American Booksellers Association (ABA)

Content and education: founded in 1900, the American Booksellers Association is a national not-for-profit trade organization that works to help independently owned bookstores grow and succeed. Aba's core members are key participants in their communities' local economy and culture and to assist them, aba provides education, information dissemination, business products, and services; creates relevant programs; and engages in public policy, industry, and local-first advocacy. The Association actively supports and defends free speech and the first amendment rights of all americans. A volunteer board of 12 Booksellers governs the Association. Aba is headquartered in white plains, ny.

Products and services: aba offers members for a monthly fee an e-commerce platform and the tools necessary for them to create fully transactional e- commerce websites. All aba members' bookstores can offer their customers a range of reading devices and/or digital titles and audiobook titles. Aba compiles and distributes to members a monthly list, in hardcopy for distribution in-store and via email to stores' customers, of independent bookseller recommendations, to be used as a sales tool. On small business saturday, aba facilitates indies first, bringing together authors, readers, and publishers at events across the country to support independent Booksellers. Aba coordinates special holiday purchasing programs for member stores. Aba also offers members a comprehensive database of publishers' business terms that is regularly updated. Aba offers discounted or reduced prices on shipping, paper items, credit card processing, and other affinity partner products.