LIBRO.FM CHALLENGE

Whether you or your customers are seasoned audiobook listeners or are giving it a try for the first time, Libro.fm has put together a list of 24 prompts to challenge and shake up your listening habits in 2026. Share the 2026 Audiobook Listening Challenge with your customers, or challenge yourself - you might discover a new favorite author or genre — all while supporting your bookshop!

FEBRUARY MARKETING ASSET - LOVE YOUR PET DAY (2/20): AVAILABLE NOW

MARCH MARKETING ASSET - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (3/8): AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 27TH

Click here to download marketing assets.

ABA's Valentine's Day assets are available now.

Find Waldo Local 2026 pre-registration closes February 15th.

Sign up for the Indie Press Month 2026 Display Contest by February 27th.

Indie Bookstore Day Planning Guide for your to-do list.

Libro.fm's Golden Ticket for Indie Bookstore Day sign up is open.

2026 PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL SCHEDULE IS UP 

Click here for more info.

Live Courses:

- Bookstore Year One - Register Now

- Basic Bookselling - Register Now

- Store & Operations Management - Register Now

- *NEW COURSE* Profitability Master Class - Register Now (8 seats remaining)

- Bookstore Finances - Registration Opens on Feb. 16th

Independent Study Courses:

- Independent Study: Inventory Management - Register Now

5% DISCOUNT FOR CALIBA MEMBERS - Independent Study: CALIBAind | Live Courses: CALIBAlive

The 2025 Sales Survey Results Are In!

Of survey respondents, 73.3% said their 2025 sales were up from 2024. (15.4% said their stores had not been open long enough to accurately compare for 2024 and 2025.)

Check out this year’s ABA Board candidates! Mark your calendars: ballots will go out in March.

Nominate a Bookseller for ABA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council

A Top 10 1st Quarter (Q1) Checklist

HOW TO PREPARE FOR ICE RAIDS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Here are the top 6 things to do to prepare for ICE raids at your store or in your community.

• Educate yourself and make a plan.
• Be prepared to handle an ICE worksite raid.
• Know what to do if Immigration comes to your workplace.
• If you're within 100 miles of a US border, know how your rights/experience may differ.
• Confirm that your employee I-9 paperwork is accurate, complete, and accessible.
• If applicable, create signage with language like "We do not authorize entry for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)" for your front door or window, external signs that say “Private Property," and/or internal signs that say "Employees Only" or “No Entry Without Authorization.” This asserts your Fourth Amendment rights and your rights as a business and signals solidarity to those impacted by ICE in your community. 

Booksellers

Provisional Bookstore: $100 (online only and prospective bookstores)

Bookstore: $200

Membership Perks:

• Free admission to our annual Fall Fest for you and your staff
• Free or reduced rates at education and member programs for you and your staff
• Subscription to our weekly e-newsletter for you and your staff
• Stay up-to-date with industry, Alliance and bookstore news
• Bestseller list
• Classified ads
• Online access to the Rep Directory updated regularly
• Inclusion on our Find A Store webpage
• Fall Catalog Marketing Campaign produced for you and promoted to drive business to your store
• Independent Bookstore Day in conjunction with your ABA membership
• Access to exclusive IBD merchandise
• A list of current Publisher Promotions
• Bookseller Resources
• Tools for the Trade
• Credit card processing with Gravity Payments

Click here for more details.

SHOW OFF YOUR CALIBA SPIRIT
Click here to download the Proud Member of CALIBA file (Login required).

January: #JanuaryinJapan / International Creativity Month / Financial Wellness Month / National Book Blitz Month

*TONIGHT* January 29: 2025 Golden Poppy Awards Virtual Ceremony - RSVP Here

January 31: Friends of Fantasy Day

February: Black History Month / Ramadan (Feb 17-Mar 19)

February 5 at 12pm PT: ShopTalk: Making the Most of Indie Bookstore Day

Late February: 2026 RAMP Summer Guide Bookstore Orders Open / 2026 NorCal Spring Forum Bookseller Registration Opens

March: Women's History Month / National Reading Month / Indie Press Month / Ramadan (Feb 17-Mar 19)

March 31: Indie Bookstore Day 2026 General Participation Form closes

Early April: 2026 SoCal Spring Forum Bookseller Registration Opens

April 25: Independent Bookstore Day

Don't forget to follow and tag us (@caliba_20) to be featured! CALIBA's Media Outlet Resource Doc has info about being featured by Shelf Awareness, USA Today, and Bay City News.

1 - You Should Read, in San Diego, provided a reading list against apathy and more to remind us to take action!

2 - Mysterious Galaxy, in San Diego, has a display to help us learn from our predecessors when fighting oppression and tyranny.

3 - Judging by the Cover Books, in Fresno, showed off their inventory to make their stance very clear.

4 - Lil’ Book Bug, in Lancaster, has plans to bring even more used books to their community in 2026!

5 - On Waverly, in San Francisco, hosted an author event with Goldie Chan and Mychal Threets; where they discussed burnout, mental health, introverts, love and JOY.

6 - Arvida Book Co., in North Tustin, will be celebrating the first annual Friends of Fantasy Day and invited customers “to pause, to be together, and to let stories offer a little light.”

7 - Village Well Books & Coffee, in Culver City, has set up their Valentine’s Day display in the Kids’ section.

8 - Great Good Place for Books, in Oakland, is ready for Valentine’s with their red book window display.

In the News

• Image of the Day: Camino Books Hosts John Sayles
• Watson, Chien, Smith Win 2026 Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards
• Industry Auction to Support Minnesota, Immigrants
• ABA Relaunches Indie Booksellers Awards
• Collective Book Studio Starts Children’s Imprint
• Audie Award Finalists
• Tomorrow's General Strike: Book World Fundraisers; ABA CEO Allison Hill on 'Shining Light'

Want to share your personal story or concerns as a small business owner more broadly? Share your OpEd, Think Piece, or Slice of Life story with your local media outlets. CALIBA is building a shared Media List here. Find or add contacts.

• *NEW* Get Lit Books & Things - GoFundMe
• Dandar's Games and Books - Give a Hand | GoFundMe
• Northtown Books - Give a Hand
• Casita Bookstore - GoFundMe
• 2025 LA Fires Resources Page

• Denver Publishing Institute Scholarsh applications due Feb. 6
• RISE+ Booksellers Exchange Program applications due Feb. 15
• James Patterson & Bookshop.org Literary Prize for Debut Authors
• Black Bookstore Heritage Grant

• Sales Assistant - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
• Associate Editor - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
• Editorial Freelancers - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
• Bookstore for Sale - Camino Books, Del Mar

Have a grant, scholarship, or classified listing for booksellers? Email Alecia to be listed on our site.

Alecia

Supporting Staff

Like in Love with You

Emma R. Alban

9780063428775

Hannah

Executive Director

The Sacred Space Between

Kalie Reid

9780316596138

Valentina

Operations Manager

Don’t Fear the Reaper

Stephen Graham Jones

9781982186609

Check out CALIBA’s 2026 Reading List!

Join our monthly office hours (fourth Thursdays) to co-work with Hannah! Have a question, idea, or comment about a CALIBA program? Office hours are a great chance for you to check in directly with your Executive Director. Click here to register for a morning session (9-10am) or afternoon session (2-3pm).

Winter Institute 2026 program announced. Click here to view the full schedule.

Will you be attending the Winter Institute? Hannah will be attending; if you'd like to schedule a meeting, please email Hannah.

Hannah Walcher

Executive Director

hannah@caliballiance.org

Valentina Moberg

Operations Manager

valentina@caliballiance.org

Alecia Reddick

Supporting Staff

alecia@caliballiance.org

Support CALIBA

Publishers support CALIBA when bookstores participate.

Bookstore Participation = Publisher Sponsorship = CALIBA = Bookstore Education, Advocacy, Networking +++