2024 SIBA Bookstore Census

January 2024 marks the return of the SIBA Bookstore Census. Bookstores in SIBA's region are invited to participate, regardless of their membership status. The Census, which asks bookstores about operations, demographics, and community engagement, is designed to provide a detailed portrait of independent bookselling in the Southern United States. Bookstores will receive their invitations by January 15, 2024.

SIBA held its first Census in 2022 to discover how bookstores had changed and adapted in the wake of the pandemic. Recognizing that bookstores had to reinvent themselves during lockdown, the Census sought to document the many creative strategies bookstores used to stay successful as businesses.

Largely in response to the information received in 2022, the 2024 Census includes an expanded section on bookstore business models, purchasing strategies, and engagement with both the book industry and local communities.

The SIBA Census is used to:

• Develop innovative and meaningful events and programming.
• Design creative marketing and promotional opportunities for bookstores.
• Advocate on behalf of independent bookstores to industry businesses and organizations.
• Target member communications and news to make them even more valuable.
• Strengthen SIBA's core commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The 2024 SIBA census is open to every bookstore in SIBA Territory (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA). Stores that complete the census are entered into a drawing to receive supper on SIBA! Ten stores will receive $100 to treat their staff to supper (or breakfast or lunch!)

To ask for an invitation contact Nicki Leone at nicki@sibaweb.com

Discord Fireside Chats

SIBA booksellers are invited to join in on a new series of "Fireside Chats" on Discord. The chats will be held on the last Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM Eastern.

Less formal than a webinar or presentation, the fireside chats will have a range of topics and will also be a place for booksellers to get together after programs and events to compare notes and takeaways. These are places for discussion, networking, and sharing experiences.

The first chat, scheduled for January 31, will have Cheryl Lee from 44th and 3rd Bookseller available to talk about International Book Fairs and her experience at the Frankfurt International Book Fair last October. 44th and 3rd was able to attend thanks to a Books Across Borders scholarship co-sponsored by SIBA and the Independent Publishers Caucus.

The first two chats will be:
January 31: International Book Fairs
February 28: Lessons from Winter Institute

All SIBA booksellers are invited to participate. To be added to the Discord Community, email Candice Huber at candice@sibaweb.com.

January 25, 2024 at 6:00 PM ET on Zoom

The first New Voices New Rooms (NVNR) Owners Retreat of 2024 will focus on the theme of "Strategic Closing": How to plan for store downtime to manage bigger projects such as renovations and inventories, unplanned shutdowns from crises like weather events or lockdowns, or blocking out time for owner and staff vacations.

The Retreat will be led by moderators Adam Waterreus and Janet Geddis.

Adam Waterreus is the owner of Lost City Books in Washington DC. A combination of new, used and rare books, it sits in the spot of the former Idle Time Books. Since opening in 2019, Lost City Books has become a hub for community activities, with book clubs for queer-narratives, black feminist authors, and sci-fi to name a few. Prior to creating his own bookstore vision, Adam worked in Politics & Prose for a decade and as a sale rep for W.W.Norton. Adam is also noted for his woodworking skills.

Janet Geddis is a business owner, writer, speaker, and community leader. The owner of Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia, Janet is involved with regional and national book industry organizations, presenting at least twice a year at conferences and volunteering her time for advisory boards. She began her first term on the SIBA Board in 2018. Janet holds an M.Ed. in educational psychology from UGA with an emphasis in creativity studies.

Owners Retreats are an invaluable opportunity for networking with your fellow store owners. Attendance free but limited to 50 people, 25 from each of the SIBA and NAIBA regions. You must be a member of either SIBA or NAIBA and a store owner to attend. One person per store, please.

SIBA Registration | NAIBA Registration

What We're Doing: SIBA in 2024

SIBA members have much to look forward to in 2024. Popular programs from 2023 will return for this year, including the March Madness Bookstore Series, the Summer and Holiday Catalog programs, more Indie Press Social events, and the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge. Also on the horizon are more events from the New Voices New Rooms partnership, including multiple Owners Retreats, a virtual Publicity Speed Dating event, a virtual Genre Buzz event, and the multi-day in-person conference, once again in Arlington, VA.

SIBA will also be launching some new programs: a "fireside chat" discussion series on SIBA's Discord Community and a revamped and updated Peer Bookseller Resource Library featuring tools road-tested by bookstores. Also watch for the launch of The Bookstore Doctor, a financial check-up opportunity for bookstore owners, with bookstore owner and Professional Bookseller School dean Jill Hendrix (Fiction Addiction). SIBA will also be holding a 2024 Census of its bookstore members. The Census, which is open to any independent bookstore in SIBA territory, provides invaluable information for SIBA when planning new programming and anticipating the needs of its members.

Perhaps most importantly, SIBA members should watch for the announcement to review and approve SIBA's new bylaws. The SIBA Board has been working diligently for several years to update the organization's bylaws, including a new, more inclusive definition of a "core member bookstore." Read more in outgoing SIBA President Jamie Southern's Letter to Members.

It is a brave new bookselling world in the SIBA region, and such an exciting time to be a bookseller in the South.

SOUTHERN INDIE BESTSELLER LIST
For the week ending 12/31/2023

Edelweiss Collections:
(sort by "Catalog Order" to see each list according to rating)

Hardcover Fiction | Hardcover Nonfiction | Trade Paperback Fiction | Trade Paperback Nonfiction | Mass Market | Children's Illustrated | Children's Interest | Children's Series

SOUTHERN INDIE BESTSELLER LIST
For the week ending 12/17/2023

Edelweiss Collections:
(sort by "Catalog Order" to see each list according to rating)

Hardcover Fiction | Hardcover Nonfiction | Trade Paperback Fiction | Trade Paperback Nonfiction | Mass Market | Children's Illustrated | Children's Interest | Children's Series

Dear SIBA membership,

This year has flown by! I can't believe that we will soon be living in 2024. It has been a privilege to serve as your SIBA board president this year and my only regret is that there wasn't enough time to get to know more of you better! The board has been doing some necessary (yet tedious at times) work on amending the SIBA bylaws to bring these up to date for our current organization and modern bookselling world. We will be putting these up to a membership vote shortly and I encourage you to participate. Though there is a lot of legalese throughout (as expected with such a legal document) the main things of note to point out to you are three items:

1. We have updated the definition of Core Member. The previous definition is as follows: "Independent, privately-owned, commercially-zoned bookstores with a retail storefront and physical headquarters in the Company’s region are eligible for core membership." We have changed this definition to be reflective of the more inclusive and highly creative industry we find ourselves living in today. The new definition is: "Core membership is open to any independent, privately-owned legal entity actively engaged in the business of bookselling in our region (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA). The bookselling venue may be physical, online, recurring pop-ups or mobile but physical books (including e-books and audiobook versions) must represent more than 50% of overall revenue. These membership requirements shall be subject to interpretation, in the event of dispute, by the Board of Directors. Only owners and authorized representatives and key staff (with owner permission) may serve as officers or directors of the Company. Core Members are entitled to one vote at meetings or in other official balloting procedures of the Company."
   
   
2. We have expanded the option to have a board of seven members rather than five. This will allow us to have greater representation of our region serving on the board level.
   
   
3. We have added the board officer position of Secretary-Treasurer in order to be compliant with North Carolina law.

If you have any questions about any of these changes, please let us know! We spent many months going through the bylaws line by line with legal guidance. Thank you in advance for weighing in.

I am delighted to turn over the Presidency to Julia Davis, owner of The Book Worm Bookstore in Powder Springs, Georgia. I have had the pleasure of serving on the board with Julia over the past couple of years and have found her to be brilliant in business and full of creative ideas. Between Julia and our fearless leader, Linda-Marie, SIBA is in great hands as we head into a bright new year. Thank you for allowing me to serve our membership.

1. SIBA BOOKSELLER ORIENTATION
   Jan 10 at 1 PM. Register now to hear about what is new for 2024
   
   
2. NVNR OWNERS RETREAT
   Jan 25 at 6 PM. You and your fellow owners in a virtual room, hashing things out!
   
   
3. HAVE YOU JOINED DISCORD?
   bookseller-to-bookseller meet ups and discussions.

Based on our booksellers' conviction that you can never have too many good books, Read This Next! is adding a bimonthly Kids list for 2024. Along with the monthly list of five titles for adults, every two months Read This Next! will highlight six books for young readers which have been receiving exception buzz and enthusiasm from Southern indie booksellers.

The January 2024 Adult List is an eclectic collection of literary fiction, cautionary tales, found love, and writerly advice. Read what booksellers have to say here

RTNext! Bookseller Resources:
Edelweiss Collection | Flyer | Flyer Front (image)

What SIBA Booksellers have to say:

Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz
An enthralling, and wonderful story about two people who have issues of their own working through them and still living life on a daily basis. It also takes place in Ireland, what's not to love about that?
– Mandy Harris from Angel Wings Bookstore in Stem, North Carolina

1000 Words : A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jami Attenberg
1000 Words is a guide for writers, but I think anyone interested in reading would truly enjoy this one. I loved the features from some of my favorite authors.
– Jessica Nock from Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

Only If You're Lucky by Stacy Willingham
This book paints a tale where you can believe given the right circumstances anyone can resort to the most extreme actions of self-preservation. This is not a heart lifting book of survival, more a spine chilling book of survival.
– Jackie Willey from Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler
The Tusks of Extinction hurt me, inspired me, and taught me. Nayler's conservationist novella reaches into depths of human empathy and bares it all for examination. Nothing so short has ever made me cry so much.
– Isabel Agajanian from Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

Come and Get It by Kiley Reid
Come and Get It has everything I love about Kiley Reid (her ear for dialog is unparalleled, and she does realistic social cringe so. well.) with an added layer of tenderness towards her characters -- most of which are a whole entire aggravating MESS -- that blew me out of the water. I did NOT expect to be sobbing at the end, but sobbing I was.
– Kat Leache from Novel, Inc. in Memphis, Tennessee

Current Read This Next! books and what SIBA booksellers have to say about them can always be found at The Southern Bookseller Review

The January/February Kids List is all about being yourself and making a difference, and includes books for all ages, from picture books up to young adult stories.

RTNext! Kids Bookseller Resources:
Edelweiss Collection | Flyer | Flyer Front (image)

Here is why Southen indie booksellers love them:

Like So by Ruth Forman, Raissa Figueroa (Illus.)
With gorgeous illustrations, this is a sweet story about the love between a grandmother and child. This one will tug at your heart strings!
– Jessica Nock from Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

José Feeds the World by Marta Álvarez Miguéns (Illus.), David Unger
This book highlights the power of one person's idea and the way one can mobilize and inspire many. This would be a great book to share with a young reader who has questions about why disasters happen and what we can do to help those affected.
– Kate Storhoff from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

How the Boogeyman Became a Poet by Tony Keith, Jr.
A truer than most story written in verse like it should be. Tony relates how he became the first person in his family to become openly gay and a university graduate. It is a moving story of his trials and tribulations.
– Judith Lafitte from Octavia Books in New Orleans, Louisiana

We Got the Beat by Jenna Miller
Jordan is not sporty and her nemesis has just been named captain of the volleyball team. Could it get any worse? This fun, sweet YA romcom was a delight to read!
– Jennifer Jones from Bookmiser, Inc. in Marietta, Georgia

The Wild by Yuval Zommer
This book is absolutely gorgeous. It is a gentle introduction to the concept of why conservation is important. Perfect for Earth Day readalouds.
– Jill Hendrix from Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

Both lists, with full reviews from SIBA booksellers, will be published at The Southern Bookseller Review on January 1st. Current Read This Next! books can be found here.

And books on past lists make an interesting and unusual "best of the year" reading list for book clubs choosing their picks for the new year.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2023

TWO SIBA BOOKSELLERS RECEIVE NANCY OLSON BOOKSELLER AWARD

(Asheville, NC) SIBA is very pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Nancy Olson Bookseller Award, honoring the memory of the legendary bookseller and founder of Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, NC. Es Davis of Golden Fig Books in Durham, North Carolina and Alex McLeod of The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama will each receive a $2500 cash award in recognition of their work bringing books to readers.

The 2023 Nancy Olson Bookseller Award Recipients

The Award selection committee includes SIBA Executive Director Linda-Marie Barrett, Nancy Olson's husband Jim Olson, and long-time bookseller Sarah Goddin who worked with Nancy Olson at Quail Ridge Books. The committee noted that the 2023 selection process was especially difficult thanks to the high number of nominations of deserving booksellers.

Sarah Goddin said, "I never realized how excruciatingly painful [the selection process] might be! We had such a difficult choice because there are too many amazing booksellers in the SIBA territory. I also have to hand it to those writing the nominations, who were exceptionally eloquent."

Jim Olson also said, "Nancy would be thrilled with our selections as both Es Davis and Alex McLeod exemplify her love of bookselling and putting the right book in the hands of a customer."

SIBA Executive Director Linda-Marie Barrett said, "It was heartwarming to read the nominations submitted for booksellers across SIBA territory. Our communities are much richer for their presence and constant hard work connecting readers with books, and those in need with resources like housing, meals, medical assistance, counseling, and more. Thank you to our anonymous donor for an award that honors the great Nancy Olson, and truly makes a difference in a bookseller’s life. Congratulations to our winners, Es Davis and Alex McLeod!"

About the Nancy Olson Bookseller Award

The Nancy Olson Bookseller Award was created by SIBA in cooperation with an admirer of the late legendary bookseller in recognition of her tireless support of writers, especially new writers. An award in her memory of $2500 is given in December to two SIBA booksellers who are not store owners.

For more information about the Nancy Olson Bookseller Award, visit sibaweb.com.