only repeated microaggressions after discussion and education may be considered harassment. Examples of microaggressions may include statements such as the following: (This list, provided by diverse individuals in the ABA community, is in no way exhaustive but offers specific examples to illustrate the point.)

• “You speak English so well” to a person of color

• “I know a lot about Asian/Latinx/Indigenous/Black culture and I didn’t find that racist at all” spoken by a white person

• “You” or “This is so exotic” spoken to a person of color

• “Where are you from? Where are you really from? Originally.” to a person of color

• “Are you sure you’re Chinese? You look Korean.”

• “Hola, chica” to a Latinx woman by a non-Latinx person

• “Your hair is so cool. Can I touch it?” to a Black person spoken by a non-Black person

• “You’re so inspiring” spoken to a Disabled Person

• “I never would have known you used to be a girl” spoken to a transgender person.

• “LGB...whatever.”

• Speaking loudly to someone merely because they speak with an accent

• Using common idioms like “off the reservation” or “sold down the river” that reference violence and racism 

Code of conduct violations as well as microaggressions may be reported to anyone on the SIBA team directly, or via email to siba@sibaweb.com. SIBA will respond to you as soon as possible.

The SIBA team will enforce this code of conduct in all areas of SIBA’s work, including at in-person events, virtual events, and SIBA workspaces. We appreciate your assistance in making SIBA welcoming to all and supporting SIBA’s commitment to antiracism, equity, representation, and access.