The American Booksellers Association (ABA) is a non-profit

trade association A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry. An industry trade association partic ...

founded in 1900 that promotes

independent bookstore An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned. Usually, independent stores consist of only a single actual store (although there are some multi-store independents). They may be structured as sole proprietorships, c ...

s 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 Foundation for Free Expression. A volunteer board of 10 booksellers governs the Association. ABA is headquartered in

White Plains, New York (Always Faithful) , image_seal = WhitePlainsSeal.png , seal_link = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = State , subdivision_name1 = , subdivis ...

Membership

The ABA's membership has varied over time: *1991 — 5,200 members *1995 — 5,500 members with 7000 stores *1998 — 3,300 members *2000 — 3,100 members with 4000 stores *2001 — 2,794 members *2002 — 2,191 members *2005 — 1,702 members, "more than 90" member bookstores openedA Plethora of New Independent Bookstores Open in 2006
(Press Release). ''American Booksellers Association''. January 8, 2007. *2006 — 97 member bookstores opened *2007 — 115 member bookstores opened *2008 — ABA published no data *2009 — 1,401 membersItalie, Hillel (May 21, 2010).

. ''Huffington Post''. with 1,651 stores,Italie, Hillel (May 26, 2015). "https://web.archive.org/web/20150925223758/https://bigstory.ap.org/article/43d578a30dc646169e531622981594ef/independent-booksellers-continue-add-new-stores Independent booksellers continue to add new stores]". ''Associated Press''. Archived fro
the original
on September 25, 2015. 40 member bookstores opened, 26 of which were listed by Google Maps as "permanently closed" in December 2018. *2010 — 1,410 members, first increase in almost two decades. 26 member bookstores opened, 14 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps as of December 2018. *2011 — 1,512 members with stores in 1823 locations, 41 member bookstores opened, Used bookstores are now eligible for membership, annual dues of smaller stores are lowered. *2012 — 1,567 members with stores in 1,900 locations, 43 member bookstores opened, 17 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps in December 2018. *2013 — 1,632 members with stores in 1,971 locations, 45 member bookstores opened, 16 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on

Google Maps Google Maps is a web mapping platform and consumer application offered by Google. It offers satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panoramic views of streets (Street View), real-time traffic conditions, and rou ...

in December 2018. *2014 — 1,664 members with stores in 2,094 locations, 59 member bookstores opened, 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, 61 member bookstores opened, 14 of which were listed as "permanently closed" on Google Maps in December 2018, 3 others are marked "online only" in ABA's list. *2016 — 87 member bookstores opened *2017 — 75 member bookstores opened *2018 — 1,835 members with stores in 2,470 locations, 99 member bookstores opened *2019 — 1,887 members with stores in 2,524 locations, 111 member bookstores opened *2020 — no numbers published *2021 — 1,700 members with stores in 2,100 locations The ABA sponsored the

Book Sense IndieBound is a marketing movement for independent bookstores launched in 2008 by the American Booksellers Association. With resources targeted for "indie" booksellers, it promotes fiscal localism. IndieBound's curated reading lists include the I ...

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 IndieBound is a marketing movement for independent bookstores launched in 2008 by the American Booksellers Association. With resources targeted for "indie" booksellers, it promotes fiscal localism. IndieBound's curated reading lists include the I ...

, a new program and website.

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. The former ABC is now a membership group within the ABA.

References

External links

*
IndieBound.org website
* A program created and sponsored by ABA th
Book and Author Luncheon
can be heard a
The WNYC Archives
It ran from 1938 to 1974. (See also the Book and Author Luncheon.) {{Books Independent bookstores of the United States Independent bookstores of Canada Trade associations based in the United States Organizations established in 1900 American booksellers Bookselling trade associations 1900 establishments in the United States