The American Booksellers Association (ABA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1900 that promotes independent bookstores in the United States. ABA's core members are key participants in their communities' local economy and culture, and to assist them ABA creates relevant programs; provides education, information, business products, and services; and engages in public policy and industry advocacy. The Association actively supports and defends free speech and the First Amendment rights of all Americans, without contradiction of equity and inclusion, through the American Booksellers for Free Expression.[6][7] A volunteer board of 13 booksellers governs the Association. Previously headquartered in White Plains, New York, ABA became a fully remote organization in 2024.[8][9]
Winter Institute and Children's Institute
The American Booksellers Association hosts two conferences each year, known as Institutes. Institutes typically last several days and consist of tours of several independent bookstores in the host city, education sessions, author signings, and networking opportunities.
Winter Institute lasts four days and is typically held in late January of early February. It is the larger of the two events, with more 1,000 people in attendance in 2024.[10][11]
Children's Institute is a three-day long event, typically held in the summer, with education and sessions geared towards booksellers who carry children's books.[10][12]
Independent Bookstore Day
Independent Bookstore Day, celebrated the last Saturday in April, is a celebration of independent bookstores. The American Booksellers Association organizes this annual celebration, creates assets and resources for booksellers to use, and coordinates with publishers to create exclusive items booksellers can sell for this event.[13]
Independent Bookstore Day was introduced in 2015, following the success of a regional California Bookstore Day.[14] Though it started as a collaboration of the regional associations, Independent Bookstore Day was eventually handed over to ABA to organize.
2009 — 1,401 members[21] with 1,651 stores,[22] 40 member bookstores opened,[23] 26 of which were listed by Google Maps as "permanently closed" in December 2018.
2010 — 1,410 members, first increase in almost two decades.[21] 26 member bookstores opened,[24] 14 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps as of December 2018.
2011 — 1,512 members with stores in 1823 locations,[25] 41 member bookstores opened,[26] Used bookstores are now eligible for membership, annual dues of smaller stores are lowered.[27]
2012 — 1,567 members with stores in 1,900 locations,[28] 43 member bookstores opened,[29] 17 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps in December 2018.
2013 — 1,632 members with stores in 1,971 locations,[30] 45 member bookstores opened,[31] 16 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps in December 2018.
2014 — 1,664 members with stores in 2,094 locations,[22] 59 member bookstores opened,[32] 15 of which were no longer members and listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps in December 2018.
2015 — 1,712 members with stores in 2,227 locations,[22] 61 member bookstores opened,[33] 14 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps in December 2018, 3 others are marked "online only" in ABA's list.
2018 — 1,835 members with stores in 2,470 locations,[36] 99 member bookstores opened[37]
2019 — 1,887 members with stores in 2,524 locations,[38] 111 member bookstores opened[39]
2020 — no numbers published
2021 — 1,700 members with stores in 2,100 locations[40]
2022 — 2,178 members with stores in 2,593 locations[41]
The ABA sponsored the Book Sense marketing program and associated BookSense.com web site, intended to preserve a connection between consumers and local independent bookstores. In June 2008, Book Sense was replaced by IndieBound, a new program and website.[42][43]
Association of Booksellers for Children
In November, 2010, the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC), a non-profit trade association supporting the business of independent children's bookselling, agreed to merge with the American Booksellers Association.[44] The former ABC is now a membership group within the ABA.[44]
IndieBound is a marketing movement for independent bookstores[45] launched in 2008 by the American Booksellers Association. With resources designed to encourage readers to shop at independent bookstores, it promotes fiscal localism.
IndieBound is home to the Indie Bookstore Finder, an interactive map that allows visitors to find independent bookstores across the country. IndieBound also hosts curated reading lists like the Indie Next List and Kids' Indie Next Lists as well as Indie Bestseller Lists.
Launch
IndieBound was launched in June 2008 to replace a prior marketing program for independents called Book Sense. IndieBound does not sell books directly, instead it directs customers to nearby independent bookstores who sell online through their own e-commerce sites.
Indie Bestseller Lists
The Indie Bestseller Lists show the top selling titles in independent bookstores nationwide.
Indie Bestseller Lists are published weekly for hardcover fiction, hardcover nonfiction, trade paperback fiction, trade paperback nonfiction, mass market paperback, "children's interest," children's illustrated, and children's fiction series. Category lists, which focus on a particular genre, are published less frequently. The Indie Bestseller Lists are released by IndieBound as XML feeds.
Indie Next Lists
The Indie Next List (published monthly) and the Kids' Indie Next List (published every other month) feature new releases nominated by booksellers across the country.
The ABA collects these bookseller nominations and compiles the Indie Next Lists.
Indies Choice Book Awards
Each year, owners and employees of ABA stores have the opportunity to vote for the Indies Choice Book Awards, which is issued in four categories. The winning authors are honored at a banquet at BookExpo America. BookExpo was "retired" in 2020, in part due to the pandemic.[46] The Indie Choice Book Awards has not been held since.
