American Booksellers Association
Encyclopedia
association founded in 1900 that promotes independent bookstore
Independent bookstore
An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned.-Literary and countercultural history:Author events at independent bookstores sometimes take the role of literary salons. The bookstores themselves, "have historically supported and cultivated the work of independent...
s in the United States and Canada. The ABA and its members support freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
, literacy, and programs that encourage reading. Many independent booksellers are concerned about the potential negative impact on free speech by giant megachains and nationwide web retailers. The concern is that publishers cater to these retailers and that control over what books, and hence what ideas, are available will ultimately rest in the hands of these few companies.
In recent years, the membership of the ABA has been decreasing after a peak in 1991, when there were 5,200 members. In 1995 there were 5,500 members with 7,000 stores; in 1998, 3,300 members; in 2000, 3,100 members with 4,000 stores; in 2001, 2,794 members; in 2002 2,191 members; and in 2005 1,702 members. In 2010 the number of members increased for the first time in almost two decades, with membership at 1,410, up 9 from the previous year.
In recent years, the ABA has released figures showing the number of new member bookstores to counter media reports of bookstore closings, with 97 opening in 2006; 115 stores opened in 2007.
The ABA sponsored the Book Sense
Book Sense
Book Sense was a marketing and branding program of the American Booksellers Association, in which many independent bookstores across North America participated in order to better compete with the large book chains. Bookstores participating in the Book Sense program were expected to display the Book...
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. After a period of beta testing, a social network
Social network
A social network is a social structure made up of individuals called "nodes", which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social...
-style community feature was launched on the website on September 11, 2008.