An Open Letter from ABA President Michael Tucker
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July 23, 2009 productive event. ABA again offered a strong, full day of TABLE OF CONTENTS: educational programming. For the first time in several years, that • An Open Letter From ABA President Michael programming took place at the convention center, which allowed ABA members to take advantage of the panels and seminars Tucker .............................................................. 1 organized by BEA and others. • A Report on the ABA Board's 2009 Summer As I hope you have read in some important communications from Meeting ............................................................. 2 the Board, ABA is working to produce a new, updated ABACUS • ABA Board Seeks Bookseller Input on Health study on bookstore operations. A major part of those messages -- Care Reform ..................................................... 3 and I strongly reiterate it here -- is that your participation in this • ABA Announces the Avin Mark Domnitz unique benchmarking study is indispensable. ABACUS is a key to productivity and profitability that has no parallel, and we hope you Scholarship ....................................................... 4 will participate to ensure that it continues. Thank you for becoming • Book Lists Come to IndieBound for iPhone ...... 4 part of this important process; you can find more information here 1 • President Addresses Criticism of Health Care . Reform Efforts .................................................. 4 At our recently concluded meeting, the Board made some minor • No E-Fairness in California Budget .................. 5 changes to our "Ends Policies," which, as you may know, represent • BTW News Briefs ............................................. 5 under our form of governance the core statement of what ABA • Securing an Invaluable Resource for New & ought to be focused on. Though the changes are not dramatic, they do reflect a refinement and adjustment that keep ABA in sync with Experienced Booksellers .................................. 6 member needs and the rapidly changing business landscape. The • Helping You in New Ways: Book Lists & updated Ends Policies appear at the end of this letter and on Bookseller DIY .................................................. 6 BookWeb.org 2 . • Author Wins IndieBound Points Contest .......... 7 One of the most discussed issues in the evolving bookselling scene • Reaching the Stratosphere: Titcomb's 40th is the growing importance of digital publishing and e-content, and Anniversary Celebration ................................... 7 ABA is taking concrete steps to help members participate in the digital world -- including the soon-to-be launched sale of e-content • The Indie Travel Literature Bestseller List ........ 8 on IndieCommerce websites, discussions with manufacturers of e-book readers regarding hardware sales in indie bookstores, and MARKETPLACE more. • Classifieds ........................................................ 8 There is currently a vigorous national debate regarding both health • Other Advertising .............................................. 9 care reform and how any reforms should deal with small businesses. At our recent meeting, the Board addressed this issue, and to help inform our ongoing discussion regarding health care reform and how it affects indie booksellers, the Board is asking that An Open Letter From ABA President you participate in the short online survey 3 that you recently received by e-mail. All of the information gathered will be kept Michael Tucker strictly confidential, and no information will be tied to any July 23, 2009 -- Dear Fellow Booksellers: individual store that participates in the survey. Your input is critical, and it will only take a few minutes to participate in the Following the first meeting of the newly elected ABA Board, I survey. Many thanks for your help with this. wanted to take this opportunity to report to you about your association's current priorities and initiatives, especially since our As I'm sure you've noticed, the IndieBoound movement is growing, new management team is now fully in place in Tarrytown. and the increasing number of media stories about the many "Independence Week" promotions and other Shop Local initiatives First and foremost, ABA understands that economic conditions is just one indication that the message that locally owned indie remain difficult, and the Board is fully committed to doing all that businesses help build and maintain strong communities is being we can to help ABA members survive these very tough times. As heard nationwide. IndieBound is creating great new tools -- you recall, we reduced member dues by 50 percent for 2009, and, including the popular IndieBound iPhone app and online book lists we are proud to be able to say, concurrent with that ABA has been -- to help spread the word, and ABA continues to reach out to other able to maintain most of its programming for members. constituencies to build an even stronger network. Most recently, One major initiative is BookExpo America, and, despite some dire ABA CEO Oren Teicher gave a very successful presentation to pre-show predictions, more than 1,600 ABA member booksellers indie music retailers about the potential in greater collaboration attended this year's BEA in New York, and the feedback we have among indie businesses, and these efforts will continue. received is that many found the slightly smaller show a very The fight for E-Fairness has never been more important. Happily, © 2009 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 1 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK July 23, 2009 Rhode Island recently joined New York State in legislating a level • Independent Bookstores will be part of a community of local playing field and ensuring that all retailers obey the law in independent businesses nationwide. collecting sales tax for online sales. We may have additional victories before this legislative season ends in other states, but, no 3 Member bookstores will be vital partners to publishers, matter what happens in the coming weeks, this is in no way the end wholesalers, and vendors. of the fight. ABA will continue to aggressively advocate for • The general bookselling/book publishing community will be e-fairness nationwide, and your help in this cause is critical. aware of matters of concern to independent booksellers. Bookselling This Week will be closely following this issue, and • The wider bookselling and publishing communities will use ABA will be reaching out to you in the future for your help. In the and view the American Booksellers Association as a source of end, the most persuasive voice to lawmakers comes from you. If relevant and timely statistical, research, and marketing you are not already, I hope that you will become engaged in this information. issue and, when the opportunity arises, will let your elected • Members will constitute a vital portion of the U.S. book officials know just where you stand on sales tax equity. market ABA staff are currently planning the association's participation in 4 Member bookstores will be heard on legal and regulatory issues, the upcoming fall trade shows, including our educational offerings. including First Amendment, free expression, and fair trade Both Board members and senior staff will be attending the practices. regionals, which are always stimulating, informative, and fun. We • Member bookstores will be represented within groups of hope to see you there! appropriate allies dealing with issues of literacy, culture, and For all of us booksellers, these have been challenging months. In the development of new readers. times like this, a sense of community and professional collegiality is more important than ever. In addition to its programming and 5 Existing and potential professional independent booksellers will initiatives, ABA is also about connection and support. If you have use programs that facilitate entry into the complex world of questions, concerns, or ideas to share, I very much hope that you independent bookselling. will contact either me or ABA staff. My e-mail address is at the end 4 of this letter, and here's a link to ABA staff. A Report on the ABA Board's 2009 I hope the remainder of the summer brings you both book sales and an opportunity for some rest and relaxation before the holiday Summer Meeting season! July 23, 2009 -- The American Booksellers Association's Board of 6 Sincerely, Directors held its summer meeting in San Jose, California, from Thursday, July 9, through Saturday, July 11. The meeting was Michael Tucker preceded, on Thursday, with an orientation for new Board member [email protected] Betsy Burton of The King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City, 5 President, American Booksellers Association Utah, which was led by ABA President Michael Tucker of Books Books Inc. Inc. in San Francisco; Vice President Becky Anderson of San Francisco, California Anderson's Bookshops in Naperville, Illinois; and ABA senior staff. AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION The full Board then convened with ABA senior staff for meetings ENDS POLICIES from Thursday afternoon through Sunday. Over the course of the July 2009 In order of priority: two and a half days, the Board: I. ABA member bookstores will be professionally operated and • Reviewed ABA's Governance Policy Manual to ensure that it profitable, and income derived from regular member’s fees will be accurately reflects the activities of the association. The Board equal to, or less than those of comparable trade associations. asked staff to undertake a further review of the manual and to