“It was an immeasurably beneficial meeting and I am actively putting her recommendations into practice. It would absolutely be beneficial to other stores. I’d love to be able to have another session with her, honestly. Thank you, and SIBA, for allowing me the opportunity to access this and strengthen my bookstore because of it.” -SIBA Bookstore owner and Bookstore Doctor betatester.

The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) stands against Racism. SIBA is committed to amplifying and supporting BIPOC voices in our membership and industry, and to offering DEI educational programming to members, SIBA staff, and Board. 

As part of our anti-racism initiatives, SIBA is offering a 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge. Participants will receive daily emails that contain prompts for reflection, discussion, and action. Although SIBA has modified when appropriate for a bookseller audience, the majority of prompts and resources come directly from the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge created by Food Solutions New England (FSNE), a regional collaborative network organized to support the emergence and continued viability of a New England food system that is a resilient driver of healthy food for all, racial equity, sustainable farming and fishing, and thriving communities. We are so grateful for their extraordinary work creating this program and making it available to other organizations.

It means so much to us as independent publishers to have the time and opportunity to stand before independent booksellers and hear what is and is not working for them, to talk with them about the books we’re publishing, the authors we are excited about, and the reasons for which we do what we do. Independent booksellers are our first and our best friends in the business, yet there’s so much room for us to do more together and to grow together. The Indie Social, pioneered by SIBA and now, in a historic first, co-hosted by SIBA & GLIBA, is the perfect forum for those conversations to happen."
--Michael Reynolds, Europa

The  event programs includes:

• An office tour of Sarabande Books, a nonprofit literary press founded in Louisville, Kentucky that champions poetry, fiction, and essays
• A presentation at  Carmichael's Bookstore's Frankfort Avenue location, where eight independent presses present on their mission, and upcoming titles
• A group discussion and Q & A from booksellers.

The featured publishers are Beacon Press, Europa Editions, New Directions, Other Press, Sarabande Books, Soho Press, Two Dollar Radio and Verso Books. After the presentation attendees will head on over to Vernon Lanes for dinner and bowling! 

Registration is $25/bookseller with a limit of 25 booksellers from SIBA.

We are so excited to welcome GLIBA, SIBA, and our fellow indie presses to Louisville, home of Sarabande, Carmichael’s Bookstore, and the evergreen debate: So is this the North? Or the South? While you’ll get split answers even from the Sarabande team, there’s one thing we agree on: Louisville is the perfect literary gathering spot to welcome all of you, our vibrant and vital shepherds of books, from all over our surrounding Northern and Southern states this spring. We can’t wait to open our doors to you! - Joanna Englert, Sarabande Books

Recommended Hotel Accommodations:

Guests can  use the link here to reserve a room or call (888) 728-3025 and reference group code “91M” to make reservations. Please be aware that reservations must be made before May 6th. 

The New Voices New Rooms Conference returns to Arlington Virginia for 2024!

Registration is now open for the New Voices New Rooms 2024 Conference, August 8-11 in Arlington, Virginia.

Attendee Registration (via NVNR)

Exhibitor Sales & Reservations (via NAIBA)

The conference will again be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, a four-star hotel located just one mile from Reagan National Airport (DCA), two miles to Washington, DC, and directly connected to the Crystal City Metro station.

NVNR 2024, which draws hundreds of booksellers from eighteen states and the District of Columbia, is known for its innovative programming and its high quality bookseller to publisher networking opportunities. NVNR is produced in partnership between the New Atlantic Booksellers Association (NAIBA) and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA).

“By pooling resources and talent, and the voices of two vibrant and engaged bookseller communities, we’re creating a special and unique experience.” - Linda-Marie Barrett, Executive Director of SIBA.

NVNR 2024 will include many of the features that made the previous year's conference so successful, including the option to for both single-day and full event passes. Event passes include all on site meals, which prioritize a vegetarian menu and were a highlight of last year's conference.

New for 2024 NVNR will have

• An expanded exhibit floor with more booth space for vendors.
• Early bird pricing for booksellers who register in April
• More Author events
• More region-specific programming
• An expanded focus on genre books
• More live transcription at events

“The NVNR experience is invaluable because it is designed not only for, but by those who attend. NVNR is tailored to the specific needs and requests of our booksellers, publishers and partners."- Eileen Dengler, Executive Director of NAIBA

Hotel Reservations:

The Crystal Gateway Marriott: Conference Reservations
Room Rate is $154/night. NVNR Attendees receive a $25/day self-parking rate.

Conference Information:

Travel Grant Applications for Booksellers: Apply here (Deadline is May 17)

Schedule | Bookseller Info | Exhibitor Info